Termites
highIsoptera
Behavior & Habits
Termites are highly social insects that live in large colonies with a caste system (workers, soldiers, reproductives/swarmers). Their core behaviour is their relentless search for and consumption of cellulose-based materials, primarily wood. They are often called "silent destroyers" because they consume wood from the inside out, causing extensive damage that often goes unnoticed until structural failure occurs.Subterranean termites, the most common type, live in the soil and build characteristic mud tubes to travel between their underground colony and the wood structure above ground, protecting them from dry air.
Habitat & Signs
Termites require three things: food (wood/cellulose), moisture, and warmth.
- Subterranean Termites: Their colonies are established in the soil. They infest homes where wood contacts the ground or where there are cracks in the foundation.
- Drywood Termites: These are less common in the ground and infest sound, dry wood directly, often found in attics, roof framing, and wooden furniture. They are identified by their distinctive, tiny, hard fecal pellets (frass) which they push out of the damaged wood. Infestation points often involve areas with high moisture, such as near leaky plumbing, improperly vented roofs, or foundation cracks.
Prevention & Control
- Eliminate Moisture: Repair any plumbing leaks immediately. Ensure gutters and downspouts direct water away from the foundation. Improve ventilation in crawl spaces and basements to reduce humidity.
- Remove Wood Sources: Keep firewood, lumber, and wood debris stored well away from the house structure. Ensure that no wood portions of the structure (like siding or support beams) have direct contact with the soil.
- Check for Mud Tubes: Regularly inspect the foundation, basement walls, and crawl spaces for the presence of mud tubes. These tubes are a definitive sign of subterranean termite activity.
- Professional Inspection & Treatment: Given the serious nature of termite damage, schedule an annual professional inspection. For established homes, a preventative soil treatment or baiting system around the foundation is the most effective long-term defense.
Get a Free Quote
Fill out the form below to request a free inspection or get a quote for our services.
Not what you were looking for?
← Back to Pest Library