Hi all! On my last entry, I talked about termite species, habits and behaviour. So, today’s entry we will get to know the signs of termite infestation and locations prone to termite attack. It is important to recognize the signs of termites and the damage they cause if you want to prevent an infestation in your home. This guide will help you learn how to tell if you have termites, and what each sign means.
SIGNS OF TERMITE INFESTATION
DISPERSAL OF ALATES/SWARMERS
Finding termite swarmers inside a building is a sure sign the building has an active termite infestation and needs to be professionally treated. Call the us, Sanicare Hygiene Services Sdn. Bhd. and arrange to have the building inspected and treated.
It takes several years for a termite colony to grow large enough to be able to produce swarmers. If large numbers of swarmers are emerging inside a building, this means that there is a large colony of termites feeding on that building. Note that killing the swarmers does nothing to solve the problem. Swarmers that emerge inside a building will die anyway because they are not able to reach moist ground where they will have a chance to survive and start a new colony. However, the colony that produced them will continue to thrive—unless it is treated.
PRESENCE OF SHELTER TUBES
This is usually a sure sign that a building is infested. The tubes serve as a secure transport system between the nest and the wood the termites consume. Typically, the mud tubes are a combination of soil and wood bits. The termites form the tunnels for a couple of different purposes.
Subterranean termites migrate up from the soil to find food. They are most likely to get through foundations to attack basement walls or subfloors. As they venture to the wood, these termites need extra protection to stay safe. Subterranean species are susceptible to temperature and humidity fluctuations. The mud tubes maintain a comfortable temperature while preventing them from drying out. Plus, it keeps them hidden from would-be predators. Thus, if you find mud shelter tubes, it is a good idea to have the building professionally inspected even if you do not see live termites or see that the tube is repaired after being broken.
HOLLOW-SOUNDING WOOD
While termites are tiny, they can cause severe structural damage in large swarms. One of the most unfortunate signs of termites you can come across is sections of hollowed-out and damaged wood. Termites consume wood from the inside out. They create tiny tunnels, also known as galleries, as they eat. These galleries typically run parallel to the wood grain and cause significant weakening.
You might not see the damage on wooden wall framing or floors. But the moment you touch hollowed wood, you will notice the difference. Those galleries create a resonant sound. In structural components that termites have been eating for a while, there could be so many galleries that applying pressure generates the sound of crumpled paper.
Either way, there is already a lot of damage. Cutting a cross-section might reveal a honeycomb-like appearance which is a sure sign of termite damage
TAPPING/KNOCKING SOUND
Believe it or not, one sign that you have termites in your home is the sound of them banging their heads! It is a pretty spine-chilling sound that often resonates throughout your walls. Termites make a variety of noises for different reasons.
First, you have the worker termites. Wood cellulose is tough, so hundreds of tiny termites chewing on it are going to produce noise. It is not easy to hear at first, but the sound becomes much more apparent at night. Soldier termites make noise, too. They are responsible for protecting the colony. These vigilant soldiers will bang their heads against the wood or shake their bodies violently when trouble arises. It is a way to signal danger to the rest of the colony. This behaviour is, perhaps, one of the most audible.
Below are the locations prone to termite attack:
a) WALL
b) Ceiling
c) Built-in cabinet/wardrobe
d) Rooftop
e) Door Frames
f)Store room
g) Trees
h) Parquet Floor
i) Skirting
Signs of termites are not always easy to spot, but knowing what to look for will make the process easier. You will be fine as long as you remember the tips and tricks in this guide!
If you have any termite-related questions that you would like to ask us, don’t be shy. Send them over and we will help you out.
BlueOceanPest 