Termites Are Silent Destroyers

April is National Pest Management Month, and experts are warning of rising pest populations across the United States this spring and summer due to erratic weather patterns. Termites are no exception.

As spring sets in, so does peak termite season — the time of year when these silent destroyers are most active. While not dangerous to humans, property damage caused by these wood-destroying pests is estimated to be between $5 billion and $6.8 billion annually, according to the trade group National Pest Management Association (NPMA) yet only 31 percent of U.S. homeowners are familiar with common termite-infestation signs. While termites generally live underground, they tend to “swarm” in the spring or summer, typically in search of a location to start a new colony.

Termites are the subject of more inquiries than any other insect, according to the Cornell Cooperative Extension. They feed upon wood, including structural timber, wood debris, tree and shrub roots, and other cellulose materials, such as furniture, cotton and books/paper. In their natural habitat, termites play a valuable role in decomposing wood into soil to be used again by other living organisms. Around the house, they’re generally not so welcome.

“Termites are practically everywhere. They live in the soil,” said Brian O’Connor of Peconic Pest Control in Southampton. “They’re regularly searching for food sources but are generally below ground until the weather warms.”

Termites are active year-round, but in winter, they are less likely to travel far from their nests, making it easier to target them with bait stations or treatments at that time. Most pest-control companies recommend scheduling termite inspections and treatments during the winter months. Termites will chew through wood, flooring and wallpaper virtually nonstop if left undetected. The best way to prevent termite damage is by routinely inspecting the foundation of your home and any visible areas of wood for signs of termites and eliminate moisture in and around the home.

“Termites are extremely common on the East End,” said Allan Meza, the operations manager at Twin Forks Pest Control. “March through May is generally termite swarming season so homeowners need to be very vigilant at this point. Things like storing firewood off of the ground and away from the home, regularly inspecting foundations for cracks and intrusions, and eliminating moisture are a few of the things a homeowner can do to minimize conducive conditions.”

Regular termite inspections and treatment from a licensed pest professional can help catch the warning signs early, before they lead to expensive repairs. The best time to prepare for termites is during the winter months as their activity is more predictable and they tend to stay closer to their nests when temperatures are cooler, making it easier to identify and treat potential infestations. Tiny termites can forage distances greater than 100 yards as they search for new food sources.

“The U.S. has experienced some wild weather this year. We’ve seen everything from heavy snowfall to extreme flooding and even unseasonable warmth in some areas,” said Dr. Jim Fredericks, the senior vice president of public affairs at NPMA. “While we typically anticipate an increase in pest activity during the spring and summer, these conditions, paired with warm temperatures and rainfall on the horizon, can create the ideal conditions for pest populations to boom.”

Reticulitermes flavipes, better known as the eastern subterranean termite, is the most common termite found in North America, and while it is the only species on Long Island, there have been unofficial reports of other types. A mature colony can range from 20,000 workers to as many as 5 million workers, and the primary queen of the colony lays 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to add to this total. The following may be signs of a potential termite problem:

Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites, the most destructive termite species, build mud tubes near the foundation of a building to provide moisture and shelter as they travel between their colony and food source. To identify the presence of termites, look for swarming termites or discarded wings of about a quarter inch long. Termites build sheltering mud tubes from soil particles. These serve as pathways between soil and the wood of a structure.

Swarmers: Often mistaken for flying ants, swarmers are winged termites that emerge from mature colonies during the spring in search of a place to mate and build a new colony. Swarming termites have light brown to black bodies with a broad waist and straight antennae.

Discarded Wings: Piles of shed wings near windowsills, doors, or light fixtures are a sign that swarmers have emerged inside a home.

Wood Damage: Termites tend to eat wood from the inside out so hollow-sounding or visibly damaged wood often signifies an infestation. Buckling or blistering floorboards are common.

Frass: A sign of drywood termites, these small, pellet-shaped droppings accumulate inside or outside a home as termites tunnel through wood.

As prevention is key, homeowners can reduce the risk of infestation by stacking firewood and construction material away from buildings, ensuring rainwater drains away from foundations, eliminating/reducing wood-to-soil contact and scheduling regular termite inspections. With less foliage and vegetation, inspecting a home’s exterior for potential entry points is simpler in winter. As the temperature rises, the risk of pest infestations also increases. If you suspect a pest infestation, be proactive in your prevention. It can pay to call a pest-control professional.

A homeowner who discovers termite damage will spend an average of $3,000 on repairs and treatment. Many control techniques can only be used by certified pesticide applicators licensed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

If you find a termite colony near or in your home, collect and identify the insects or bring a sample to your local Cooperative Extension office. To collect a sample, place 10 to 15 intact insects (not crushed) in a clean medicine bottle. They may be stored in the freezer. Do not put tape on the insects.

Finding the right solution will depend on the type of termites present and the activity level in the structure.

Termites vs. Ants

Only 42 percent of respondents were able to correctly identify a termite from a winged ant, according to an Orkin survey.

“Termites live in the soil and consume wood,” O’Connor said. “Carpenter ants hollow-out wood for nests.”

Ants and termites are structurally different yet commonly mistaken for each other due to the visibly similar type of damage each can cause. Ants have very narrow waistlines. Termites have a broad waist and fat body. Termite wings are of equal length and long. An ant’s hind wings are shorter than the front, and the wings do not extend much past the end of the body. Termites have antennae that resemble a string of beads, while ants have elbow-shaped antennae.

Termites have creamy white to brown-colored bodies with no distinction between body sections. Carpenter ants are typically large black insects with three distinct body sections including a pinched waist. As carpenter ants do not eat the wood they tunnel through, they must find food elsewhere and could be outside the colony, in a kitchen or elsewhere in a home or similar structure. While neither is welcome, termites, also known as “silent destroyers” are generally more harmful. Typical treatments include:

Baiting system: Termite bait stations are installed around a structure’s perimeter to create a protective barrier to help prevent subterranean termites from entering the structure.

Spot Treatment: To eliminate any infestations, targeted applications of low‐impact products are made to localized areas.

Liquid Treatment: This involves applying a liquid product application to the soil to kill termites on contact and transfer the product to other termites in the colony.

Fumigation: This treatment is reserved for heavy infestations of drywood termites to kill termites present in the structure and requires securing, tenting and treating the area with specialty products.

If home shopping, it is not unusual to make a purchase contingent on termite-inspection results. Homebuyers usually pay for professional termite inspections, and it can be a good idea to make the purchase contingent on inspection results. If an infestation or damage is discovered, you may need to negotiate with the seller to address the issues before closing. Similarly, lenders may also require a termite-inspection report especially for government-backed loans like FHA or VA loans, or in areas with high termite risk, to ensure the property is structurally sound.