Termites are those pests who damage wooden structures such as doors, beds, windows, and anything that is made of cellulose. Wood is their favourite source of food, which they eat and gradually damage them. It is very difficult to know that you have termites as they are deeply buried inside the walls. Only when you come across some significantly damaged woods, you will know you have a termite infestation.
Termites like damp, dark, nourishment places, which is why they are usually found living deep inside the soil. When they enter your home, they hide inside the wooden structures and start eating it to its core. So it is necessary to immediately exterminate them so that they don’t damage any further. The best option for complete termite extermination is to hire professional termite control services in Bangalore. But before booking one, you have to be sure that you have a termite infestation.
Signs that you have a Termite Infestation:
Termite Sightings:
This is usually one of the first signs that you can have of termite infestation. Sightings of flying termites or their discarded wings are enough to know that you have a termite infestation. Flying termites are those male/female termites that leave their nest in search of a suitable mate.
Some termites can be seen during the night, as they are attracted to light sources. Some swarm during daylight. But, almost all dry wood termites swarm after rain during few specific times of the year.
Discarded Wings:
Another common indication of termites is their discarded wings on the floor or near the windows. Winged termites leave their nest to find their mate and to create a new colony. When they find the perfect nest area, they intentionally break their wings, because they know they will never need them again.
Mud Tubes:
Termites live inside the soil and need safe passage for transportation to their food source. Mud tubes are pencil-shaped tunnels that are created by the termites for travelling to and fro their food source (your house), without being spotted.
These tubes are usually found at the exterior of the wall, where your home meets the ground. Subterranean termites make these tubes with soil and termite droppings that provide moisture. These tubes block out cool, dry air that makes their travelling easy and safe.
Hollow Wood:
The favourite food of termite is wood, which they eat from inside out, only leaving a thin layer of timber or just the paint. When you tap on the surface that has termite damage, it will feel and sound hollow. Termites consume the cellulose present in the timber within the walls, so you may also see unusual cracks on the walls that have been damaged by the termites.
Wooden ceilings, rafters, and architraves are also high-risk zones regarding termites. Termites can even damage laminated flooring and skirting boards. So if your floors feel more spongy or springy, they are maybe damaged by termites.
Frass or Termite Droppings:
This is one of the common indications of dry wood termite infestation. The professionals of pest control services in Bangalore look for frass or termite droppings during their inspection. Dry wood termites live inside the wood and eat it by making tunnels inside it. To keep their nests clean, they push out their excrement out of small holes near the entrance of their nest.
As they eat wood, they excrete wood. So, the droppings look like mounds of pellets that look like sawdust or coffee ground. If you find black marks or dark powdery substance, it can be due to termite infestation.
Termite Noises:
You can actually hear banging and chewing noises from the walls that are infested by the termites. Termites are very sensitive creatures. They can detect sounds and vibrations using many organs found near their antennae and on the tibia (part of their leg).
To signal any danger to other termites, the soldier termites send signals by banging their heads against the wood or shake their bodies. The worker termites, who like to munch away their wood, are very noisy eaters. If you closely place your ear close to the termite infested wood, you can hear them chewing.
Termites feast on wood all day, every day. They are hard to detect, and when you discover the infestation, they would have significantly damaged the wooden structures. If a termite infestation is left untreated, it could weaken the wood leading to costlier damages. So, if you find any of the above signs, immediately contact professional termite control services.