Signs and Indicators of Termite Presence
Due to the Secretive Nature of Termites
Because termites live a hidden lifestyle and their colonies and tunnels are often difficult to detect in soil or wood, infestations are usually discovered through traces or damage left by termites rather than by spotting the insects themselves.
For this reason, termites are often referred to as the “Silent Destroyer” or the “Hidden Threat.”
By the time damage is visible, the cost of termite feeding can be extremely high.Currently, there are ongoing efforts to use modern detection technologies, including scent detectors, microwave devices, infrared cameras, and fiber optics. However, no method has proven to be 100% effective so far.
A. Wood Damage
Termites begin feeding on cellulose from the inside out, so infestations are not noticeable in the early stages.
Damage is often discovered by:
The appearance of termite droppings,
Breakage or hollowing of wood,
Or by tapping on the wood and detecting a difference in sound between damaged and healthy areas.
Termites typically attack the soft springwood rings, resulting in galleries or tunnels that form ring-like patterns inside the wood.
B. Termite Swarmers
Winged termites are sexually mature individuals that leave the colony to establish a new one, typically during the spring and rainy season.
They often appear for a short period in the morning until noon, and as a result, may go unnoticed, especially if the homeowners are away at the time.
D. Mud Tunnels
When subterranean termites move above the soil surface in search of food sources, they begin constructing mud tubes or tunnels. These are made of soil, feces, and worker saliva, and are often clearly visible, making them a key indicator of termite presence.
Mud tunnels can be classified into the following types:
A. Exploratory Tubes
Built in the early stages to search for food sources.
They are usually branched and temporary.
B. Utility Tubes
Constructed after locating a food source.
These tubes are longer and more extensive, designed for regular transport of termites to and from the colony.
C. Drop Tubes
Extend downward from wooden structures to the ground.
They are made using wood fibers along with soil and saliva,
And usually have a lighter color.
D. Swarming Tubes
Built specifically for the emergence of winged reproductives (alates).
They are typically around 15 cm long.
These tunnels serve to:
Protect workers from predators during travel,
And maintain moisture during their movement between the colony and food sources.
E. Termite Droppings
In the case of drywood termites, small pellet-like droppings, known as frass, accumulate in piles beneath
F. Termite Mounds
Some species of termites, such as those from the genus Macrotermes in Africa and Australia, build their nests or colonies directly above ground, often on soil surfaces or tree trunks.
These colonies take the form of mounds or earthen towers, with an average height of 2 to 3 meters, but they can reach up to 9 meters in some cases.
The shape and size of the mound vary depending on the termite species.
