Termites are one of the most damaging pests that can plague your home and property, often known as “silent destroyers.” These creatures can do serious damage over time and must be addressed as quickly as possible to ensure its preservation.

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There are steps you can take to prevent termites from damaging your home or property, and here are a few key recommendations that may help.

Termite infestation signs

Termites can cause serious damage to your San Diego home, which can cost you tens of thousand dollars. However, they can go undetected months or years before signs are visible.

It may be possible for a professional pest control service to conduct regular home inspections. This will allow them to detect infestations early. Their experts know all the telltale symptoms that can indicate an infestation and can assess its extent.

Drywood termites are a serious threat to homes located in humid and warm regions such as California. These pests can quickly invade your home, causing havoc and reducing its value.

The pests are destructive and eat wood in all its forms, including siding, framing, and trim. Hiding in crevices and cracks, they often find a way into walls and floors for food sources.

Termite Swarmers

Healthy termites swarm once or twice annually in search of new areas to colonize. Their swarmers resemble flying ants and may be confused as such by untrained eyes, yet these insects are distinct animals altogether.

When termites swarm, they shed their wings to fly in mass numbers to find a mate or start their own colony.

A swarm of flies in your home or yard could indicate an infestation. They can enter your home from nearby properties.

It`s important to act quickly if you see a large number of swarmers. Working with an expert pest control provider will enable them to identify the source and devise an effective plan of attack.

Termite Mud Tubes

Termites use mud tubes as a way to get from their nest to food sources, without having to be exposed to the dry air. Mud tunnels typically made out of wood, soil and termite saliva are commonly constructed.

San Diego crawling termite signs are typically pencil-sized insects that can be found near nests of termites, wood structures, or concrete or stone foundations. Their presence could indicate termite infestation.

The termites use these tubes to travel between their nests, food sources and working mud tubes every day. You may see these tunnels along basement walls, home foundations and under floors.

Exploratory mud tubes are thin and fragile structures with multiple branches that are easy to spot, making them the ideal way to search for food sources up to 15 feet above the ground.

These can be telltale signs of a termite invasion and should be assessed by a pest control professional immediately. If not destroyed immediately, termites could continue building their tubes there in future years.

Termite Exit Holes

Small pin-sized holes on drywall are a telltale sign of a termite infestation. Some termite types, such as subterranean, will fill in these holes, while others, such as drywood termites will not.

These holes, known as termite exit holes, typically measure around 1/8th of an inch in diameter and allow termites to dispose of their waste fecal pellets and frass in an efficient manner.

Termites create tunnels during an infestation in order to enter and leave their colony, using frass-based paste to seal off holes made by leaving, making their return difficult.

Termites are able to move and nest without being detected, so you may not notice their presence until the infestation has spread too far. If any of the signs above appear on your San Diego property, it is crucial to have it inspected promptly and have an inspector arrive as soon as possible to complete an assessment of its integrity.