We have a cedar home and think we spotted a termite on the house, but we are not sure. Do you have any information and pictures of termites so that we can tell if we are looking at the correct insect?
— K. Specht via e-mail
If you think you have seen a termite, call a pest-control company to inspect your property–the sooner, the better. The termite means business. It works continuously at breaking down wood and maintains a steady diet of wood and other cellulose materials such as paper, rayon and materials found in walls.
Orkin, a leading pest-and termite-control company, says telltale signs of termites include: pencil-thin mud tunnels along the foundation of the house inside or out, wings or sawdust near windows or doors in the garage and buckling paint or tiny holes on wood.
The subterranean termite, the one seen most often by homeowners, lives in underground colonies and builds tunnels in search of food. Their colonies can contain up to 1 million members, and they are so good at what they do they can eat away the wood structure of a house (within the timbers) leaving the painted surface undamaged.
On first glance, termites resemble ants in shape. But a closer look reveals these pale-colored insects to have broad waists and straight antennae (not elbowed).
If you want your home to remain a termite-free zone, Orkin suggests eliminating any standing water and its source, keeping gutters and downspouts clean and in good repair, maintaining proper ventilation, repairing leaky plumbing or drainage under the house, removing wood such as scrap lumber and tree stumps and keeping the exterior well-painted and in good repair, sealing all cracks and screening all vents.
For a closer look at termites check out www.orkin.com, where more tips on termite prevention can be found. Orkin’s Customer Care Center at 800-800-67546 (ORKIN) also fields questions.
