You may suspect that you have termites but without knowing the signs you may be left guessing. Termite and pest inspections are a hassle but they are worth the time and the money when your suspicions prove true.
There are a few clear pest and termite signs to look for which we list down below.
Signs of Termite Activity
Audible Pest
You don’t necessarily need to see them to know they are there. If you hear clicking sounds that are emanating from behind your walls, it may indicate the presence of termite soldiers. These termites use specific behaviors to warn the colony of danger, which includes banging their heads against structures or doing a waggle dance that makes a lot of noise. You will recognize the sound of worker termites during mealtime as they are incredible noisy eaters. You may hear a cacophony of these sounds from termites if you put your ear to the wall.
Winged Termites
Flying termites are known as swarmers or alates and they typically leave plenty of signs of their presence in and around your property. These termites are on the lookout for a mate so they can start new colonies. Depending on the species of termite, the winged kinds may swarm during day or night. For winged termite signs, if you don’t see them, you may spot discarded wings which are littered around your property.
White Ant or Termite
White ant is the commonly used name for termite. White ants are actually not ants at all and are simply referred to as white ants because they are very close to white in colour. A termites colour however, can vary depending on what they are eating. A darker coloured timber for example will give the termite a darker colour.
Timber Density
Termites like to eat in privacy, for the most part. That means they will consume timber from the inside out. They then leave a thin layer of the timber on the outside intact to avoid detection. In many cases, termites will eat through wood until they reach paint. So, if you suspect you have termites and are looking for signs of termite activity, you can knock on areas of timber where you believe the infestation has settled in. If this test produces a hollow sound, your suspicions are correct about this pest.
Tight Fitting Doors and Windows
If you are starting to have difficulty opening your doors and windows, it may be the result of termites causing warping in the wood. A termite colony produces a significant amount of moisture when they are making a banquet out of wooden structures. This moisture warps doors and windows so badly that they jam and won’t open or close correctly.
Galleries in Wood
The tunnels that termites create in wooden structures are known as galleries. You obviously won’t be able to spot them in structures behind your walls. However, termites also establish colonies which are close to each other. If you spot these tunnels in wood anywhere on or near your property, there are likely termites in the area.
Termite Droppings
You can also identify the presence of termites by looking out for their droppings, which are known as “frass.” Subterranean termites use their droppings to build tunnels, making them harder to detect. If you have drywood termites, this type of termite does not require contact with soil in order to live. This pest doesn’t recycle their droppings, they eject them from the nest through holes at the entrance. Drywood termite pellets look like small piles of salt or pepper.
We hope this blog post gave you a little more insight on some termite signs to look out for.
How Can Houspect Help?
If you find some clear signs of termite damage, we recommend booking termite inspections in Adelaide or South Australia. Houspect can help arrange this on your behalf.
