Termite Identification Guide

What are termites?

Termites are wood-destroying insects that live throughout Texas near our homes and businesses. Termites are unwanted pests as their feeding habits cause significant and costly damage to the wooden structures of buildings, wood furniture, and other wooden items. Across the United States, termites cause more than five billion dollars in damages each year. When living outside in wooded areas, termites and their feeding habits are important, helping to get rid of decaying pieces of wood, dead trees, plants, and leaves. Two species of termites that live in the Greater Cypress, Texas area that regularly invade our properties are the Eastern subterranean termites and drywood termites.

Are termites dangerous?

Termites are a danger to properties, not people. In fact, people rarely ever come into contact with termites. By feeding on and tunneling through pieces of structural wood, they cause extensive and costly damage. Termites work 24/7 all year long. Over time, termites will cause enough damage to weaken a building's structural integrity. Repairing termite damage is neither simple nor inexpensive, especially because most homeowners' insurance doesn't cover the cost. Insurance companies consider termite damage to be preventable.

Why do I have a termite problem?

More often than not, Eastern subterranean termites enter into homes after accidentally finding their way inside while foraging for food. Cracks in the foundation offer easy access into homes and other structures. They also move inside through pieces of wood that are making direct contact with the soil. On the other hand, drywood termites usually move into a home by hitchhiking inside pieces of wood or wooden furniture already infested with adults, larvae, or their eggs.

Where will I find termites?

As their name suggests, subterranean termites nest in the soil under the ground. Unlike drywood termites, they do not nest within the pieces of wood they feed on. Outside in nature, Eastern subterranean termites feed on things like fallen trees, logs, decaying fences, leaves, and other debris. Inside, they feed on structural wood behind walls, under floors, and eventually, above ceilings. Drywood termites live and feed on sound pieces of wood like attic beams, structural beams, exposed wood, antique wooden furniture, wood trim, and picture frames.

How do I get rid of termites?

The best solution to your problem with termites is a professional solution. At TNT Home & Commercial Services, we take our time and provide the thorough services needed to solve pest problems once and for all. Our central focus is to ensure that our customers are satisfied, and their property is free of pests! For more information about protecting your Greater Cypress home or business from termites and our area's other common pests, reach out to TNT Home & Commercial Services today!

How can I prevent termites in the future?

More than an inconvenience, pests can be dangerous and cause a lot of damage. In addition to our professional home pest control and commercial pest control services, use the following tips to keep termites out of your home:

• Prevent water from backing up and seeping into your home's walls by maintaining gutters and installing weatherstripping around windows and doors.
• Fix leaky pipes, faucets, or fixtures.
• Use dehumidifiers to dry out damp basements.
• Use air conditioners to keep humidity levels low inside your home.
• Ventilate crawlspaces and make sure they are free of wood debris.
• Repair any cracks and other damage to the foundation of your house.
• Get rid of water-damaged wood from your home.
• Eliminate as much soil to wood contact around your home and property as possible.
• Leave a 12-18 inch barrier between any soil or mulch and your foundation.
• Remove decaying fences, fallen trees, tree stumps and other wood debris from your property.
• Before bringing wood furniture or other wooden items into your home, inspect them for signs of termites.