Massive Termite Colony On Wall Under Paneling

Signs of termite damage in walls.

Massive termite colony on wall under paneling.

Use the hammer and pry bar to carefully open the wooden exterior board of an inconspicuous part. Termites are very interesting insects. Because termites usually are hidden from view it s easiest to determine the type of infestation by examining the winged version of the insect. A queen can lay over a thousand eggs in one day.

This document discusses alternatives for termite protection including reducing the attractiveness of the structure to termites get wood away from the building fix leaks use of 16 grit sand diameter 0 06 0 1 in as a termite barrier 18 wide x 3 deep in crawl areas or stainless steel mesh for the same purpose under foundations and slabs. A fourth type the dampwood termite poses less of a threat. You may be really surprised with their sociability. Subterranean termites live inside the soil near and under a house and reach above ground level food sources through special mud tubes that workers build of saliva and their own feces.

Winged termites easy ways to tell the difference the queen. It is a female termite whose major role in a colony is to lay eggs. You remember from history lessons that there are some castes in india. Walls can draw these dangerous vermin in case the walls are in direct contact with the soil.

A colony that s gotten inside the house may be revealed by swarms that exit through crevices or gaps in the house walls or paneling. The termite colony size can be different starting from only two insects a king and a queen to more than a million creatures. You may find live termites in the interior wood paneling. Unlike some other insects and animals they live in organized colonies.

Their colonies are small and they only nest in wet wood. When a termite colony gets large enough winged reproductive termites will emerge to create a new colony. Some of the signs above indicate a subterranean termite infestation while others indicate a drywood termite infestation. I treated a house which had that very problem in 2003.

The queen is the largest termite in a colony with a length ranging from 60cm to 80 cm. Mud tubes paint blisters damage to wood paneling or wooden trim hollow sounding wood and pinholes in the wall. Signs of wall damage caused by termites can include. All states except alaska.

Termite activity generally tends to be more in areas closer to the floor so you can start at the bottom. Even subterranean termites can live and maintain a colony within walls without going back into the ground. To inspect interior wood paneling you might have to remove a board or panel. If there is a water leak or water sprinklers that keep an area wet within the walls and the wood never dries the colony can maintain and will expand within that structure.

There is only one queen in a colony. Eliminate the source of the dampness and the colony dies.