TERMITE 101

Roughly 60% to 80% of Southern California homes are infested with wood destroying organisms, here are some helpful hints to finding them.

How to Spot a Termite

There are 3 different species which exist in the US.

Generally, homeowners in Southern California need to focus on two species:

Subterranean and Drywood termites.

~Subterranean Termites are completely black with smokey gray wings longer than their bodies

  dirt and/or mud tubes are always present with this species

~Drywood Termites are two-toned; a reddish head with a black/brown body, wings are longer than

their bodies.  Colony evidence is in the form of "sawdust" type pellets 

How Termites Get into a Home

Members of a termite colony travel swarm once a year when conditions are favorable.  The winged termites travel on wind currents because they're poor flying insects.  The colony "swarmers" enter your home through vents, seams in the roof or any other exposed wood members; this includes decking, patio posts, wood siding, window/door sills, etc.  Termites only need 1/64 th of an inch hole to get inside! Once a colony establishes itself it will take another 3 years for this new colony to breed to the point of making its own swarmers.

How to Identify Evidence of Termites

~Swarms - Both drywood & subterranean termites swarm to start new colonies, especially near windows (heat source) or lights.

~Piles of Wings - Because termites shed their wings as they swarm, discarded wings are another indicator.

~Droppings - Drywood termites produce tiny fecal pellets, often found in small piles or mounds near wood entry/exit holes.

~Wood Damage - Look for small holes in wood, blistering paint, or soft wood timbers.

~Tubes - Subterranean termites create mud tubes at the base of a wall roughly the diameter of a pencil.  This foundation line entry point can take place inside a wall void allowing subterranean termites to travel up inside a wall.  Look for these tubes on the inside of your home at the baseboards or on drywall. 

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