Characteristics

Termites live in colonies with a hierarchical system that divides the mass into several different ‘categories,’ including soldiers, workers, and other categories.

There are an estimated 4,000 species of termites. An adult queen is capable of laying up to 30,000 eggs a day.

Habitat & Diet

Termites live in various habitats throughout the world. They survive on cellulose in various forms. Along with wood, termites eat dead plant materials, soil, animal dung, and other food sources. These pests can and will eat 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which means they are able to subject your home to constant damage.

Colony nests vary by region and are constructed using a combination of soil, wood, saliva, and dung. Most nests are built underground, however, some species build above ground in mounds or columns.

Tree stumps are a favorite place for termite nests. If the stump is close to a home or other structure, these pests will take advantage of the convenient food source (i.e. eat your house).

Sneaky Eaters

Termites will eat any type of wood, in some cases even treated materials. This includes wood beams, siding, and any other food source they can find.

Because these pests don’t like to be exposed to the elements, it is often difficult to determine if you have termites until a great deal of damage has already been done.

Termites will not solely limit themselves to wood, however. They have been known to eat cloth, carpets, rubber, and other household materials.  

Detection

In some cases, it will be impossible to detect termites until significant damage has already been done. There are, however, ways to help protect your home from these pests.

• Check for cracked or bubbling paint.
• Tap wood in a suspected problem area. If there is a ‘hollow’ sound, termites are likely inside the structure.
• Be aware of discarded wings on the floors of your home. This means termites have found a good place to build a nest, and have ‘moved in.’
• Contact Alliance Pest Services, and have a qualified professional determine the extent of termite damage in your home.

Prevention

While it is difficult to ensure a termite infestation will never occur or happen again in the future, there are steps you can take to prevent sometimes irreversible damage to your home.

You may wish to begin by eliminating moisture problem areas. This includes repairing or replacing leaky faucets, keeping gutters clean of debris, and proper insulation and sealing.

Eliminate termite food sources, by taking care not to store firewood, lumber, or paper near your home. Always clear stumps and debris from the area. 

Contact Alliance Pest Services for a termite test of your home. Our qualified professionals will inspect the structure for termite entry and exit points, and provide you with a report of our findings, as well as recommended next steps to treat potential infestations or prevent one from occurring in the future.