Look for Flying Swarmers
Winged insects emerging from soil or wood is the easiest way to tell whether termites are active nearby. Even if residents don't notice the pests, their cast-off wings are often left on the floor around doors or windowsills. Since they are drawn to light, these are common entry and exit points.
Brittle skirting boards and door jams: As termites have eaten away the structural integrity of the timber, such as a skirting board, door frame or architrave, bumps or pressure will easily cause damage. This will also lead to cracks in the cornice or door jams.
If your infestation is serious, you may see the damage before you spot any termites. Raised floorboards or bumps in the wall are signs of an infestation. Often masquerading as water damage, swollen panels are not a good sign. Termites live just below wood surfaces which can cause panels to swell.
The winged adults in this species are slightly smaller and pale brown, and often swarm during the same time of day as the spring swarmers (late morning).
The season when termites are most visible – through swarms, discarded wings and droppings – coincides roughly with the Major League Baseball season (March to November). In warmer climates, termites remain consistently active year round.
Termite droppings typically have the following characteristics: 1mm pellets – often look like piles of salt or pepper. Black, brown, and grey in color depending on the wood eaten by termites. Pellets will be pushed out of 'exit holes' in the nest to create pile-ups.
Termites love to eat wood, but they're not fond of paint. If the wood they are eating has been painted, they will leave the paint untouched, which will appear like damage from the outside. If your paint seems to be crumbling, it's a good idea to check behind it by touching or pressing on the wood underneath.
Swarming. It may seem as if termites suddenly appear when they are in swarming mode. During mating season, winged reproductives, called alates, swarm at dusk in the spring months, usually after rainfall, to find a mate and start new colonies.
They typically measure between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch long and have soft bodies with straight antennae. The queens and kings are larger, capable of reaching over one inch long. Colors range from white to light brown where worker termites often appear lighter, while swarming termites darker.
There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact. Pest control specialists apply it around the perimeter of homes.
For the average DIY homeowner, getting rid of termites is hard – like really, really hard. If even one reproductive worker survives an attack from predators or professional termite treatments, that worker could grow into a new queen and start building up the colony all over again.
If a homeowner finds a kick-out hole with termite droppings but no termites, that does not mean the infestation is gone. The opposite is often true: The termites have most likely moved onto another part of the house, wall, or room for more food.
Termites thrive in warmer climates, so their activity is greatest in the South, Southeast, West and Southwest. The three most important types of termites in the U.S. – in terms of activity and damage – are drywood, dampwood and subterranean termites.
Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites. This solution is also ideal for soaking into any damaged areas of the wood to clear cracks of termites.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
Apart from that, ant frass is much larger and more bulky, and tends to contain bits and pieces from other ants that have been consumed by them. These are wood shavings mulched by the ants to make burrowing easier. Termite droppings, on the other hand, will be more processed and much finer, looking just like sand.
Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.
Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies. If you can't access most of the termites, immerse their colony in vinegar.
Bifen XTA: Best Fast-acting
Bifen XTS is a fast-acting, oil-based termiticide that can kill termites in 24 hours by attacking their nervous systems. This treatment is not recommended for use indoors. Spray it around the perimeter of your home to kill termites.
What to Look For. Pencil-thick to inch-wide tunnels on foundation and crawl-space walls (above) shelter subterranean termites traveling to and from the nest. If you see cream-colored insects when you break open the tubes, your house is infested. If you don't, the colony may be dead or using another route inside.
Some types of termites are more likely to swarm during the day, while others come out and swarm at night. In addition, certain species of termites are prone to swarming in the late afternoon and early evening. At night, the swarmers find higher humidity levels and various sources of light that they are attracted to.
Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.