Subterranean Termites

Everyone has heard of the damage that termites can do to one of the things that most people work their whole life to have – turning your dream home into a nightmare. 

Termites have enormous appetites and love to eat on cellulose, which is in the wood that creates your home, walls, garages, sheds, etc. They continuously eat and create tunnels within the inside of the wood. Termites can also eat paper, books, boxes, furniture, clothes, etc. They are very organized and work together to accomplish their goal. 

Termites can have a long-term effect on your home, as well as future resale value. This is especially true if there has been more than one termite infestation. The NPMA (National Pest Management Association) estimates that termites cause homeowners approximately 5 billion dollars’ worth of property damage annually. The estimated cost of home and property repairs from termite damage can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on how long the termites were allowed to infest the home.  According the USDA Forest Service subterranean termites are the most destructive pest of wood in the United States.

In Delaware, we have subterranean termites , which, unfortunately, is considered the most damaging of the four types of termites. Subterranean termites live in the ground and often go unseen, sometimes for years. Subterranean termites hate the sun and will make protective mud tunnels or tubes to stay out of the sun and air when they have to venture out above ground.  They prefer moist and warm, shaded areas and are often found where there is direct contact of wood to the ground. However, termites may also enter homes that do not have wood to ground contact if the home offers moisture through other sources such as leaks or condensation.  Termites often find their way into homes through foundation cracks and voids, as well as at porches, decks, and steps.

There are four main members of a subterranean termite colony including the queen(s) and king(s), workers, soldiers and alates or swarmers. As you can guess, the workers are responsible for most of the work within the colony, such as building and feeding the nest and the soldiers protect the colony. Alates are the flying termites, often referred to as swarmers, that are the most commonly seen and are responsible for starting new colonies in a new location.  Once a termite colony grows large enough, the colony will attempt to expand and to start a separate colony at a new location, which is how new termite infestations begin.   

Left untreated, a single subterranean termite colony can grow to the size of a football field and up to a couple million termites. Unfortunately, termites often go unnoticed for years due to their ability to hide in walls, under homes and stay out of the sun in general, which is why it is so important to be vigilant in detection. Termites are also repeat visitors - once an infestation, there is a higher possibility of additional outbreaks in the future, especially if the environment is unchanged. 

Integrity Pest Solutions provides thorough, comprehensive termite treatments that are warrantied for one year. Annual Termite Inspections by a certified technician to help protect against the possibility of an infestation, and to gain early detection of termite activity are also available. Also and as part of our complete termite control line, Guaranteed Pre-Construction Termite Treatments are available for new homes, garages, porches, offices, and buildings, as well as WDO/WDIR Wood Destroying Insect Inspections and Reports with approved Form NPMA-33 for real estate sales. 

TIPS: Be sure that there are no leaking plumbing or drainage issues in or around your home. Termites are drawn to high moisture.

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