Signs to Be Wary Of If You Suspect a Termite Infestation
The key to effectively dealing with a termite infestation is to identify it before it escalates into a severe problem. If termites are not eliminated in the early stages, they will eventually cause irreparable damage to your timber structure, which could result in the need for residential demolition, as they will no longer be structurally viable. Nonetheless, some homeowners are not aware of how to go about spotting the telltale signs of infestation and only realise they have a problem on their hands once it is too late. Here are some of the signs that should alert you of an undetected termite infestation.
Discarded insect wings around your property
One of the earliest signs of termites breeding on your property is signs of discarded insect wings. When termites mature, they are referred to as alates. These are swarming termites that fly out of the nest in search of a suitable mate to start a termite colony with. Once they have found their mate, the alates discard their wings and find themselves a nesting site to start breeding. These colonies can become the bane of your existence as the worker termites that are born are what will pose the risk of structural damage to your property. Therefore, if you start to notice discarded insect wings in and around your property, it is essential to hire pest and termite control services.
Your timber structures sound hollow
Another telltale sign that should make you wary of a suspected termite infestation is when your wood structures begin to sound hollow when you knock on them. A misconception people may have about termites is that they consume wood from the outside boring into the timber. The reality is termites feed on your timber structures from the inside moving outward. Typically, this results with the inside of the timber structures hollowing out while the exterior has a thin veneer of wood remaining as the top layer. Eventually, this surface layer will begin to crumble too as there is no internal support holding the timber up.
Signs of frass around your home
Frass is another indicator to be on the lookout for if you suspect your premises are at risk of a termite infestation. This frass is termite droppings and will typically be deposited at the entrance of the termite tunnels. The frass is usually black and has the consistency of powder. Further investigations carried out by pest control professionals would likely uncover termite colonies in close proximity.