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Unfortunately, termites can cause significant damage to your home, including structural damage. Termites eat wood because their primary food source is cellulose. Depending on the type of termite, they may be drawn to anything from rotting wood in a crawlspace, to wooden structures like support beams throughout the home. If it’s made of wood, termites may find their next meal and leave thousands of dollars of termite damage in their wake. But what does termite damage look like?

Here are some common signs of a termite infestation that homeowners should keep in mind.

What Does Termite Damage Look Like?

Depending on the type of termite you’re dealing with, termite damage can take on many forms. Blistering and swelling floors, hollow-sounding wood, and horizontal or vertical carved lines on wooden surfaces are some of the most obvious visible signs of termite damage. 

Blisters and Swelling in Floors

Subterranean termites can cause damage that makes wood floors appear to have water damage. These blisters indicate that termites may be feeding just below the flooring. The same is true for windows and door frames. If you know that your home has not sustained any water damage, get these spots checked by a pest management professional.

Hollowed Wood

Drywood termites consume wood from the inside out, often leaving just a thin layer of wood or paint on the outside. When tapped, this wood will sound hollow. These places may be difficult to detect until significant damage is done. Once significant damage is done, you may notice blistering similar to what we describe above. Sometimes, hollowed wood can be so severe there are actual holes that start at surface-level and go deep into the wooden structure.

Visible Galleries of Termite Damage

In the most obvious instances, you may see what looks like long, slim hollow ridges on wood surfaces. You may notice this kind of visible damage, known as galleries, on wooden structures close to the ground or floor. Baseboards and doorframes are particularly susceptible.

Other Signs of a Termite Infestation

Visible signs of damage typically clue property owners in to a potential termite infestation. However, there are other signs of their presence to consider that we will discuss below.

Swarms

When termites are present, particularly swarmers, discarded wings can be found by windows, doors and other access points. When termites are ready to begin a new colony, they will swarm out of their nests to mate and search for a new place to live. When they land, termites will shed their wings, as they will not need them again. Sometimes, winged ants are confused for termites. Termite wings are both the same size, whereas ants have larger front wings and smaller back wings.

Mud Tubes

Pencil-sized mud tubes along the foundation of your home are a sign of termites. These can also be found along any other source of food, such as trees or shrubbery. Mud tubes are used by subterranean termites to move above ground, as they require certain temperature and humidity levels to survive, and cannot travel in the open air. These tunnels help to shield them from cold, dry air.

Termite Droppings

Drywood termites like to keep their nests inside of wood clean. While tunneling and eating, these termites will create galleries. To clear these galleries of waste products, they will create holes to kick out their excrement. Since drywood termites eat wood, their droppings, called frass, resemble crumbles of sawdust or coffee grounds.

White Ants

While ants and termites look similar, there are several differences between the two species. The waist section of a termite is thicker than that of an ant. Termites are light in color, and can sometimes be translucent. There is no species of white ant, so if you believe you have “white ants”, you probably have an active termite infestation.

Termite Control with Dodson Pest Control

If you think you have a termite problem, step number one is scheduling a termite inspection. A professional pest control company can identify if damaged wood is a result of termites or another wood-destroying pest.

Dodson Pest Control provides free inspections to evaluate your symptoms and create a termite treatment plan. No matter how diligent you are about checking your home for termite damage, a licensed, trained professional knows how to spot damage before it becomes noticeable. Dodson Pest Control uses Termidor, the most effective termiticide available. Our team of pest control professionals can ensure the protection of your house for years to come.  

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