Termites are by far one of the worst residential pests that your home can suffer from, as they can cause a significant amount of structural damage in a short period of time, which can result in expensive repair bills in addition to the cost associated with pest control and removal. Knowing what the most common signs of a termite infestation are can make it easier for you to identify such a presence quickly so that you can get in touch with a pest control specialist immediately to take steps to protect your home.
Discarded Wings
The first sign of termites that you may notice in your home is the presence of a large number of discarded wings. Termites have wings when they are very young and will lose them as they mature. A new termite population in your home will consist of many very young termites, which will then shed their wings as they establish their colony within your home. You are most likely to find these wings either near the entranceway they used to enter your home or near the area they have infested, which gives you valuable information to prevent future infestations and to treat your current pest problem.
Drywall Damage
Another common sign of termites in your home that is much easier to spot than discarded insect wings is any sort of damage to your drywall, which will usually cause your walls to sag or bulge outwards. Alternatively, you may find that your drywall becomes stained because of the termite presence within it: these stains will take on a spiderweb quality, as the tunnels within the drywall are the driving force of the discoloration. Keep in mind that you may find similar damage in other wooden surfaces in your home: drywall is simply the largest and therefore the most commonly affected and easily spotted.
Tubes
Finally, the last thing that you should be aware of if you think that termites have entered your home is the presence of mud tubes. These are most commonly located on the exterior of your home, especially around your foundation, and act as highways for termites to move through and transport food and waste. If you can spot a high concentration of mud tubes by your home or if there are even any tubes within your home, you should talk to an exterminator straight away to deal with the termite population in your property.
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