Termites are tiny, social insects that are known to feed off of wood. They resemble ants or flies with their tiny light-coloured body, antennas, and wings. They are usually half of an inch in length and live in colonies. Upon sighting a single termite, they may seem harmless but if you can see one, then it means that there is an entire colony of them nearby.
The termite colony consists of up to a million individual termites feeding off of wood and damaging expensive furniture of infrastructure. It is significantly important to be able to identify a termite infestation to stop further damage and save expensive structures and furniture.
Here are several ways to identify if your place has a termite infestation:
1. Mud tubes:
Termites require a certain temperature and an available food source to be able to thrive in a particular surrounding. They usually nest underground and resurface for food and other resources. Mud tubes can be seen going from the ground to any possible food source like trees, sheds, or houses. It also protects them from air, extreme temperatures and moisture.
2. Termite swarms:
Termites that have wandered away from their colony to find mates and start colonies of their own can be seen flying around in swarms. There can be hundreds and thousands of termites in a swarm and that is an indication that they have been nesting in the vicinity for several years.
3. Discarded wings:
Termites discard their wings after finding a mate and go on to live near window sills, floors, underground, or stuck in cobwebs. These wings can be easily seen since they are of a decent size. If you find discarded wings of termites, it may be a good idea to get an inspection done.
4. Hollow wooden structures:
Termites feed on wood and can do undetected for years causing them to completely eat off wooden structures from within. You can check for such structures by knocking on wooden structures. If they have been affected by termites, they will sound hollow from within.
5. Loosening of tiles:
Termites are usually found in places with more moisture and also like to introduce moisture in their frequently visited or nested places. This may cause loosening of tiles on the floors.
6. Structural problems:
Since termites damage the cellulose in wood, it causes structural problems like difficulty in opening doors or windows.
7. Termite pellets:
Termites often remove their droppings from their nesting place to keep it fresh and clean. These droppings or pellets look like round structures and are as tiny as salt and pepper.
8. Visible live termites:
You may sometimes be able to spot live termites moving around. If you spot even one, make sure to get it checked out because there is a high chance there are more.
9. Mouldy scents:
Termites are fond of wood that has a good amount of moisture so it is completely possible that you can find termites in walls with mould.
These are several signs of a termite infestation. It is always better to get it checked out to catch an infestation sooner. The sooner you can get it controlled, the easier it gets to recover from the damage done.
