There are three main termite species that may infest your home – subterranean termites, drywood termites and dampwood termites. Of the three, dampwood termites are the most relatively tame. This is because they need wood that is very high in moisture to start an infestation, and that type of wood is usually found in the home when there is a leak or an excessive source of moisture nearby. Still, these termites should not be underestimated, because they can spread to wood with regular moisture content and cause a lot of damage to the home.

Identifying dampwood termite infestations

Dampwood termites leave very few outward signs of an infestation, because they will build their colonies inside of the wood that they eat. However, you can look for signs of water damage in the wood of the building, and if you spot it, you have to remove the damaged wood and replace it. This damage can often occur near leaky pipes and gutters. Dampwood termites will also build exit holes in the wood, through which they will throw out frass (the waste of the colony). Frass resembles wood shavings, so if you start to see wood shavings in random locations in your home, you may have an infestation.

Control methods and prevention

In terms of prevention, the best thing that you can do is make sure that you have no moisture issues in your home. If you keep your home free of these issues, and you make sure that no damp wood is too close to your home, then you are good to go. Be extra careful with firewood and mulch, because they can be sources of an initial infestation which then spreads to the home.

In terms of control, you will need the help of a pro to get rid of a dampwood termite infestation. If the infestation is small, the pro will use a localized treatment to deal with the termites, which is basically an application of termiticide over the area that covers the colony. Alternatively, if the infestation is widespread, fumigation will have to be used. This is a much more extensive process that will require the home to be tented and a gaseous termiticide released inside it. You will also have to vacate the home during the procedure. If you would like to find out more about these termites, or if you suspect that you have an infestation, contact us today.