Termite Control Methods Formulated With Indianapolis Homes In Mind

The termites we mostly deal with in our Indianapolis service area are called subterranean termites. As the name suggests, these termites live under the terrain. Subterranean termites are the most destructive kind of termite because they're incredibly sneaky. Today, we'll share some tricks to help you detect these sneaky insects, explain some of the ways termite activity goes unnoticed, and how to evaluate the severity of a termite problem. Then, we'll share details of how professionals effectively get rid of termites in Indianapolis. You'll find everything you need to help you find the right plan for your property.

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Mud Tubes And Other Signs Of Termite Activity

If your home has no proactive termite control, performing routine inspections to check for termite activity is critical. One way to find active termites is to look for the mud tubes they create. Let's begin with termite mud tube identification.

Mud Tubes:

Termites may create tubes made of mud to travel from the ground into structures where they find wood-to-soil contact. These tubes start off looking like thin lines of mud but may start to branch off as they climb foundation walls or thicken as they build tubes on top of each other.

Termite Damage:

Most damage caused by termites is on the inside of wooden structures. You'll need to tap on wood to detect damage like this to see if beams or studs sound hollow. You may also notice splintering as timbers weaken. If termite damage is exposed, it may look a bit like corrugated cardboard edges at first. If you look closely, you'll see that the damage is actually termite tunnels stacked on top of each other.

Swarmers:

Termite colonies will produce winged termites. These members, called swarmers, gather together in a swarm during their nuptial flight. If you see a swarm on or near your property, you won't have trouble noticing it if it is out in the sunlight. Swarmers have long white wings that catch the light. But swarmers aren't easy to detect when hidden underneath structures, which can occur when they first emerge from a nest in the ground.

Wings:

When termites mate, they shed their wings. These wings can provide a warning sign of termite activity on your property. Look for the wings in hidden places as termite swarmers look for a suitable place for their offspring to thrive, and dark, damp locations are preferable.

Worker Termites:

You might get lucky and see worker termites as you are out in your yard. You may find them hiding underneath objects in your yard, particularly stacked wood and branches. A worker termite is about 1/8 of an inch, pale in color, and looks a bit like a fat ant.

These warning signs are straightforward and easy to understand. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to catch them. As we pointed out earlier, termites are incredibly sneaky. Let's take a look at how these warning signs may go unnoticed.