Termites tend to be more subtle than carpenter ants are. Ants don’t eat wood, so you’ll see foragers out searching for food to take back to the nest.
Termites, on the other hand, do just eat wood and similar materials, so they can stay hidden a lot longer.
Here is a list of potential cues that can indicate a termite infestation.
Damaged wood flooring – buckling, blistering, changes in appearance
Doors and windows alignments off; no longer open or close properly
Damaged or bubbling paint or wallpaper. Sometimes, you might also see pinholes – with or without small amounts of mud
Mud tubes. Termites travel via mud tubes, from their home underground upwards in search of new wood.
Most mud tubes are attached to foundations and/or walls – but they will also build them through foam, and even through air like stalactites
Termites swarm when nests are active enough to grow. Alates are termites with wings – the ones that head off in search of new areas to move into. Once they’ve decided on a spot, they will drop their wings – so it’s possible that you may find a pile of discarded wings.
Live termites – not usually inside your home or cottage, but often you can find them by moving a log or a rock in an infested yard. They burrow down into the ground as soon as they are exposed.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL TERMITE DAMAGE IN YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY
