Termites: What They Look like and How to Get Rid of Them

What exactly is a termite? Is it an ant? No. While they may look similar, the ant has a narrow thorax as compared to the termite. They are small in size, pale white to blackish in color, and they feed primarily on wood and other cellulose materials. They can be found almost anywhere, but they prefer damp, rotting wood. The colony consists of a queen, workers and soldiers much like the ant colonies. The winged termites that are often observed are also capable of reproduction. This is why termite mounds can be huge.

Termite mounds are the tallest buildings that are not made by man. Some of these mounds can get as high as thirty feet tall. These mounds have a complex structure of tunnels and cooling vents that keep the mound at a comfortable temperature. If you are unlucky enough to get termites, you may be lucky enough to find a mound. If you find the mound, you can begin to eradicate them. If you are unlucky, you may find yourself infested with subterranean termites.

Subterranean termites, as their name suggests live underground. They are the most common in North America, and they also cause the most amount of damage to man made buildings. Anywhere your house makes contact with the ground, is a vulnerable spot. They can come up through cracks in the foundation and completely destroy a home.

Most people don’t even realize that they have termites until they see a swarm of them emerging from their house. By this time, the damage is normally significant. Should you ever see a swarm around your house or notice lots of discarded wings, call a professional.

There are many methods used to get rid of a termite colony. Some involve the use of chemicals sprayed directly into the mound or holes drilled into the affected house. Other methods consist of poisoning the soil around the termite mound. Another way of dealing with the pesky house eaters is to systematically heat the wood in the house to at least 124 degrees for a period of 30 mins or longer. This effectively dries out the termite, causing it to expire..

Being a homeowner also means being vigilant when it comes to your surroundings. If you catch a termite invasion early, it is much easier to poison them and get rid of them instead of letting the problem continue for years. Not only do you then have a termite problem, but you also have a house that is uninhabitable. Of course, with enough time and money, anything can be fixed. But why wait?