Few pests are feared more than termites. Termites cause the most expensive damage of any pest in the United States. Every single year, this invasive insect causes 5 billion dollars of damage to American homeowners. That’s over 13 million dollars per day spent fixing the damage generated by these tiny destructive creatures. Sadly, termites’ favorite foods are found in our homes.
What Kind of Things Do Termites Eat?
There are multiple items from which termites gain their nutrients, including wood, plants, and grass. They want the cellulose inside that provides them with life-sustaining sugar once the naturally occurring bacteria in their systems help them to digest the cellulose.
Some Items Termites Enjoy Eating:
- Lumber
- Insulation
- Sheetrock
- Fabric
- Carpet
- Plants
- Books
- Wallpaper
- Attic Beams
What Kind of Extensive (and Expensive!) Damage Do Termites Cause?
Often, you may not notice an infestation until significant damage has occurred. Severe structural harm can be created by a large colony of termites, usually over 60,000 insects, before we are even aware of it. Some of the costly destruction termites create include:
- Ceiling or Walls Buckle
The bending of walls and ceiling is a real problem when termites infest. Moisture can exacerbate the issue, causing cracks in the surfaces. Eventually, the ceiling or walls can cave in, exceptionally harming your home and necessitating expensive repair.
- Discoloration to Paint, Floors, or Sheetrock
These invasive insects can cause the wall paint to look cracked or peeled. Their eating habits may also trigger drooping sheetrock and swelling floors, and your floor tiles may shift and loosen. All these problems are pricey, often around $3,000 to repair.
- Subterranean Damage to Your Foundation
Suppose termites are found in the floor supports or subfloor of your home. In that case, it will cost a considerable amount to repair your home’s structural integrity so that it is safe to support both furniture and people. The effect can resemble water damage at first. Still, it results from termites feeding on them, creating hollow spaces and extremely unstable floors. In fact, termites can destroy entire house foundations! Therefore, it is imperative to get a professional pest control company out immediately if this is suspected.
How To Spot Signs of Infestation Before It’s Too Late
Although these creepy-crawlies can be very sneaky, there are a few signs of infestation to look out for. Hopefully, by noticing these signs, you may be able to get an expert pest control company out before the destruction becomes very extensive.
- Paper Product Holes
If you notice your favorite book has bite-sized holes in it, you may assume a termite has enjoyed chewing on it as much as you enjoy reading it.
- Piles of Poop
Termites leave behind feces in piles that may look like dirt pellets or sawdust. If you see these piles of poop in or around your house, it is a strong indicator of an infestation.
- Castoff Wings
Reproductive stage termites will shed their wings after a successful mating flight. This indicates that they are starting new colonies, possibly in your home.
- Mud Tubes
Sunterrianain termites can only survive underground. In order to be able to access wood, these pests build tubes of mud that will protect them from the air. These tubes often run along walls and have multiple branches. If you see them, it suggests a termite infestation is likely.
Termites may invade your home at any time during the year. Contacting a licensed professional pest control company like Target Pest Control as soon as you notice any signs of termites can potentially save you thousands of dollars in damage
