Termite Facts & Information
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About Termites
Termites work quietly yet relentlessly in the darkness. Termites are not intruders in a traditional sense; they are stubborn infiltrators, devourers of cellulose, and builders of unseen empires underneath your feet. Each colony moves with eerie order, consuming joists, beams, and wooden framing with accuracy, long before a homeowner realizes anything is amiss.
In the United States alone, they cause billions in structural damage every year. Insurance normally won’t cover it. The real threat here is not what termites do fast; it’s more about what they can accomplish slowly and invisibly, over time.
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Identification
What Do Termites Look Like?
They are pale and soft-bodied insects with straight antennae and uniform waists. Most workers are the ones doing the damage, and they are about the size of a grain of rice. Winged reproductives, normally mistaken for flying ants, have two pairs of the same-sized wings and are encountered during swarming season, typically spring.
Soldiers are distinguishable by their large and dark mandibles, with the job of providing defense. The queen, however, is an egg-laying engine, expanding her kingdom deep within moist soil or hidden wood. Unlike ants, termites avoid the light, and they prefer shadowed zones, thriving in silence.
Characteristics
What Sets Termites Apart?
Subterranean termites are the most common type in much of the United States, and they need moisture to survive. They build pencil-thin mud tubes across foundations, walls, and pipes to stay hydrated while penetrating wood. The tunnels act as invisible highways, connecting the nest to the feast. Termites operate like an underground machine, chewing 24/7 with no breaks or sleep.
Drywood termites do not need contact with soil. They nest inside the very timber they consume. Their frass (tiny and sand-like droppings) is generally the only visible trace. Formosan termites, a more aggressive cousin, can build carton nests within walls, maintaining moisture internally and enabling explosive colony growth.
Habits
Where Do Termites Nest and Feed?
Termites build colonies in soil, under foundations, inside damp lumber, and within wooden structures. Mulch beds, tree stumps, and fencing posts serve as launch points for future termite infestation. Moreover, their foraging network can extend hundreds of feet underground.
A single colony may contain hundreds of thousands of termites, all communicating through chemical signals. Swarmers emerge seasonally, usually after rainfall, as the colony expands its reach. Indoor, termites target areas with minimal airflow: behind drywall, crawlspaces, inside attic wood, or underneath flooring.
Health Risks
How Dangerous Are Termites to Your Property?
Termites do not ever choose to bite humans, and they do not spread disease as well. However, they pose a greater financial threat. Termites cause a gradual weakening of structural integrity. Floors warp, doors stick, and paint bubbles. What appears cosmetic may be symptomatic of internal collapse.
If neglected, termite colonies can survive for years, hollowing out wooden support beams and silently devaluing your property. Wood weakened by termite tunneling becomes vulnerable to mold, rot, and even collapse. Worse still, damage usually starts in concealed areas, which makes detection nearly impossible without expert inspection.
