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| 7 Signs you might have termites |
1. Know your head
Not yours, but the termite soldiers! You may be wondering what termites will look like? A sign of termites is a quiet rattling noise coming from your walls. Soldier termites recognize themselves with their heads against the wood or shake their bodies when the colony is disturbed to signal danger to other termites. Worker termites, which are the ones that like to eat your woodwork, are noisy eaters. If you put your ear close to any wood infested with termites, you can hear them nibbling.
Termites are sensitive little creatures. Easily detect noise and vibration by antennas and on the shin bone.
Scientists at the CSIRO in Australia even believe that termites can determine the size of a piece of wood by using vibrations to measure from the inside, something even humans cannot do yet! There is still much to discover about these little pests.
2. Flying termites
Usually, the first sign of a termite infestation is the presence of flying termites called testers or alates. Flying termites are males and females that have left the nest to find a mate and then established a new colony that could be near or in your home.
Some species swarm at night and are marked by light sources. Other species will swarm in daylight, but all dry wood termites tend to swarm after rain at particular times of the year.
Discarded wings are another common sign of termites. Flying termites shed their wings shortly after finding a mate. Male and female termites mate and then crawl to a suitable nesting site where they lock themselves away to mate and find the new colony. The king and queen begin by caring for their young until there are enough workers to take over. The king continues to care for the queen and the pair may live together in the growing colony for over ten years.
Did you know that in some species of termites, the males die soon after mating, but the queen can live for 20 years or more!
Termites
3. White ants
A common mistake is to confuse termites with ants or to call termites "white ants". This misconception is easy to make because ants and termites are very similar in shape, size and, in some cases, behavior.
So what are the differences between ants and termites?
Termites are light in color. They are usually white/creamy in color and can sometimes appear quite translucent.
Compared to ants, termite antennae are straight rather than angled.
The waste section of a termite is much thicker than that of an ant. The section where the thorax meets the abdomen is very narrow in ants, whereas in a termite this section is quite large in comparison.
Both flying ants and termites have two pairs of wings. However, one set of termites is both the same size compared to an ant that has one set larger than the other.
It is important to note that there are no termites. If you think you have spotted an insect that has a white ants in and around your house, you do not have a termite problem on your hands.
4. Paper or hollow-sounding wood
Termites usually consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of wood or just paint. When you knock or tap on an area damaged by termites, it will sound hollow or papery. This is because all or part of the wood inside has been eaten away.
Some of the most common stories you may not have read about termites are that a problem is only discovered when the hoover goes through a baseboard or a finger in a door frame goes through the frame.
5. Tight-fitting doors and hard to open windows
Often associated with signs of wet and warm weather, hard windows and warped doors can also mean termites! Moisture resulting from food and the outer brick causes the wood to tarnish, making it difficult to open the doors.
6. Wooden tunnels
Tunnels, also known as 'galleries', are obviously difficult to see from the outside, but if you see them in a piece of broken wood near or inside your house, it is a sure sign that termites have set up camp. your house.
Various types of techniques have been proposed to detect termite tunnels and activity when there are no visible signs. These include binoculars, electronic odor detectors, microwave ovens, sound detectors, infrared detectors, X-rays, and even dogs, but only a few have been tested in the laboratory or are in use, and some are used by Rentokil technicians.
7. Firas - termite droppings
Termite droppings are a major sign of termites, especially drywood ants. This indicator of infestation is always looked for when searching for termites. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood ants do not use their droppings to build their tunnels. Instead, they push their droppings through small holes near the entrances to their nests. This results in small black marks and a dark powdery substance in and around the area where it spreads.
Subterranean termites
So you know the signs of termites in dry wood, but what about subterranean termites? Unlike their cousins, subterranean termites prefer to live underground, especially in your garden and under your house. To learn more about subterranean termites, check out our previous blog Termites Underground - The Dark & Smelly Story.
Professional termite examination
Rentokil's specialist technicians are experts at finding signs of termites around your home and have different types of technology to spot them when there are no visible signs. These include moisture sensors, temperature sensors, and sound sensors.
Most insurance policies do not cover termite damage, so it is a good idea to have a regular professional examination to detect termite infestations as early as possible and reduce the risk of costly damage to your life and property.
If termite activity is detected, call us today on 576 1300307 or contact your local office. Rentokil technicians can provide recommendations on the appropriate treatments available for your property.
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