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 those 2 types of termites different? A: Termites, like ants, are social insects, and like ants, they live in colonies. The different types of termites build their nests in different locations. Subterranean termites depend on moisture in the earth to survive, so they build underground nests and tunnel through the earth feed on homes nearby. Drywood termites, get their moisture from sources in and around the property they're feeding on, so they nest inside the structures themselves.
Q: How will I know if my property has termites? And, if so, what kind? A: Subterranean termites may be detected when they swarm, typically in the spring, when some termites leave their nests to start more colonies. Subterranean termites may also be detected when their mud tubes are seen on walls or foundations. Both types of termites may leave weak, broken, or blistered wood. Drywood termites can leave wings or piles of what looks like sawdust on floors and windowsills.
Q: Is my home free of termites when none of these signs are present? A: No, because termites do their damage on the inside of the wood, which makes them very hard to detect.
Q: I see insects with wings running around. Are they termites or ants? A: Until you see them up close, termite swarmers and ant swarmers may look alike. But when you look closely, termites have straight antennae, ant antennae are bent. Ants have a narrow waist and termites have thick waists.
Q: Aren't termites generally found in older buildings? A: The only preference termites have is for wood. They don't care where it is. They've even been found in recently completed new construction. Termites have no preference for older buildings.
Q: How widespread are termites in the U.S.? A: Subterranean termites are common in the southern two-thirds of the U.S., but inhabit the lower 48 states plus Hawaii. Drywood termites are limited to the California coast, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the desert southwest. There are more termites in Florida than in most other states. - 16035
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 those 2 types of termites different? A: Termites, like ants, are social insects, and like ants, they live in colonies. The different types of termites build their nests in different locations. Subterranean termites depend on moisture in the earth to survive, so they build underground nests and tunnel through the earth feed on homes nearby. Drywood termites, get their moisture from sources in and around the property they're feeding on, so they nest inside the structures themselves.
Q: How will I know if my property has termites? And, if so, what kind? A: Subterranean termites may be detected when they swarm, typically in the spring, when some termites leave their nests to start more colonies. Subterranean termites may also be detected when their mud tubes are seen on walls or foundations. Both types of termites may leave weak, broken, or blistered wood. Drywood termites can leave wings or piles of what looks like sawdust on floors and windowsills.
Q: Is my home free of termites when none of these signs are present? A: No, because termites do their damage on the inside of the wood, which makes them very hard to detect.
Q: I see insects with wings running around. Are they termites or ants? A: Until you see them up close, termite swarmers and ant swarmers may look alike. But when you look closely, termites have straight antennae, ant antennae are bent. Ants have a narrow waist and termites have thick waists.
Q: Aren't termites generally found in older buildings? A: The only preference termites have is for wood. They don't care where it is. They've even been found in recently completed new construction. Termites have no preference for older buildings.
Q: How widespread are termites in the U.S.? A: Subterranean termites are common in the southern two-thirds of the U.S., but inhabit the lower 48 states plus Hawaii. Drywood termites are limited to the California coast, the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf Coast, and the desert southwest. There are more termites in Florida than in most other states. - 16035
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