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Are you concerned about termite activity? Here are 8 signs of termites in your home

Termites, which silently rip floors, walls and wood, can cause extreme damage before you discover them in your home. In fact, termites are considered one of the most destructive wood pests in the US, causing billions of damage each year and affecting more than one in four homes.

Being aware of the telltale signs of termite activity can help you recognize an infestation more quickly and get the pest control assistance you need. Even better, Black Diamond, an experienced company in your area, can help you be proactive in preventing a termite infestation, saving you time, hassle, and money.

Interested in learning more? Follow the directions to discover the 8 most common signs of termite activity in your home.

8 common signs of termite activity

  1. Swarms A cloud of small winged insects entering or leaving your home could be a group of termite “swarms.” Being made of wood, exposed floors and walls will normally be in or around the foundation of the building. It takes several years for a termite colony to grow large enough to produce swarms, which means that if you see them, there is definitely an infestation inside.
  2. Discarded wings and dead insects. Lots of discarded wings on the windowsill or dead swarms are a good indication of a termite population. Termites are often reddish-brown in color with large translucent wings. They differ in physical appearance from ants.
  3. Excrement. The accumulation of termite feces, or “droppings,” is a fairly strong indicator of infestation. The stool can look like a pile of pellets or look like sand. The excrement may be near entry points, tunnels, or hollow wood.
  4. Shelter pipes. Termites build wet passages on exterior surfaces to avoid exposure to sunlight, air, wind, and any drying elements. These tubes are quite different, made of hardened dirt and dirt, and vary in color from light brown to red. Breaking a section of the tube will often reveal termites traveling inside.
  5. Mud stains. When cutting wood, termites often accidentally go too far, exposing themselves to the outside. To remedy this, termites place “pits” or small patches of mud that cover the point of exposure. You may see a series of round, dry mud spots on an external surface.
  6. Along grain tunnels. Over time, termites create complex tunnel systems in wood. Visible channels have a honeycomb design. Most of these passages remain invisible, under floors, between walls, so you can see one while remodeling or opening a previously confined space. Spotting termite tunnels is a telltale sign of infestation.
  7. Hollow wood. Do you notice a springy, brittle or hollow sound when you touch a wooden surface in your home? Termite activity is possible, especially if this surface appeared to be stable or more resistant in the past. There may also be visible tunnels, termites, or droppings around this wood.
  8. Lines on wallpaper. Another visible sign of infestation is long, sunken lines in the wallpaper. The lines may initially appear to be water or tooth damage, but organized in structure, intricate, and connected. This indicates that the termite passages are just below the surface. Termites often eat through wood paneling and thin substances like cardboard just under the wallpaper.

Do not wait. It is essential to contact a licensed pest control professional as soon as you experience any of these signs. There are a variety of other species of wood-destroying insects, and in most cases, you need to be trained and experienced to properly identify them. Determining the correct species is crucial to choosing the correct action plan and treatment process.

While you may find that there are a number of services that offer pest eradication, be sure to choose a qualified company that has the experience and tools necessary to remove termites from your home or business.

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