the house i rent had termites before th owner said and he took care of it
prior to me moving in 10 months ago. We started to notice these tiny
white/clear little "ant" like bugs all over the house. the bathroom,kitchen
in my dresser drawer, food cupboardsand in my food sometimes.Even in my
dirty clothes, everywhere. at the same time i did notice some regular black
ants starting summer and still now. but i know those are ants. what are the
other one's called. could they be termites??
if they are i need to inform the owner right away. thanks
Termite Damage
Summary: One in thirty homes becomes infested with termites each year. Subterranean termites can easily tunnel into support posts or floor joints that are in contact with the soil. Here’s how to detect termite damage and when you need to make repairs.
Did you know that termites never sleep? They might be eating you out of house and home 24/7, but you would never know it because they silently enter your house from beneath the slab or foundation. How often do you see what’s going on under your house? Unless you are doing major reconstruction, the answer is “never”.
Let’s say you discover a spot in your woodwork that is thin or hollow sounding. Might be termites at work. Or, say you find small holes in plaster or drywall. That also might signal a termite problem. This can be a serious headache for homeowners because termite treatments are expensive. However, in the long term it will cost more money to replace wood damaged by termites if no action is taken.
As we have all heard advertised, termites cause hundreds of millions of dollars
 Termite damage |
Wooden support beams, rafters, and floor joists can be difficult to inspect because they are difficult to access. A professional pest control operator qualified to treat termites, or an experienced building inspector, has certain tools like moisture meters and video scopes that can give them good ideas where termites might be hiding. However, even experienced professionals sometimes miss signs of termite activity.
The best way to avoid termite damage is to use pretreated wood for your home’s construction and to get termite pre-construction treatment that prevents termites from traveling in the soil around your house. Treated wood and liquid pre-treatments become less effective over time, and even the most carefully protected home may not be immune from termites.
So what can you do? I suggest regular termite inspections of the wood on basement windowsills, the studs behind your kitchen sink, wooden steps on the interior and exterior, and baseboards around the floors. These are common spots where termite damage can be found. A good flashlight and a mirror to see behind and around obstructions is all you need. Or, you can call a
 Termite tubes |
If you find termite damage and want to make repairs, you must get rid of the termites first. This may seem obvious but I have dealt with many people who have replaced wood damaged by termites without calling an exterminator first. This only gives the termites fresh food! If critical support beam have termite damage, or if the damaged wood is behind utility pipes, it can be very costly to replace. It might be more cost effective to just attach another piece of lumber to the damaged lumber, leaving at least two or three inches of healthy wood on either side of the damage to where you attach the extra support beam. That method is called “scabbing.” I strongly suggest not tearing out damaged beams or scabbing on without consulting a building expert. You don’t want your house falling down while trying to repair termite damage.
Comments
Rita
05 Sep 2008, 12:45
05 Sep 2008, 12:45
Ask the Exterminator
05 Sep 2008, 17:29
05 Sep 2008, 17:29
Does not sound like termites to me, at least, not Eastern Subterranean
termites, which are very common, but are not found roaming around like
ants.
Regardless, you need to collect some of the insects and have them properly identified to put your mind at ease.
Regardless, you need to collect some of the insects and have them properly identified to put your mind at ease.
Linda
08 Nov 2008, 13:24
08 Nov 2008, 13:24
My house has wood siding and I had it treated for termites about 5 years
ago. A couple of months ago, I noticed a smattering of tiny black
"droppings" laying on the concrete patio floor right next to the outside
wall of the house. The siding comes to about 2 inches or so from the
concrete and I have gotten down and looked for mud tunnels along the bottom
of the siding, but there is nothing. There are a couple of spots where
these droppings occur. The dishwasher and the kitchen sink ore just on the
other side of these outside wall locations. I have looked under the sink,
but see nothing. I have never seen a roach whenI walk into the kitchen and
turn on the lights. Any idea what Iam dealing with? Thanks
Ask the Exterminator
09 Nov 2008, 14:28
09 Nov 2008, 14:28
Cockroaches leave droppings that match the ones you are describing.
Usually, you find droppings inside a house unless you live in a location
where the climate is typically warm. It does not sound like termites. I
would advise you to call the pest control company that did the original
treatment. Hopefully, you kept your warranty active.
I would suggest purchasing some monitor glue boards and putting out a dozen of them inside and adjacent to the walls where you found the droppings. If you have something inside you'll know it within a day or so.
I would suggest purchasing some monitor glue boards and putting out a dozen of them inside and adjacent to the walls where you found the droppings. If you have something inside you'll know it within a day or so.