To any homeowner, termites are a dreaded potential pest. Although they play an important role in the ecosystem by recycling wood, facilitating the decomposition of organic matter, replenishing essential nutrients in the soil and assisting in the growth of new plant life, these little buggers can't tell the difference between a tree and a house.

As a result, if not detected quickly, they can cause serious structural damage to a home. It is important to first identify the presence of termites and then take the proper steps to deal with these tiny pests.

How to Identify a Termite

Due to their innate physical similarity to ants, it is essential to distinguish whether or not you actually have termites. This is not as simple as setting traps, and one must properly investigate how and where the potential termites are inhabiting. If you should discover that you do indeed have termites, it is crucial to distinguish the species of termite based on the structural damage that active colonies have created in your home.

A colony can range in size, with anywhere from hundreds, to thousands , to millions of members, and can consume up to half a kilo of wood a day. In Canada, the most common species of termites include the eastern subterranean termite, the western subterranean termite, and the Pacific damp wood termite.  

The subterranean species are responsible for the bulk of damage inflicted on city homes, as the damp wood species target moist and rotting wood, which usually indicates an ongoing issue with moisture. All species live in warm and humid environments but in cooler regions of Canada termites nest below the frost line or inside heated homes.

Termite Inspection Time!

source: Flickr, Balance of Nature

Although it is believed that termites primarily nest in wood, this is not the case. For a termite, any plant-based object is a potential form of food, as they eat cellulose. Although they generally remain hidden in undetected spaces, there are foolproof ways to know if they are present in your home. The subterranean species of termites create mud tubes along walls, fences and steps in order for them to travel between their colony and food source.

If you spot lines of mud in your basement or garage, then there is a definite possibility of termites. Other signs include spotted, discoloured or warped wood, as well as hearing a hollow sound when knocking on a wood surface. Termite damage happens at a slow pace, so the damage may not be initially evident. It is crucial to decipher where the infestation is located as well as how well-established it has become.

Removing Termites from Your Home

If you are certain that termites are damaging an area of your home, now is the time to act! Before addressing the problem on your own, it is recommended that you consult a professional exterminator who is trained in dealing with a termite infestation.

The cost of inspection, extermination and remediation will vary province to province as well as city to city. Unfortunately, once termites have infested an area of your home, the infestation is very difficult to control and terminate, so alongside extermination, careful prevention methods must be taken.

How To Prevent a Termite Invasion

Make sure to reduce moisture levels in your home, and prevent standing water wherever possible, this can be done by tending to leaks as well as keeping all drainage flows away from the main building of your home.

Trees and vegetation around the home should be well maintained, so that plant life does not come into direct contact with the house. If you have lumber or firewood, store it in a clean and dry place, so as to avoid attracting colonies from breeding.

Author: Amanda Harvey