Termites 101: Understanding The Threat To Your Home In Lawrenceville

When we sense a threat, we take action. If you believe your family is in danger, you will install a security system, additional door locks, video cameras, etc., to provide protection. It is natural to take preventative action when we have trouble coming, but we can be slow to act when we don't perceive something (i.e., termites) as a threat. It is tempting to dismiss these minuscule insects as a danger to your house, but you do so at your peril. 

You need termite control in Lawrenceville from ProCare Pest Services if you think termites are in your house or want to ensure they don't invade your home. For the last ten years, our family-owned and operated company has removed termites and prevented them from destroying homes. Our commitment to customer service, quality training, and community leadership has enabled us to grow into two locations serving thousands of satisfied customers. 

We wrote this article because you must understand the threat termites pose to your Lawrenceville home. Please keep reading to gain the knowledge you need to make an informed decision so you can protect your most valuable financial investment, your home.

Unsubtle Signs Of Termite Damage

The termite species that infest many Lawrenceville homes is the subterranean termite. These termite colonies begin when a flying pair of reproductive termites sense fungal odor from damp wood in the yard or land and burrow into the soil. After hiding from predators, they mate, and the new queen produces her first offspring of sterile female workers. The workers soon begin expanding the colony by creating new tunnels and chambers in the soil. The tunnels lead to nearby rotting timber, where the workers travel to forage for food; after feeding, they return to the nest and regurgitate the wood to feed the colony members. 

Although subterranean termites live in the soil and travel mainly through underground tunnels to their food source, that does not mean they don't leave signs of their presence. When investigating your Lawrenceville home, search for these early warning signs of termites:

• Mud tubes
• Hollow-sounding wood
• Darkened wood
• Blistering paint or wallpaper
• Discarded wings
• Swarmers

Let's examine these indicators to help you better understand the impending threat from these signs.

While excessive moisture causes wood to decay, it is what subterranean termites need to survive. Thus, they create their colonies in the damp dirt near rotting wood. Sometimes moist timber is in the crawl space, but the colony is outside the home, which presents a problem because exposure to heat and sunlight quickly dehydrates subterranean termites. To remedy the situation, worker termites construct mud tubes on the foundation walls for protection from the elements as they travel from the soil to the nearest access point (e.g., cracks 1/16-inch or more) into the home. The presence of these tubes is a good indication that subterranean termites are in your home. 

Subterranean termite workers eat along the wood grain and hollow out the timber. Use a blunt object to tap on suspected wood; if it does not sound solid, you may have termites. One way to determine which support beams, floor joists, and two-by-fours (2x4s) you should investigate is to look for discoloration. Because subterranean termites enter wood from the damp soil, and since the wood itself is moist, the areas where they consume become dark due to more water infiltrating the lumber. Wood with a long-term infestation may crumble when you tap or touch it. 

Although subterranean termites initially infest wood in contact with the soil, they eventually attack wood inside walls. Also, since drywall contains cellulose, they will chew on the paper but will not eat through to the other side. However, the moisture on their bodies causes wallpaper and paint on the wall to blister, leaving another clue that termites are inside your Lawrenceville home. 

Each spring, mature subterranean termite colonies produce flying reproductive termites, known as swarmers. They use their antennae to detect a fungal odor from rotting timber as they coast along the warm air currents. A subterranean termite colony usually begins in a tree stump or rotting timber on the property, but after two to four years, when the colony matures, it releases swarmers. When this occurs, you will usually see them flying around windows, doors, and outdoor lights at dusk or early dawn. Discarded wings on window sills or at the base of doors indicate termites may be invading your home. 

Ants also produce swarmers, and many people confuse the two insects. So you can determine if termites are on your property, try to get a close look at the swamers. Termites have four wings of equal length, whereas the front wings of ants are longer than their hind wings. Also, ants have bent or clubbed antennae, but termites have two straight antennae. Lastly, ants have a narrow waist, but termites have a long, straight body. 

If these signs of termites are present around your Lawrenceville home, termites are threatening your house. Secure help from ProCare Pest Services before the damage becomes extensive.

The Silent Threat: Understanding Termite Damage