Termite Droppings
74Look For Termite Droppings To Detect The Presence Of The Pests
Termites present a great threat to homes in different climatic zones and regions. These pests have qualities and features that allow them to be secretive and persistent in the way they are damaging wooden structures. So, you might not even know of the pests’ presence in your home until it is too late and the damaged wooden structures are near to collapse. Millions of homeowners every year have to spend large sums, a great amount of time and effort on repairs. There are, however, a few simple steps you can take to protect you home from incurring damage and your budget incurring extra strains. Having your home professionally inspected and permanently checked for the insects as well as the adequate maintenance of the building and yard in the property is more than enough to secure your home will not be infested or at least that an occurred infestation will be halted immediately. One of the first signs of a colony presence are the termite droppings, so you should know more about them to detect the infestation sooner rather than later.
Termites are most commonly defined as secretive insects because they infiltrate yards and building unnoticed. The colony lives underground and moves around in the tunnels made through the soil. A back yard with a garden full of plants is ideal for the termites to infest because of the lower density of the soil and the sufficient moisture it contains. The same applies to the building as well – the more cracks in the construction through which moisture creeps, the more the entry options the colony has to go inside the house. The termites usually enter the home through the underground floor where the basement is not well maintained and is damp. They can also use any wooden structures connecting the house with the yard. Once the insects find their way inside the building they are not easy and most often impossible to notice. They feed on the wood from within the structures, which makes it impossible to detect the damage incurred.
Given all this it is most likely for you to notice the termite droppings, also called frass, rather than anything associated with the infestation of the colony. So, you should keep your eyes open for the following signs. The droppings can be best described sawdust. They can look like sandy pieces or piles resembling coffee beans. The color depends on the wood the insects are digesting – they are usually black or brown, but can have a distinctive beige color as well. The frass is usually scattered around but may be in the form of a distinctive trail. The droppings might also be hard to detect. So do you get what termite removal is all about?
They can be in places in the house that you do not visit often such as the basement or the cellar. The termite droppings might be in a corner or behind furniture and other objects the make them impossible to find at first sight. Also, even when left on the floor the frass can be under a rug or a carpet. So, the easiest way to discover these is to devote a few minutes to inspect your house or pay special attention when cleaning. The other problem with the droppings is that they might be in a tiny amount. Thus, it is imperative that your arm yourself with patience.
You should contact a termite control provider as soon as you find termite droppings. Even if you are mistaken about the nature of the frass, you can be nearly one hundred per cent certain that the droppings come from other pests that have infested your home. You are highly recommended to have your house inspected for termites by a professional termite inspector, rather than continue with the check yourself.
The experience professional will perform a complete check of your property and you will be presented with a thorough report of the assessment performed. From then one you can rely on the controllers to offer you appropriate solutions and eventually exterminate the insects. There are inexpensive options available, but it is best not to try to save on the removal of the colony as the repair of termite damages it can cause to your house will cost many times more.
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Hey Jason, thanks for leaving a comment. Yes, sometimes it's pretty difficult to make the different between carpenter ants/termites/ants based on their droppings only. However, there are professionals that know how to do it.
Pretty informative. I've seen that kind of stuff before, though thankfully not in my house. I can't remember where I've seen it though. I'll certainly be keeping an eye out from now on, though!












Jason Seale says:
4 months ago
Hey TChangi
I had similar looking debris in my basement, and it turned out to be ants. I could actually see the little critters pushing it out from small cracks around the window sill. I don't think they are carpenter ants, though. Maybe they are concrete ants that I have heard of.