Blog

Termites may look like small, harmless pests, but they can cause more damage than rodents in the house. They feed on wooden materials and can destroy the structure of your home.

If you have never experienced anything like it before, here are clear signs to spot an infestation and call for professional help immediately. Captain Termite can help safeguard your home against infestation, especially termites and ants. Hollywood is one of the places they provide their services.

What Are Termites?

Termites look like small white insects with wings. They are about one-fourth of an inch in size, and most of the termite problems occur in South America. They can even survive through the winters, and like ants, they are workers. They mostly feed on cellulose, found in wood.

Termites are not harmful to the environment but help restore nutrients to the earth. Most termite colonies are found on old tree barks in forests and help break down old trees and return all the nutrients into the soil. Unfortunately, if you find termites back in your home, they won’t leave unless you call a professional for help. 

If you’re spotting some signs of damaged wood, it might be an infestation. Your first response should be to call for professional help. 

Signs You May Be Facing A Termite Infestation

If termites find wood in your house, it means an unlimited food source for them. They will soon find their way into all the wood in your house and invite others as well by leaving a trail behind.

Termites stay hidden, and this makes it very difficult to spot an infestation early. Here are a few signs to identify infestation:

A Bunch of Mud Tubes

Mud tubes are a huge sign that termites are in your home. These tiny insects build tunnels of mud by using their saliva to join the mud together. These tunnels are used to travel back and forth to other sources of wood or food.

If you see pencil-width veins like mud tubes in corners of your house or the attic, the chances are that termite colonies have started to form. These tubes will most likely be on the house’s foundation and can even be on the outside wall, so make sure to check every inch of your house.

A Swarm of Winged Insects

If you spot a swarm of winged termites flying in groups, that’s a huge indicator that there are termites present somewhere in your house.

These flying termites are adults and are also called swarmers. Call your local professional pest control team, Captain Termite, to inspect your house for termites.

Discarded Termite Wings

Adult termites with wings, swarmers, are not excellent flyers, and usually, get rid of their wings and resort to crawling. If you spot any discarded wings in your house, this is a sign that termites are living in your house and eating away your house’s foundation.

Termite Droppings

The biggest sign is if you spot Termites droppings. They leave it close to wooden structures and inside of wooden floors. Droppings may be difficult to spot, but if you do spot something like a dropping, it’s a sign that there is some form of infestation in your home, hidden behind the walls. Professional companies like Captain Termite can help inspect and solve this issue for you.

Damaged Wood

One of the most common signs is damaged wood furniture, surfaces, or flooring. Holes in wood and hollow sounds when tapped mean termites have been eating it up, and you need to take quick action before things get too severe. Other signs are softwood that easily breaks with a screwdriver or knife.

Will Termites Go Away on Their Own?

Once termites enter, they stay. They never leave a house that has ample amounts of wood or food. They hide within walls and stay hidden in order to safely eat away your house. That is why it is important to leave this task to professionals who know how to exactly eliminate them from your home.

Steps to Take If Termites Are Damaging Your Home

If you see any signs of termites or ants, don’t panic. Call Captain Termite right away. 

They can easily help you estimate the amount of damage and figure out what treatment to use next. It is not something that you can use your DIY methods to eradicate. Professional companies know exactly what to do and don’t even miss one termite in your home to make sure it is termite-free again. 

Click here to contact us for help.