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What Does a Termite Look Like?
Termites and carpenter ants have a lot in common. At certain points they both have wings that are then discarded once they find a new place to nest. They also both have an affinity for wood โ but while carpenter ants will only nest inside moist and damaged wood, termites will burrow into even healthy wood and chew it all up to a powder. Thatโs why, while carpenter ants are certainly a problem, they in no way measure up to the billions of dollarsโ worth of damage that termites create each year.ย
If you can recognize termites in your home, you can treat them before they cause any more damage. So, if you see a bug,ย youโll know itโs a termite if it:ย
- Has a segmented body with a head, thorax and abdomen
- Is sized from ยผ-ยฝโ
- Is colored from off-white to dark brown
- Has wings (If itโs a swarmer)
- Is an adult with 6 legs and a straight antenna
Termite Appearance
Though the above guidelines apply to termites as a whole, these wood-hungry instincts differ in appearance depending on a few key factors. You donโt need to know the exact variety of termite to call us for treatment, but when we send an exterminator to your property, theyโll be looking forย color, size and caste.
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Color and Size
If the termite isย larger in sizeย andย tinted red,ย it is likely aย Dampwood Termite.ย If it isย yellow-brownย with transparent wings it could be aย Drywood Termite,ย while if itโsย off-white or dark brownย it is probably aย Subterranean Termite.ย
Caste
The caste of the termite also plays a role in what it looks like. A majority of the average termite colony is made up ofย workers,ย which are usually off-white with a creamy appearance. There are alsoย soldiersย with their large heads and powerful mandibles. And finally, there are theย alates,ย otherwise known asย swarmers,ย who are reproductive termites with wings that eventually shed.
How to Spot Termites Near Your Home
After saying all this, it might come as a disappointment to learn that you very rarely see a termite crawling along a wall inside your house. Thatโs because they almost always spend their time inside the structure of your property itself. So, when it comes to spotting termites, youโre more likely to find evidence of them through the damage they leave behind. Thatโs why if you even suspect that the damage on your wood is from termites, you can call Bug Out and weโll make sure youโre taken care of!
For expert assistance, contact our termite treatment specialists in Texas to ensure your home is protected from further damage.