How much do you know about termites? Here are a few commonly asked questions and answers.
Q: How many different species of termites have been discovered? A: More than 2600 species have been discovered by entomologists. The U.S. is home to only 55 of them. Only 2 types are of concern to home owners: subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Q: How are they different? A: Termites are social insects. That means they live in colonies. The location of the colony is different depending on the type of termite. Subterranean termites live in underground colonies because they need more moisture to survive. To feed they tunnel to into homes nearby. Drywood termites nest inside the structures they feed on. They depend on moisture from inside or nearby the structure to survive.
Q: How can I determine whether my home has termites? And what type? A: Subterranean termites typically swarm in the spring, when the colony divides in order to start more colonies. Subterranean termites often leave mud tubes on the outside walls of homes. Both subterranean and drywood termites damage wood and leave it blistered, weak or broken. Drywood termites can also be detected when they leave wings or "sawdust" on floors and windowsills.
Q: None of these signs are present. Does that mean my home free of termites? A: No, termites are very hard to detect. Termites are hard to detect because they do their damage on the inside of the wood.
Q: How do I know they're termites not ants? A: They do look very much alike at a distance. But if you look close, the ants have bent antennae and the termite's antennae are straight. Also, termites have a thick waist where the waist of ants is narrow.
Q: I've heard that older buildings are the prime target of termites. Is that correct? A: Termites don't target older buildings, they just target wood. They've been found in brand new construction. Any wooden structure will attract termites.
Q: I've heard that termites aren't much of a problem up north. Is that true? A: It is true that termites are more common in the southern two-thirds of the U.S., but many cities in the north are considered moderately to heavily infested by termites. Termites inhabit every state except Alaska. There are more termites in Florida than in most other states.
Q: How many different species of termites have been discovered? A: More than 2600 species have been discovered by entomologists. The U.S. is home to only 55 of them. Only 2 types are of concern to home owners: subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Q: How are they different? A: Termites are social insects. That means they live in colonies. The location of the colony is different depending on the type of termite. Subterranean termites live in underground colonies because they need more moisture to survive. To feed they tunnel to into homes nearby. Drywood termites nest inside the structures they feed on. They depend on moisture from inside or nearby the structure to survive.
Q: How can I determine whether my home has termites? And what type? A: Subterranean termites typically swarm in the spring, when the colony divides in order to start more colonies. Subterranean termites often leave mud tubes on the outside walls of homes. Both subterranean and drywood termites damage wood and leave it blistered, weak or broken. Drywood termites can also be detected when they leave wings or "sawdust" on floors and windowsills.
Q: None of these signs are present. Does that mean my home free of termites? A: No, termites are very hard to detect. Termites are hard to detect because they do their damage on the inside of the wood.
Q: How do I know they're termites not ants? A: They do look very much alike at a distance. But if you look close, the ants have bent antennae and the termite's antennae are straight. Also, termites have a thick waist where the waist of ants is narrow.
Q: I've heard that older buildings are the prime target of termites. Is that correct? A: Termites don't target older buildings, they just target wood. They've been found in brand new construction. Any wooden structure will attract termites.
Q: I've heard that termites aren't much of a problem up north. Is that true? A: It is true that termites are more common in the southern two-thirds of the U.S., but many cities in the north are considered moderately to heavily infested by termites. Termites inhabit every state except Alaska. There are more termites in Florida than in most other states.
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