The workers in a colony of lumber-hungry termites are tiny, at only 1/8 of an inch at their smallest, and a placid egg white, though some subspecies do range in color from yellow or brown to black. They are perhaps most well-known for costing American homeowners billions of dollars in damages every year, yet they serve an important purpose in nature. Their destructive wood fiber diet means they can speed up the otherwise painfully slow decomposition process for dead or dying trees. So how are they so easy to miss in human homes?

The Issue With Trying To Uncover Termite Problems

While it’s true that termites cost homeowners in the United States billions of dollars in damages alone each year, it’s primarily because the pests are able to so frequently able to avoid detection for years, when the damage they cause becomes extremely noticeable and even more dangerous.

Early on, termites are so difficult for humans to catch because they rarely, if ever, venture beyond the tunnels they use to move from nest to food source. Even when they do, the signs they leave behind are often easier to misidentify or misattribute. It’s essential for you to be vigilant for any potential signs of termite activity, as your best bet for keeping your home safe is to stop termites before they can really do damage.

What Are Some Signs Of A Termite Infestation?

If it’s important to keep both eyes peeled for key signs of a termite infestation, where does one look, and what should you look for? Some telltale termite traits include:

• Swollen wood: Ever notice how, over time, it becomes harder and harder to close doors or windows around the house? It means that the wooden frames of these portals are swelling ever so slightly due to moisture exposure. Over years and years, this can happen naturally as a result of rainfall, but a termite infestation can cause the same effect in a much shorter time.
• Hollow wood: No sign is quite as blatant as the creaking of a hollow floorboard or other structural wood. You don’t need to be a pest management specialist to know that if you knock on wood and hear the wood echo a knock back, your home is likely in for a bad time. Just remember to keep a particular ear out for echoes in your walls!
• Frass: Have you ever heard of frass? It’s a dead giveaway for termite activity! These powdery piles of termite excrement that resemble wood shavings are left behind on the ground below as worker termites dig out their tunnels. Be careful not to come into contact with it, however, as frass often triggers rashes in humans.
• Swarmers: In late spring, around April and May, termite colonies send out swarmers, their queens-in-the-making, to start their own colonies. If you see termite swarmers, it’s a sure sign you have an infestation on your hands.

Because it’s so difficult to catch an infestation of termites early on, the moment you uncover termite activity in your San Tan Valley property is the moment you need to kick them out for good. When you do, don’t waste time or money! Reach out to Ozone Pest Control today for specialized termite treatment plans that are guaranteed to effectively eradicate a termite infestation.