Coming to terms with Termites

Michael Culver

Keller Williams Realty

Dear Friends:

I hope that you are enjoying the springtime weather and that you find my article timely and useful.

Termites have a distinct body shape.  The body is two parts, whereas, ants have a three part body.  Termites look like a figure eight with one elongated end.  They can be whitish to black in color(creamy white most prevalent) and are usually about 1/8^” – 3/16”.  It is easy to mistake ants for termites at a glance but the 2 vs. 3 body parts is key.  This time of year termites actually can develop wings and “swarm”.  They appear to be flying ants because they acquire wings and a similar coloring temporarily, but again the body type will distinguish them.  Termites will not be seen in the open unless they are swarming.

Termites like/need darkness and moisture. Termites return to the soil daily, therefore, it is very important to make sure that gutters and downspouts direct water well away from the structure and that there are no “flat” planting areas directly adjacent to the house.  A slight slope away should always be maintained.  Bushes should be trimmed around the perimeter and all ground cover, such as pine straw should not be built up to any wood siding or trim.  Remove wood and wood debris near to the house such as fire place wood piles.  Raw lumber is especially inviting to termites.  Today’s building standard is a minimum of 6” clearance from earth to wood, however, in older homes at least 2”-3” clearance is acceptable.  Where possible, some of the concrete foundation or brick should be visible.

Termites will build thin mud tunnels when they have to cross a solid surface such as a concrete foundation or part of a brick façade to avoid exposure.  They use a combination of soil and waste products to do this.  A termite tunnel looks like a thin ivy vine coated with cinnamon.  Tunnels are usually perpendicular to the ground.  Sometimes these thin mud tunnels can be seen on the inside of a home in the basement or crawl space along joints where the plywood floor decking meets the wood framing.  Dirt mounds around the exterior of a foundation are most likely indicative of ant activity rather than termites.  Do not remove or break suspected tunnels until a professional has had the chance to evaluate them.  Disturbing the tunnels will usually cause the termites to relocate their activity making treatment of the colony more difficult. Don’t worry, it takes a long time for termites to do significant damage.

It is a good idea to have your home inspected annually by a pest control professional, however, it is not essential.  When selling your home you will need to have a valid termite letter issued and most companies are willing to provide this letter for a fee usually between $50-$100.  A “termite bond” is like an insurance policy.  It is not necessary for you to sell your home but it is one more selling point that may set your house apart from the neighbors.  A “bond” can cost between $500 and $2000.