HOUSE HEALTH

Termite Damage

Termites are social insects that eat wood. There are two basic types of termites, those that live entirely in wood, and those that can tunnel into the ground.

Most termites are the subterranean type and are able to tunnel in the soil. The ability to tunnel allows them to find many separate pieces of wood, on which to feed. Since they are not limited to one piece of wood, their colonies can be much bigger than those of wood-inhabiting species. Usually their colonies number from hundreds of thousands to several million.

Subterranean termites can be very serious structural pests of houses. The entry of subterranean termites into a house is usually revealed by the presence of mud shelter tubes on walls. Soil inhabiting termites can also be serious pests of rangelands, tropical forestry and tropical agriculture. However, 90% of termite species may be considered highly beneficial in their unique keystone ecological roles in breaking down wood; turning, aerating and enriching the soil; and providing food and harborage for many other forms of life.

During the months of May through November the inspection should always start in the yard. Any moveable wood in soil contact, such as fire wood, lumber, cardboard boxes, barrels, planting boxes, etc., should be lifted and examined. Any stumps in the yard should be examined.

If old or new evidence of termite activity is found in the yard then it is important to ascertain whether a chemical treatment has previously been performed by examining the structure for termite treatment holes. Your home inspector or pest control company can determine if treatment holes are present.

Next, check the house starting in the basement or crawl space using a flashlight, flat-edge screw driver or pocket knife, and putty knife. If shelter tubes are found they should be carefully examined along their length. If the ends of the shelter tubes are darker in color this indicates that they were very recently built and still wet, and probably still have termite activity. If the shelter tubes show no cracks or damage this is also a good indication that they may still be active. Once the shelter tubes have been identified and examined along their length then they should be scraped off and the scrapings examined for live termites. To determine whether activity is old or new, all shelter tubes must be scraped off with a putty knife and examined for termites. Any new shelter tubes seen after one month can then be interpreted as newly built and evidence of new activity.

We provide home inspection services throughout Northern Mississippi and West Tennessee.

House Call Inspection Service, LLC.
1138 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 101-289
Cordova, Tennessee 38016
901.493.6526

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