Termite Inspections and Swarmers

Termite inspections by a state certified pest professional are necessary when purchasing a home. Home inspectors will work with a pest professional affiliate to conduct a WDI (wood destroying insect) inspection. This inspection is not for termites alone. A WDI is also used for carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powder post beetles. Legal documentation is provided to give the best assessment possible with the visibility and access available at the time of inspection. A discount is available for all termite treatments that occur as a result of a home purchase inspection. The benefit of a yearly termite inspection is also available to all of our residential customers at the time of regularly scheduled service.

Damage from termites and ants may be confused in a number of ways. Galleries chewed into wood may look very similar to most people. However, there are a few key difference to determining whether you are under siege by termites or carpenter ants.

Frass in a basement.

Termites frequently create mud tunnels to help keep their bodies cool and protect against predators. These mud tunnels may be present leading up to the wood acting as a food source or within the galleries themselves. Carpenter ants will not have signature mud tunnels present and instead produce frass. Frass is the chewed particles of wood left behind by ants that resembles saw dust. This is due to the fact that carpenter ants are not using the wood to feed, but instead as shelter. Treatments will also vary greatly, as termites live in the ground and the main nest of a carpenter ant colony is typically in a tree.

The most common misidentification of termites vs. carpenter ants is when seeing swarmers present. Swarmers are the new reproductive version of the colony released to establish their own new colony. One easy identification method is to understand that termites swarm during the spring, while carpenter ants swarm late spring until mid-summer. However, during the months where both are present, identifying differences in the physical characteristics of swarmers will give you the final insight into what treatment options are available to you.

The ant swarmer looks most like an ant with wigs. There is a typical segmented body, their antennae are longer, and the wings of an ant swarmer are closer to the length of the insect’s body. The termite swarmer differs in these ways. A termite swarmer has short antennae, possesses no well-defined segments present in the body, and has wings nearly twice its size. To learn more about the difference between the two, visit our pest library.

To understand termite treatment options , contact your Secure pest professional to schedule your free general termite inspection today.