In an interview taken no so long ago, a representative from the National Pest Management Association in the United States stated that the country faces a termite problem that economically translated to millions if not billions of dollars worth of damage, the biggest problem being termite infestations. These insects can tear down a house in months and owners have to deal with extremely extended and pricey reparations and in order to salvage their homes.
But while it is not hard to afford a termite treatment cost offered by almost every pest control company, which offers not only interventions but also prevention and monitoring plans, it is quite difficult to determine by yourself if your house is subjected to threats coming from Wood-Destroying Insects. These are a major concern, as not all of them leave behind obvious clues about their presence, as termites do.
How do I know I have termites?
If you look carefully around the house, the walls or the furniture, you may find an almost transparent brownish film over your wooden elements in the house, you may also find the dangerous signs of swarming – like shed wings or even dead termite bodies, tears in the wood structure or “soft” and hollow spots spread over the walls, floor or furniture, which means that underneath the termites started damaging the wood. But if termites leave some clues behind, this is not the case with another type of WDI’s that are more discrete, but equally dangerous for any wood house.
The Carpenter Ants
Two of the most frequent wood pests are the Carpenter Ants . They also like wood and will stop at nothing to make themselves at home in your house or furniture. In order to assess clearly the situation of whether having or not a pest problem, here are some clues these unwanted guests leave you to their discovery.
Favorite habitat
They are mostly attracted by decayed wood, moist corners and generally by humid places. If you have a water problem within your house, you can expect the carpenter Ants to find their way to your estate. They also like the night and the food you leave behind, feeding on your sweet or fat leftovers without a problem.
Favorite damage
They feed on wood structures and have a specific way of tunneling into a structure.
Signs of colonization
They don’t leave behind much, but be careful in spring, as you may see swarming activity around or residue composed of feces and wood shavings. This is called frass and is a sign of their presence. Rustling sounds are a clear clue of a colony tunneling and channeling in the detriment of wood structures and elements.
If by any chance you spot odd signs that your wood is damaged or if you know for a fact that a recent water problem led to some predicaments around the house, a more focused attention paid to signs of pest infiltration are mandatory. A pest control company will assess correctly the type of pests you are dealing with and come up with a plan in order to terminate them. However, before being too late, you should know and understand the signs of these WDI’s presence in your home.
