Signs Of A Termite Infestation
Several clues let you know that you've got termite activity.
Fortunately, some of these early signs are more obvious than others—so if you spot any of the following tell-tale signs, contact your local termite control technicians immediately!
Stuck Windows or Doors
Termites produce moisture while eating and tunnelling through the wood, which can cause door and window frames to swell and warp. If your doors and windows have become stiff and difficult to open, it could be time to call in a termite control expert to perform a termite inspection.
Discarded Wings Near Home Entry Points
One of the first signs you may have termites is the presence of flying termites called ‘swarmers' or ‘alates'. These male and female termites have left their nest to find a mate and establish a new colony. You can also look out for discarded termite wings, as they lose them shortly after finding a mate.
Mud Tubes Around Property Foundations
Tunnels or ‘galleries' are a sure sign you have a termite infestation. These can only be seen in a piece of broken timber in or around your home, as they are invisible from the outside.
Termite Droppings (AKA Frass)
One of the most obvious signs of a termite infestation is their droppings, or ‘frass'. Drywood termites push their faeces outside of their nests, resulting in small black marks and a dark, powdery substance surrounding the infested area. This is definitely a sign to organise a Perth termite treatment.
Knocking Noises Within Walls
Termite soldiers make quiet clicking sounds by banging their heads against wood or shaking their bodies to alert their colony when disturbed or to alert them that there is danger.
Termites are also noisy eaters; you can hear them munching away if you listen closely. Interestingly, a recent study found that termites eat twice as fast if they hear rock music playing!
Termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving only a hollow shell behind. If you knock or tap an area with termite damage, it will sound hollow or papery- or may even break away.
Additional Signs
Damaged, cracked, or blistered wood, as well as cracked plaster or paint on your walls.
What Types Of Termites Would You Find In Your Home
Subterranean termites
moving to their food source through mud tunnels, subterranean termites need moist soil to survive. Their colour depends on their role in the colony. Workers are pale cream, soldiers are pale cream with brown hair, primary reproductives are black or brown, and supplementary reproductives are white.
Drywood termites
these termites don't need soil to thrive and can live in wood alone. Slightly larger than subterranean types (up to 1/2in), dry wood termites are dark to light brown and live in smaller colonies.
Formosan termites
also soil-borne, these are less common than subterranean termites and look different too, with a translucent orange colour and longer body.
Why Termite Inspections Are So Important
A termite inspection is the crucial first step in the pest control process, identifying whether active termites are present in your home, how much damage they've caused, and how to treat them best.
At Bug Busters, our licensed termite control specialists will advise you on ways to better protect your Perth property from these wood-boring pests—well into the future.
Our report format has been approved by a panel of specialist pest control experts certified to carry out reports to the Australian Standards. So you get peace of mind knowing a qualified professional is reporting on your property.