As termite season begins in Arizona, understanding how to catch the early warning signs of an infestation is crucial. Termites are some of the most difficult pests to control and prevent in the Grand Canyon State—the sooner a certified pest control specialist addresses your termite issue, the better.
Learn how to spot common warning signs of a termite infestation with Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control.
Wood Damage: Termites vs. Ants
Before we go into the early warnings of a termite infestation, let’s discuss the differences between termite damage and ant damage. Some ant species chew through the wood in your home to build a colony, creating winding, intricate tunnels. They may weaken your home’s wooden structures, but they do not actually eat the wood.
Termites, on the other hand, do consume wood. They use their strong mandibles to burrow and chew through wood, weakening and destroying beams, walls’ interior structures, siding, and more. If left unsolved, a termite infestation can compromise the entire structural integrity and appearance of your home. General signs of termite activity include:
- Stained or drooping drywall
- Cracked or warping floorboards
- Peeling paint on the walls or your outdoor siding
If you’re not sure if you’re dealing with a termite or ant problem, contact Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control. Our team will work with you to identify the root cause of your infestation.
Flying Termite Swarms
Flying termites (also known as alates), are always cause for alarm, especially if they’re swarming around your property. A swarm of flying termites indicates you have a mature colony near your home. Once a termite colony becomes too large, female termites will produce winged termites, or swarmers, that fly away from the colony to establish a new one.
Ant colonies function in the same way, which may leave you wondering if you have ants or termites flying around your home. Give our team a call and our trained experts will help you figure out which pest you’re dealing with.
Piles of Discarded Termite Wings
Once termite swarmers have found a suitable place to start a colony, they discard their wings and start burrowing into the wood. Discarded termite wings vary in color, from nearly translucent to dark gray or yellow-brown. If you discover a pile of these small wings near your foundation, on windowsills, or inside your home, your chances of a developing termite infestation are high.
You Find Termite Droppings
Finding strange piles of pellets that resemble sawdust, coffee grounds, or salt and pepper? You’ve discovered termite droppings. Termites dispose of waste in concentrated piles by pushing it out of tiny pinholes that they’re chewed in your wall.
Call Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control for Termite Control
No early warning signs of termites are too small to ignore. The sooner you address a potential termite issue, the better your chances are of preventing a full-blown infestation. When you need termite control professionals you can rely on, choose Responsible Pest & Scorpion Control. We’ve helped countless Arizona homeowners handle termite problems, and we can help you too.
Contact our team today to receive a free estimate for termite control and prevention!
