How Do I Know if I Have Termites?
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a termite infestation can help you identify potential problems. If a termite issue is caught in time, then a licensed termite control expert can help prevent a small issue from becoming a larger problem.
4 Signs You May Have Termites
There are four major signs or symptoms that point to a possible termite infestation. However, keep in mind that any of these indicators cannot determine the severity of the problem, nor which termite control program works best for you. You should have your property inspected by professionals so they can determine if the termite infestation is still live and active in your home.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a termite infestation can help you identify potential problems. If a termite issue is caught in time, then a licensed termite control expert can help prevent a small issue from becoming a larger problem.
4 Signs You May Have Termites
There are four major signs or symptoms that point to a possible termite infestation. However, keep in mind that any of these indicators cannot determine the severity of the problem, nor which termite control program works best for you. You should have your property inspected by professionals so they can determine if the termite infestation is still live and active in your home.
#1 - Termite Droppings
Termite droppings look like large grains of sand. They range in color from creamy beige to black. Please note that these small beads are not termite eggs or termites themselves. As termites chew through the wood in your home, their digestive system processes the wood fibers and create these little gifts. Droppings are typically stored within the wood that termites are infesting. Seeing droppings out in the open indicates a larger termite infestation that has had time to grow.
#2 -Wood Damage
When looking for signs of damage caused by dry-wood or subterranean termites, look for two types of abnormalities.
The first is evidence of termite tunneling in the wood. Termite tunnels can look smooth and sanded down like the wood tunnels in this picture:
Or it can look as if chunks of wood are randomly missing from what otherwise would be a fully solid wood member like this image:
More information about identifying termite damage versus damage caused by fungus rot can be found in this video.
#3 - Termite Wings
Termite swarmers have four wings of the same size. When a swarmer finds a new piece of wood to infest, it will shed its wings and eat itself into its new home. It is not uncommon to find termite wings in windowsills, doorframes, doorjambs, or in light fixtures as these are all common places that are easily accessed by swarming termites.
#4 - Swarming
Seeing termite swarms should always be taken very seriously given that termites swarm mostly when a colony has grown so big that it needs to split up. Termites do not go away and decide to leave you alone. If you experience termites swarming within your home one day and then stop seeing swarming, it does not mean they moved out of your house. It means they likely found a new place to start a new colony. Swarming within a structure, or anywhere INSIDE your home is particularly concerning as opposed to termites swarming outside your home in open air.
Here are some video clips of what termite swarming looks like:
If you see anyone of these signs or symptoms of a termite infestation in your home, call us for inspection.
We continue to be Southern California’s preferred termite and pest control service, provider.
