Are you wondering if your Terre Haute home has termites? In our service area throughout Indiana the termites we see most are classified as subterranean termites, which are the most destructive termites found in the United States. These wood-eating pests, as their name suggests, don't live above ground, and that makes them hard to detect. What's worse, when they get into your home, they will stay entirely inside your walls. For this reason, you are not likely to see a termite in your home unless one of two things happens...
You See Swarmers
Usually, the way you'll find out you have subterranean termites is when you start to see winged termites crawling around on the inside of your windows and on window ledges; but by the time a termite nest starts to create swarmers, it has already matured inside your walls. These winged reproductives are produced when populations in a nest reach maximum levels, and unfortunately, they are a sign that the mature nest in your home is about to replicate.
Sometimes flying ants are mistaken for termites. The easiest way to differentiate between these two pests is by their wings. Termite wings are white, and stack on top of each other. Ant wings are more yellow and have a cleft at the ends where their two sets of wings are clearly distinguishable.
You Find Them During A Construction Project
When subterranean termites enter a home, they silently eat away at it from the inside out. That makes them hard to detect. However, it isn't hard to miss these insects when you tear out a wall. There can be hundreds of thousands of termites in a single termite colony. So, you're going to see lots of tiny bugs moving around. At a distance, they will appear to look like pale worms or maggots; but close inspection will reveal their insect features. Termites have two antennae, six legs, and three body parts. It can be hard to differentiate between the thorax and the abdomen, but look to see where the six legs are attached. One set of legs will be attached to the thorax and two sets will be attached to the abdomen.
When you find subterranean termites in your Terre Haute home, it is time to call Action Pest Control. These wood-destroying organisms cost U.S. property owners billions of dollars every year, and our team of experts can keep you from being a part of that statistic. With over 70 well-trained and state-certified pest management professionals, on staff board-certified entomologists, and the most advanced equipment available, you can trust that your home will be protected. When termites strike, take action and get Action!