Termites are incredibly frustrating pests to have around. They can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your Indianapolis home, without you even knowing they exist! You might go months without ever seeing a single termite, but they might be feasting away at the wooden structures of your home. We’ve compiled a list of questions you might have about termites in Indianapolis with the answers you want and the solution you need.
What Do Termites Look Like?
Termites are small, less than a half an inch long. They can be brown, tan, or red in color. There are many species of termites and different types of termites within each species. They may look like larvae or they may have two wings and straight antennae.
What Do Termites Eat?
Termites need nutrients from cellulose. They can find this in wood; which is why they can be so dangerous to your home. They’ll eat away at the wooden structures of your home, and they may find their way into furniture or eat at windowsills and cabinets.
Spotting Termites In Action
You will probably never see termites in action. They spend most of their time underground or inside wood, and they do not come out in the open. Here are some signs of termites to look for to know that they are eating away at your home.
- Hollow sounding walls
- Bulging floors
- Drooping ceilings
- Difficult-to-open or close doors and windows
- Mud tunnels: narrow tubes of mud which subterranean termites use to get from their nest to their food
- Frass made up of bits of sawdust, droppings, or dead bugs found on the ground near walls
- Damage to wood outside your home, such as fences or logs. You may see fences falling apart, possibly with narrow tunnels through the wood from termite damage.
- Swarmers: flying termites that come out to mate and start new colonies. You may see swarms of winged termites, or you may just see their shed wings on surfaces.
Are Termites Dangerous?
Although termites aren’t dangerous to humans, they are very dangerous to your house. The damage that termites cause to the wooden structures of your home could cost thousands of dollars to repair. This damage often isn’t covered by insurance, and it can be irreparable.
How Can You Prevent Termites?
There are some ways to make your home less appealing to termites. You can remove debris from your yard, keep soil away from the exterior of your home, and check the outside of your building for cracks and holes that might be inviting termites in. Ultimately, your best solution is to start with termite control services in Indianapolis and have Action Pest Control conduct an annual inspection. This way, we can determine the presence of termites quickly, before they do excessive damage.
How Can You Get Rid Of Termites?
If you suspect you have termites, call Action Pest Control for quick and efficient treatment. We can get rid of termites immediately, but we also take a long-term approach to keeping your home termite-free long after we’re gone.