Know Your Enemy – Termite FAQs
How much do you know about termites? Here are a few commonly asked questions and answers.
Q: How many different species of termites have been discovered? A: More than 2600 species have been discovered by entomologists. The U.S. is home to only 55 of them. Only 2 types are of concern to home owners: subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Q: How are they different? A: Termites are social insects. That means they live in colonies. The location of the colony is different depending on the type of termite. Subterranean termites live in underground colonies because they need more moisture to survive. To feed they tunnel to into homes nearby. Drywood termites nest inside the structures they feed on. They depend on moisture from inside or nearby the structure to survive.
Q: How would I know if termites have invaded my home? And how do I tell the difference between the different types? You may detect subterranean termites when they swarm in the spring. At that time the colony splits to begin other colonies. Mud tubes on the foundation or walls is a sign of subterranean termites. All termites leave wood that may look broken, blistered or weak. Discarded wings or piles of “sawdust” may indicate that drywood termites were present in the past or are currently present.
Q: Is my home free of termites when none of these signs are present? A: No, because termites do their damage on the inside of the wood, which makes them very hard to detect.
Q: I see insects with wings running around. Are they termites or ants? A: Until you see them up close, termite swarmers and ant swarmers may look alike. But when you look closely, termites have straight antennae, ant antennae are bent. Ants have a narrow waist and termites have thick waists.
Q: Aren’t termites generally found in older buildings? A: The only preference termites have is for wood. They don’t care where it is. They’ve even been found in recently completed new construction. Termites have no preference for older buildings.
Q: Is there anywhere in the U.S. that’s free from termites? A: Other than Alaska? No. Subterranean termites are present in all of the lower 48 states plus Hawaii. Drywood termites are limited to most of the coastal regions of the U.S. plus the desert southwest.
Termite season is approaching. Now is the time to protect your property. The professional Tampa termite experts at offer professional termite inspections, a highly effective termite prevention plan and complete termite control.