TERMITE 101

Roughly 60 to 80% os Southern California homes are infested with wood destroying pests, especially termites.   In a warm and sunny climate, termites thrive and swarm during spring.  They will become more active in the hot summer months than at any other time because they love the weather.

How to Spot a Termite

There are 3 different species which exist in the US.  Generally, homeowners in Southern California only need to worry about two types:  Subterranean and Drywood termites.

~Subterranean Termites are all black also with smokey gray wings longer than their bodies.

~Drywood Termites are two-toned with a reddish head and wings that are longer than their bodies. 

How Termites Get into a Home

Members of a termite colony travel on the wind and enter your home through the roof or any wood such as the attic, window sills, post, etc.  Termites only need 1/64th of an inch hole to get inside! Once a colony is formed, they breed and destroy wood rapidly.

How to Identify Evidence of Termites

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

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

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

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

~Tubes - Subterranean termites create mud tubes about the diameter of a pencil.  Look for these tubes on the inside of your home at the baseboards or on drywall.