A colony that s gotten inside the house may be revealed by swarms that exit through crevices or gaps in the house walls or paneling.
Massive termite colony on wall under paneling.
Use the hammer and pry bar to carefully open the wooden exterior board of an inconspicuous part.
You remember from history lessons that there are some castes in india.
Their colonies are small and they only nest in wet wood.
I treated a house which had that very problem in 2003.
You may find live termites in the interior wood paneling.
Subterranean termites live inside the soil near and under a house and reach above ground level food sources through special mud tubes that workers build of saliva and their own feces.
Mud tubes paint blisters damage to wood paneling or wooden trim hollow sounding wood and pinholes in the wall.
All states except alaska.
This document discusses alternatives for termite protection including reducing the attractiveness of the structure to termites get wood away from the building fix leaks use of 16 grit sand diameter 0 06 0 1 in as a termite barrier 18 wide x 3 deep in crawl areas or stainless steel mesh for the same purpose under foundations and slabs.
Winged termites easy ways to tell the difference the queen.
When a termite colony gets large enough winged reproductive termites will emerge to create a new colony.
Even subterranean termites can live and maintain a colony within walls without going back into the ground.
A fourth type the dampwood termite poses less of a threat.
A queen can lay over a thousand eggs in one day.
Termites have straight antennae very different from the elbowed antennae of carpenter ants.
Termites are very interesting insects.
It is a female termite whose major role in a colony is to lay eggs.
Walls can draw these dangerous vermin in case the walls are in direct contact with the soil.
Unlike some other insects and animals they live in organized colonies.
To inspect interior wood paneling you might have to remove a board or panel.
Signs of wall damage caused by termites can include.
Of the dozens of termite species in the u s the three shown below do the most harm.
Eliminate the source of the dampness and the colony dies.
Signs of termite damage in walls.
Because termites usually are hidden from view it s easiest to determine the type of infestation by examining the winged version of the insect.
You may be really surprised with their sociability.
The queen is the largest termite in a colony with a length ranging from 60cm to 80 cm.
However it s important to note that even when the colony isn t in the house termites may still be getting into your home through the mud tunnels they build.
Termite activity generally tends to be more in areas closer to the floor so you can start at the bottom.
There is only one queen in a colony.