Eastern Subterranean Termites

The Silent Destroyer: Eastern Subterranean Termites

In the Greater St. Louis area, Eastern Subterranean Termites are the most destructive wood-destroying insect. Because they operate almost entirely out of sight, they can cause thousands of dollars in structural damage before a homeowner even realizes they are there.

Signs You Have Termites

Termites live in massive underground colonies and travel up into your home to feed on the cellulose in your wood. Look for these warning signs:

• Mud Tubes: Pencil-sized tubes of dirt climbing up your concrete foundation walls. Termites build these to retain moisture while traveling from the soil to the wood.
• Swarmers: In early spring, winged reproductive termites emerge to start new colonies. If you find discarded insect wings near your windowsills, it is a massive red flag.
• Hollow-Sounding Wood: Because termites eat wood from the inside out, infested baseboards or structural beams will sound hollow when tapped.

Termites vs. Flying Ants

Homeowners frequently confuse termite swarmers with flying ants. You can tell the difference easily: termites have straight antennae and a thick, uniform waist. Flying ants have bent antennae and a pinched, narrow waist.