Did you know that there are over 2,000 different species of termites with over 40 species? Although termites have different characteristics, people who don’t see them often mistake them for something else. When left untreated, they can cause serious damage to your property. However, many homeowners don’t realize that home insurance does not cover structural damage caused by termites, which can result in huge financial losses. In this article, let’s look more closely at how termites look and what you should do when you see them.
The Risk of Misidentification
Misidentifying termites can lead to pretty costly outcomes. Over the years, we have seen homeowners and other pest control companies misdiagnose termites as wasps or ants. It is only too late when this little menace is discovered but by then, the wooden structures in your home would have been hollowed out.
Termites are fast eaters. When millions of termites work together in eating away at your home, they could achieve their goal in just a matter of months. It is best to have a qualified pest control technician inspect your property to identify whether there are termites in your home.
Correct Identification Ensures Correct Treatment
Properly identifying termites will ensure that the most effective measures are taken to remove them from your home. When not properly treated, the persistence of termites in your home could only lead to more undetected damage.
As a professional termite inspection company, we don’t easily provide just any termite unless we can correctly identify them. Since there are many treatments available for eradicating termites, we need to make sure that the right remedy is given. If you suspect that termites are present in your home, feel free to contact us so we can help you.
Dampwood Termites
Dampwood termites are generally brown in color but they can range from dark to light. Some damp wood termites are reddish, especially on the part of their abdomens. Nymphs are cream-colored and like to eat woods that have regular contact with water. Unlike other termites, they need high humidity in order to survive.
This termite species is noticeably larger than subterranean termites although they are also found in rotting wood and mulch. They are often referred to as “rotten wood” termites and are a species of the Termopsidae family. Their soldiers are somewhat fierce-looking and are mainly in charge of looking after the eggs of queen termites and digging tunnels. They have the most number in a termite colony, which is why you would often see them. They have reddish bodies with elongated mandibles and are absolutely more fast-working compared with the white termites.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are smaller than subterranean termites. They only range from 1/4 an inch to 1 inch long while adult termites have a thicker, oval-shaped waist, and shorter legs. Their antennas are also straight and their wings are of the same size. Drywood termites don’t need rotten woods or foundations that are close to the water. Once they sense that wood is near, they can infest it right away. Since termites are very small, spotting them can be very hard. That is why there are some tests you can do to determine whether termites are in your home.
First, you can try the sound test. Try to put your ears closer to your drywall and check if there is a rustling sound. Termites produce vibrations when they bang their heads on the wall to warn others about an incoming threat, which will come out like a faint rustling sound. Next, you can knock on the wooden structures of your home. If they produce a hollow sound, it means that termites could have eaten away the interior of your woods. Lastly, you can check around for frass near the wooden foundations of your home. Termites usually leave frass on the floor whenever they hollow out your wood.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites almost look the same as ants, which is why you should properly identify them to ensure that you’re not just dealing with ants. Generally, termites have a thick waist, straight antennae, and shorter legs. They have a creamy body and their wings are of the same length. On the other hand, winged ants have pinched bodies, bent antennae, and darker bodies. Their two front wings are longer compared to the back.
Moreover, subterranean termites have the main portion of their nest underground. But nothing can stop them from getting to your home once they see an opportunity. Subterranean termites become apparent with their mud tunnels. The mud tunnels serve as their protection from prey but during spring, which is their mating season, they can swarm into your home. It is important to clearly identify the difference between subterranean termites and other types of termites to ensure that the right treatment is applied.
Conclusion
Since termites feed primarily on wood, they are capable of destroying the structural integrity of an entire home or building. Based on the layout of your property and the degree of termite infestation, we can create a customized termite treatment plan. This can include different treatments such as Termidor Liquid, Dry Foam, or baiting. But first, we will assess how severe the infestation is.
Ongoing prevention is your best bet when it comes to completely eradicate termites in your home. Since homeowner insurance plans do not usually cover termite damage, our goal is to help you leverage an economical termite solution. If you’re concerned about termites in your home, schedule an appointment to get a free termite inspection from The Local Guys.
What Services Do We Offer?
We offer a bunch of services and treatments to control pest infestation for the masses all across Australia. Our pest control services can manage:
- Flying insects (wasps, bees, flies, mosquitoes, etc.)
- Crawling insects (termites, spiders, cockroaches, ants, etc.)
- Birds and rodents (rats, mice, birds, etc.)
Our team of experts works towards returning your home back to you just so you can resume your life without any disruption or hassle, which is exactly what makes The Local Guys Pest Control the absolute best in the game!