While Auburn may be home to passionate basketball fans and good barbeque, it’s also home to some of the worst termites in the United States. Left untreated, termite infestations can cost Auburn homeowners thousands of dollars in property damage – but how do you know if you even have a termite problem?
Here’s what Auburn residents should know about identifying termites by appearance, what the damage they cause looks like, other signs of a termite problem, and how to get rid of termites with pest control in Auburn.
How To Identify Termites
Termites can vary in appearance based on the type of termite and their position in the colony. In Auburn, there are two main kinds of termites you’ll encounter: subterranean termites and drywood termites. The easiest way to identify subterranean termites is by their soldiers and alates. Subterranean soldier termites tend to have pale bodies and are easily identified by their large mandibles and rectangular-shaped heads.
Alates, or subterranean swarmers, have dark brown to black bodies but wings that look translucent. These are also the most common types of termites in the country as well as Alabama. They build their colonies underground while drywood termites tend to live in the walls. Speaking of drywood termites, these termites have long, narrow bodies and coloring that range from creamy-white to light brown. Their colonies usually don’t grow as large as subterranean termites, and rather than build underground or in the foundation, they like to hide in attics, studded walls, and even furniture.
Regardless of the type of termite, Prewett Pest Control & Termite has a solution that will work for your home.
Identifying Termite Damage
While you may occasionally spot the termites themselves, most people discover an infestation by finding termite damage. At first glance, termite damage can sometimes look like water damage or just structural problems in an old house, which is why it’s important to know how to identify termite damage. The signs of termite damage include:
- Tight-fitting doors and windows that constantly get stuck when closing or opening and no longer seem to fit on their frames
- Tiny holes in the walls that may look like pinholes
- Loose floor tiles, which can be the result of excess moisture that termites bring into your home
- Odd, maze-like patterns that show up on wood furniture, walls, or floorboards in your home
- Floorboards that start excessively squeaking
- Peeling or drooping paint that may look like it’s bubbling or just water-damaged
- Walls or floorboards that sound hollow when you tap or step on them
- Soft wood that begins to crumble or easily gives way when you probe it with a knife, screwdriver, or another implement
- A thin, gritty brown-gray film that may get left behind on the surface of damaged wood
Other Signs Of Termites
Besides water-damaged or hollow wood, there can be other signs that may indicate a termite problem, such as:
- Wings: After a swarm, termites will leave behind their discarded wings, which you may find near windowsills, on spider webs, or other surfaces of your home.
- Swarms: While this isn’t a common sight, actual termite swarms definitely indicate a nearby infestation and growing populations.
- Mud tubes: Subterranean termites use mud tubes to travel without being exposed. You may find these small tunnels extending up your home’s foundation or in other places termites need to travel.
- Frass: After eating through your wood, termites may leave droppings, also called frass, piled around. This frass may resemble coffee grounds, sawdust, or even specks of dirt.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
When it comes to getting rid of termites, these pests are far harder to get rid of than they are to bring into your home. In fact, there’s only one foolproof way to permanently rid your home of termites and determine how much damage they’ve done, and that’s by contacting us at Prewett Pest Control & Termite.
We’ve been serving the Auburn area and local homeowners for years, and we can put our experience and effective treatments to good use with your termite inspection. If you see signs of termites, don’t wait any longer – call us today at Prewett Pest Control & Termite to learn more about how our termite control services work.