What Do Termites Look Like?
Being able to tell if you have a termite problem can mean the difference between having to spend a lot of money fixing damages, or stopping the problem early. Knowing what they look like, where they like to live, and knowing the signs of termites are important.
Termite Characteristics
Termites have antennae and wings, so they often can be mistaken for flying ants. To tell the difference termites have straight antennas, 3 less defined body segments, and 2 equal length wings. There are 5 types of termites: the queen, king, winged reproductive, workers, and soldiers.
They all have different profiles while the queen and king are generally larger. Termites are generally about 1/8th of an inch to 1 inch in length. Their color can vary from black and brown to various shades of white.
Where Do Termites Live?
Termites like to live in areas that are humid and moist. They are commonly found in the substructure of homes, such as floor joists, foundations, and flooring. Advanced termite infestations will expand to other areas of your home’s structure.
Termite Damage Identification
Knowing the signs of termite damage can save you tens of thousands of dollars in costly repairs. While the signs of termites will vary depending on the specific species invading your home, there are some common hallmarks.
Common signs of termites include structural damage in your home. This can be squishy or soft areas in your flooring. Wood that feels soft or sounds hollow. An undeniable sign of termites is if you find mud tubes full of white insects. A termite swarm is also an obvious sign it’s time to call for termite treatment.
How Do Termites Get Indoors?
Termites don’t often walk through the front door, they dig under and into your home. As subterranean insects, they often live around our homes feeding on trees and wood piles. While their colonies grow slowly, they can grow to enormous numbers and expand into homes. They are attracted to moisture, wood building materials such as the framing of your home, and warmth.
They enter homes by finding cracks in your home’s foundation. The crack need not be wider than a debit card for them to get inside. There are telltale signs of large colonies of termites entering homes. The easiest way to know are mud tubes where their population travels indoors.
