Subterranean Termites

Subterranean Termite Facts

With jaws like saws and teeth like knives, subterranean termites won’t just come out of the woodwork — they are the woodwork. The pest will chew until they’ve had their fill, and they’re never full. If you don’t catch these munching maniacs quickly, they have the potential to cause severe structural damage to your home, business, or other structure.

Subterranean Termite Damage

Termites cause billions of dollars in property damage throughout the United States every year. A single termite colony can consume as much as seven pounds of wood in a year. These pests not only damage the wood in homes and other buildings but the pest has the potential to make it structurally unsafe.

Subterranean Termite Infestation

Homeowners and business owners should check pipes for any leaks, air conditioning units, and other places where moisture will collect or drain as the pest needs this moisture to survive. It’s important to check woodpiles too — this is a subterranean termite’s favorite snack and the pest will want to eat as much as they can. In fact, it is so popular among these termites that anything made out of wood has the potential to harbor between a few hundred to a few thousand of these insatiable insects.

Termites will feed all day, every day. Anything that contains cellulose is a perfect snack for the pest. In the wild, termites are actually considered beneficial. The byproducts termites produce after feeding become an organic matter that creates healthy soil.

Types of Subterranean Termites

Subterranean Termite Identification

Subterranean termites are tiny, soft insects with dull-white, brown, or black bodies. The pest measures only ⅛ of an inch long. Any areas that are filled with junk, debris, or moisture will be harboring these harmful hellions.

Subterranean Termites in the House & the Garden

There are a few key signs that your home or business has subterranean termites. The biggest indicator is a swarm of winged termites clustering around the windows or doors. You may also notice small piles of “sawdust,” which are fecal pellets secreted by termites after digesting the cellulose from wood.

Other signs include tiny holes in wood, “bubbles” on wood from termite tunnels built near the surface, in addition to mud-like tubes along the wood and foundation that allow termites to get enough moisture as they travel.