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Termites are one of the most significant threats that homeowners have to deal with. Indeed, termites can wreak havoc if left alone. This is why you’ll want to do everything you can to prevent termite infestations. However, things can still go awry, and termites can still invade your space no matter what you do. This is why you should also be on the lookout for signs of termites so that you can nip the problem in the bud as soon as possible. This is easier said than done as it can be rather tricky to spot termites. To help you out, we thought it would be useful to put together a brief article on this subject. If this is something that you’re interested in learning more about, read on for four tell-tale signs that you may have termites in your home.

Flying Termites or Termite Wings

This is one of the first signs of termite flying insects, as these flying termites are the ones who leave the nest to find a mate and establish a new colony. Flying termites like to fly after rain, but the majority of them fly at night. They find a mate, shed their wings, and create their new colony in a good nesting place. The king and queen of the colony can then take care of the young termites until there are enough workers to take over. 

Hollow Wood

Termites usually consume wood from the inside, leaving a thin veneer of timber or just the paint. To test whether there is any damage, you should knock or tap on an area with known termite activity. The sound will be hollow or papery. If the timber is gone, you may see unexplained cracks on the internal walls. Termites can also damage laminate flooring and even baseboards, so look for unusual blisters and bulges on the flooring. Floorboards may also spring unnaturally when you step on them.

Termite Droppings

A key sign of drywood termites is frass, which is wood-coloured dry wood termite droppings that can be confused with sawdust. Frass appears at the entrance to their nest, usually as small black spots or dark powdery substance around the holes that they are using to push their droppings out through. 

Mud Tubes

Termites use mud tubes to travel between the soil and the sources of food; they typically build these tubes close to a building, usually near foundations. The tubes are usually made of soil and termite droppings, and they provide moisture for the termites. You can see these tubes quite clearly if you know what you’re looking for.

Conclusion

We hope this article proves to be useful when it comes to helping you spot early signs of termite infestations. If you notice any of the things we’ve listed above, it would be best to deal with the problem immediately to avoid more serious issues down the line. Be sure to keep everything you’ve learned here in mind so that you can best protect your home from termites.

If you need help with termites in Melbourne, then you’ve come to the right place. On Time Pest Control is a family-operated business. We are a company originally set up to service the Bendigo Shepparton, Echuca and Kerang Districts.  We are an established company with over fifteen years of experience in Pest and Building services. We are now servicing Melbourne and surrounding areas from our St Kilda office. We have the latest scientific techniques and equipment to ensure compliant and environmentally friendly effective results. For more information, visit our website today!