These silent pests are like viruses to homes. It can take time for the damage to show, but having Termites in the soil under a house always leads to destruction. There’s a secret to identifying termites on your North Carolina property, but first, let’s discuss what termites look like and why they’re so destructive.

What Do Termites Look Like?

Termites are peculiar-looking pests. These insects most closely resemble "white ants" but a few key features differentiate ants from a homeowner’s worst nightmare. 
 
Termites typically range between ¼ and ½ of an inch in length. They range in color from gray to light brown, though many termites also have a translucent look and are almost see through. Termites have sectioned bodies, six legs, and spiny antennae that are about the length of their heads. Some termites also have wings, though most termites don’t fly–except for swarmers which only fly for about 30 minutes.

Signs of a Termite Infestation

Termites divide themselves into different tasks, much like ants do. Most termites never leave the colony, as their job is to reproduce, expand the colony, or protect the other termites. You will never see most termites, but there are two groups you might come across that notify you of an infestation: swarmers and workers.

Swarmers are termites looking to start new colonies in the spring. You usually only see them at the beginning of the season, and more likely than not, you won’t even see them at all. It is much more likely that you’ll see their shed wings which can get caught in spider webs or bushes.

Workers, by contrast, might not be seen until years after the infestation starts. This is because termites create colonies underneath houses and dig tunnels all throughout the property to find food. However, once these tunnels are dug into a house, the workers will start breaking down wooden structures and anything containing cellulose. So if you see termites in the home, that means there are probably tons of tunnels in the soil beneath your property, and the termites have been feasting for a while.

The Secret to Termite Identification

There are a few tricks you can use to identify termites in the home. Consider the following:

• Clicking noises. If you press your ear up against your walls or floorboards, you might be able to hear them in your home’s wooden infrastructure.

• Discarded wings. Swarmers shed their translucent wings once they’ve started a new colony, so if you see wings around your lawn, in the grass, or stuck in a spider’s web, then a colony may be growing as you read this. 

• Termite excrement. Also known as termite frass, some termites leave tiny wood-colored pellets around wooden spaces, from floorboards to window sills.

• Termite pinholes. These are tiny holes that some termites create on drywall or wallpaper when they eat through the walls.

• Sagging ceilings. Discolored walls, creaky floorboards, and weak furniture are all signs of wood decay from termite activity.

If you notice any of these signs of termites, even if you don’t see the critters themselves, it’s time to let the professionals prevent your house from future damage. Contact Bug-N-A-Rug Exterminators today, and we’ll get rid of the termites before it’s too late for your home