Termites cause more damage each year than fires. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that residents spend between $1-2 billion on termite control and repairs each year. To promote public vigilance against termites, the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) recognizes March 12-18 as Termite Awareness Week, and we at Braman Termite & Pest Elimination want to take advantage of this annual observance by educating you about the threat of termites and the possible signs of an infestation in your home. As temperatures continue to increase in our region and the ground becomes warmer, winged termites will emerge to launch an attack on vulnerable homes. In our area, these small black insects with translucent wings emerge in the spring in great numbers.
5 signs of a termite infestation
Take a walk around the inside and outside of your home and look for any of these five signs of a termite infestation:
1. Termite swarms. These are sometimes confused with ant swarms. Termites look like “flying ants” but have wings that break off. The width of the termite is pretty much uniform from head to toe, unlike the ant, which has an exaggerated, pinched waist.
2. Brown, pencil-sized, mud shelter-tubes on foundations or structural beams.
3. 1/8 inch cream-colored insects found under boards, rocks, mulch or when digging in the garden. Unlike the termite swarmer, the termite worker and termite soldier are cream colored.
4. Wood beams that sound hollow when tapped.
5. Wood beams that can be pierced with a sharp tool when probed.
If you detect signs of a termite infestation, act fast as termite damage can undermine the structural integrity of your home. Termites require treatment by licensed pest professionals.
Our entire staff of licensed termite inspectors and technicians has both the knowledge and the experience to solve termite problems in any type of structure. We identify both active and at-risk areas, and design the most appropriate plan to treat each home or business.