Early Warning Signs Of Termites On Your Baldwyn Property
While they may occasionally get mistaken as ants, termites can be far more problematic – and have a few distinguishing traits that set them apart from other insects. Their size and exact coloring can vary based on the type of termite you’re dealing with, but most termites share the same thick waists and straight antennae. Despite their small size, termites can cost homeowners big – each year, termites cause around five billion dollars in property damage for homeowners across the country.
Understanding the early signs of a termite problem is key to catching the infestation before these pests cause too much damage. Here’s what Baldwyn homeowners need to know about why termites are so hard to spot, the signs to look for, and what to do if you suspect you may have termites on your property.
Why Are Termites So Difficult To Spot?
Unlike some pests, termites are stealthy, and their presence can go undetected for months or even years. In many cases, homeowners don’t discover that they’ve got termites until these pests have already racked up hundreds or thousands of dollars in property damage. There are a couple of reasons why termites are so hard to spot. These critters usually live inside walls or flooring, and once they’ve burrowed underground, they don’t have a lot of reasons to come back up.
Termites do leave traces of their presence behind, but these signs are often subtle – so it’s important to know what to look for. More than just keeping your eyes peeled for warning signs of termites, it’s also recommended that you get annual inspections done every year so that you can catch termite problems early.
A pest management professional will know exactly what termite signs to look for, and if you have a problem in your home, they can help determine the extent of the damage and help you make the best decisions moving forward.
The Signs Of Termites
Even with having annual inspections done each year, it’s still a good idea to know the early warning signs of termites.
Frass
Like most other pests, termites leave droppings behind. To keep their galleries clean, they’ll kick their excrement out of the tunnel and into the open. Termite droppings, also called frass, don’t resemble normal pest droppings.
Since their diet consists of wood, their droppings become tiny pellets, which may resemble sawdust or coffee grounds. If you have drywood termites, you may find frass piled around baseboards, walls, or other areas of high termite activity.
Tight-Fitting Doors & Windows
Termites can introduce excess moisture into your wood and home. If they’re tunneling through the wood in doorways and windows, this excess moisture can actually warp the wood. As a result, your doors and windows may suddenly feel like a tight fit or like they no longer fit the frame when you go to close them. This can also happen in the later stages of a termite infestation when there structural integrity of your home begins to fail.
Shed Wings & Termite Swarms
One of the most obvious signs of a termite problem is the evidence they leave behind during and after swarms. Termites head out into the open to look for mates during certain parts of the year, and they do this in large groups called swarms.
You may see the actual termite swarm around your property, but it’s more likely that you may find their discarded wings lying in piles around doorways and windows following this event.
Hollow & Damaged Wood
As they tunnel through your wood, your walls or floors get damaged and may become hollow. While you may not always be able to see the termite tunnels, you may be able to tell if your wood is hollow. If your walls and floors sound hollow when you tap or step on them, that’s a good indicator that you’ve got termites.
What To Do If You See Signs Of Termites In Baldwyn
Not only is it important to get annual inspections so that you can catch termite problems early, but it’s crucial to keep your eyes peeled for the warning signs listed above too. Even if you’re only seeing one or two signs, it’s still a good idea to contact the professionals – like those of us at McCary Pest Control – and schedule an inspection of your home and property.
If you do suspect you’ve got termites, there’s no point in wasting your time and money on DIY solutions or home remedies that won’t get the job done. Contact the pros immediately at McCary Pest Control for total termite elimination.