The type of termites most common to New Jersey is the eastern subterranean termites.  Termites cause costly damages every year! Homeowners can have termites eating away inside the walls of their home, causing potentially irreparable damage and not be aware of it.

The subterranean termites need moisture to live, so they can be commonly found in crawl spaces and basements. When you see the signs of termites in your home call the professionals at Victoria’s Pest Control.

These termites usually begin to swarm in early spring. Particularly warm and wet winters can result in earlier swarm times, however, there is no start date for swarming season. If you see scattered wings outside near your foundation, this is an indication that your home has termites. Termite damage can look like water damage. In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in a home’s exterior.

Signs of termite damage include:

  • Blistered flooring and ceilings can be termites feeding within or below.
  • Areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage can have mazes within walls or furniture.
  • Infestations also can have a scent, not unlike mildew or mold.
  • Subterranean termites create a clicking sound to signal danger to other termites by banging their heads against the walls or shaking their bodies.
  • Look for mud tubes at the base of your foundation. If you find one break it open, a couple of days later if it is repaired, you have termites. Mud tubes are how termites travel.

Workers who are blind, are soft-bodied and look like larvae. The termite's damage wood to get to what they are really after, which is the cellulose from which wood is made. Cellulose is the main component found in the cell walls of wood, plants, and grass. To feed the growing colonies, they will devour anything that contains cellulose.

In the springtime, subterranean swarmers, the reproductive termites, emerge from the nest to mate and create a new colony. While you may see swarmers themselves flying, it is more likely you will see discarded clumps of wings near closed doors and windows. Termites shed their wings once they land because they no longer need them.

Termites do serve an ecological purpose; they are important decomposers. They break down tough plant fibers, disposing of dead and decaying trees and turning them into the new soil. These hungry insects are vital to the health of our forests. As they tunnel, termites also aerate the soil. In your home, however, they cause damage to wood. There are actions you can take to limit the possibilities of termites in your home.

To lessen the likelihood of termites in your home:

  • Turn off outdoor lights at night when it is swarming season.
  • Remove stacked firewood and any other wood products, including cardboard and mulch from around your home.
  • Make sure your gutters and drain spouts empty far away from the foundation.

This task of determining where termites are and resolving the problem is best left to the professionals at Victoria Pest Control. As soon as any sign of termites is spotted your best course of action is to ask for help.