While small in stature, termites are responsible for thousands of dollars in damages yearly. These pests can gut any wooden structure in your home, like small furniture, window paneling, walls, flooring, and interior foundation.
In North Carolina, the most common species homeowners encounter is the subterranean termite. Because these pests covertly move through your home, spotting a termite tube on your home’s exterior may be the only indication of these pests.
Innovative Pest Solutions is your number-one stop for Raleigh pest control, covering multiple pests, including rodents, ants, and wood-destroying termites. Keep reading to learn more about one of the warning signs for subterranean termites.
Subterran Termite Nests
Unlike other termite species, subterranean termites don’t create long winding colonies in your walls or flooring. Drywood and dampwood termites notoriously build their homes inside the wood they infest, but you won’t find a subterranean termite staying the night at your place.
Subterranean means below terrain or the ground, meaning these species tend to stick under the dirt when not infesting your home. If the colony grows large enough, some may create supplemental nests inside or in your yard, but most infestations remain congregated in one location.
Because these pests stay underground, it’s unlikely you’ll ever see a glimpse of their nest. You may never see these pests unless you break open the wood they’re infesting or destroy an active termite tube.
Despite their distance from your home, subterranean termites can do significant damage. Even small-scale colonies in your yard can consume around 5 grams of wood a day, with even larger infestations making a worse impact.
Plus, these colonies can grow extremely large. The confines of the wood do not restrict them in your home, and subterranean termite nests can expand out multiple yards under your feet.
Because of their underground location, destroying a subterranean termite nest on your own is difficult. You’ll need specialized bait and aid from a trusted pest control company like Innovative Pest Solutions to eradicate the problem entirely.
Locating a Termite Tube on Your Home
Subterranean termites are the only species in North Carolina that can create the signature, small dirt tunnels outside your home or inside. Other common species tend to stay inside the wood they tunnel through and don’t require other transportation systems.
Besides a termite monitoring system, termite tubes are one of the best signs to look out for whenever you suspect an infestation in your home. However, these muddy, thin tubes are easily mistaken for other insect nests or outdoor debris.
If you’re unsure how to locate or identify a termite mud tube, you may easily pass off their appearance for a simple wasp nest. Mud daubers create similar dirt-based nests to house their young, albeit much more prominent than petite tunnels.
Because termite tubes connect to the ground or tunnels inside your home, they’re typically located near your baseboards, home exterior, or flooring. Mud dauber nests are higher on porches, trees, or doorways and are much bulkier and shorter.
Similarly, if you live in a location with frequent rains, these structures may resemble mud splashes from a heavy downpour or kicked-up dirt after your kids spend some time playing outdoors.
While mud tubes are easily disturbed, they’re still hard-packed dirt. You can’t quickly swipe it aside like a dirt stain and will instead have to physically remove the gritty dirt and frass-filled tunnel from your home.
If you’re noticing structural changes inside or have found damaged wood, take a look outside your home for any small winding tunnels that may lead inside via vents or minuscule holes and cracks.
While you may not find an active tunnel, you can still pinpoint the approximate location of where the termites have traveled and where they may currently reside. After seeing a termite tube on your property, contact a pest control agency promptly.
The presence of these tiny tubes may not intimidate you, but the insects within can cause severe damage to your home. Removing termites alone isn’t the best solution, and a pest agency like Innovative Pest Solutions can provide you with the support you need.
Removing Termites with Innovative
We know the toll termites can take on your home and are here to lend a hand! Whenever you see signs of termites or suspect these pests have invaded your home, contact us to schedule a FREE termite inspection.
Our technicians will survey termite hotspots for damage and other indications that may indicate their presence, like tubes or droppings. Basements, crawl spaces, and outdoor concrete slabs often show signs of these pests that are easy to miss.
If we see termites on your property, we’ll utilize Termidor®, an effective liquid pesticide treatment, by drilling and applying the product around your home’s foundational wall.
When termites invade your home, don’t hesitate to contact us for treatment!
