How To Tell If Your Colorado Springs Home Has A Termite Problem

The termites we battle in our Colorado Springs pest control service area are subterranean termites. This type of termite is very sneaky. Subterranean termites stay almost entirely inside the tunnels they create in the ground and in the wood they are feeding on. Workers of this classification have been observed feeding all the way to the paint on wooden timbers without breaking through. It is a scary reality, but a home can have a million subterranean termites feeding on it without any noticeable signs of an infestation. But it isn't impossible to detect these termites. Sometimes, they mess up and create a warning sign in a location that is easy to check. And it is also possible to uncover warning signs. This is what we're going to talk about today. Here's the secret to finding signs of subterranean termites.

Some Obvious Signs Of Termite Activity

termite eating wood

There are primarily three ways you may see or hear termite activity. If you are aware of them, you can act quickly to protect your property.

Shelter Tubes: Subterranean termites create mud tubes on hard surfaces to go from the ground to the wood of a home. Usually, these are created in dark, damp areas that are hidden in voids underneath structures. But you might get lucky. You might see a mud tube on the outside of your foundation wall, on stone steps, or on concrete structures. These tubes can be as thin a pencil, so they're easy to miss, even when they're in a visible location.

Swarmers: When a termite colony matures, it creates winged termites. These male and female alates leave the nest and search for new areas to create new nests. Swarmers are only ⅜ of an inch long, but they have long wings that are rounded at the tips and stack on their backs. When grouped together, these wings can be noticeable. If you see swarmers inside your Colorado Springs home, be aware that this is a sign of a severe infestation. If they are on the outside of your home, it is a sign that there is a mature nest on or near your property. The appearance of a swarm is rarely a sign of an impending infestation.

Damage: While it is rare for subterranean termites to do damage in a visible location, it can happen. The most likely location for this type of damage is where there is wood-to-soil contact or moisture near your property. Damp, rotting wood that is touching the soil, or close to the soil, can show signs of damage because subterranean termites will feel more comfortable to come out of hiding if the humidity level is high.

Uncovering Warning Signs

When termites come into your yard, they're likely to do it by tunneling underground. Workers can travel 100 yards in search of food. You may be able to uncover termite workers in your yard by doing the following:

  • Look under boards, cardboard, and other materials that termites eat.

  • Dig soil away at the base of wooden fence posts and other wood that enters the ground.

  • Chop into a stump or log that is in your yard.

  • Dig mulch up and look between the mulch and the soil.

How To Deal With Termites Even If There Are No Signs

At Beeline Pest Control, we help Colorado Springs property owners protect their investments by installing a termiticide barrier around structures. The product we use is Termidor®, the number one termite treatment in America. This product is put into the ground around a structure to get termites as they go in and out. Worker termites can't detect this termiticide. As they pass through it, they pick up the active ingredient and share it with other termites as they groom each other. Slowly, this ingredient is passed through the colony, and the colony is eliminated. No more colony; no more threat. It's that simple.

The best part about Termidor® treatments is that they work to correct an infestation and prevent infestations in the hidden places termites live. Termite workers are always searching for food and always making new tunnels in the ground. This brings them into contact with the material. Once they have it on them, they carry it to where it needs to go—deep inside their tunnels and all the way back to the queen.

Termite Control In Colorado Springs

If you have questions, or you'd like to schedule a treatment for your Colorado Springs property, reach out to us. Our licensed termite control professionals look forward to assisting you with this vital protection for your property investment.