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Termite Reproductive s (swarms)
- Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year. They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. Termites can injure living trees and shrubs, but more often are a secondary invader of woody plants already in decline. While buildings may become infested at any time, termites are of particular importance when buying or selling a home since a termite inspection/infestation report is normally a condition of sale. Besides the monetary impact, thousands of winged termites emerging inside one’s home are an emotionally trying experience — not to mention the thought of termites silently feasting on one’s largest investment.
Subterranean termites can live up to 18 inches below ground. Some species’ nests can have a radius of up to 340 feet. These habits mean that a subterranean termite nest can be located beneath a home.They come from the soil. Termites don’t realize they are in a house. They are just doing their natural function…eating wood. Termites natural function is to turn this wood back into soil as part of the decaying process. Termites eat dead tree stumps, fallen tree branches and tree roots so when we build on top of their natural environment it is inevitable that we will create this problem.
Termites are the major wood-destroying structural pests in the southern United States. According to some estimates, over $2 billion is spent annually controlling or preventing termite infestations
Cause more damage to homes in U.S. than storms and fire combined; colonies can contain up to 1,000,000 members.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil to obtain moisture, but they also nest in wood that is often wet. They easily attack any wood in contact with the ground. If the wood does not contact the soil, termites can build mud tunnels or tubes to reach wood several feet above the ground. They can also enter a structure through expansion joints in concrete slabs or where utilities enter the house
Damaged wood: Wood may appear crushed at structural bearing points. Termite damaged wood resonates with a dull thud (hollow sound)when tapped with a hammer. Pick and probe the surface of an infested piece of wood with a pen knife and you will find tunnels running parallel to the wood’s grain
