If pests were to play hide and seek together, there is one pest that would arguably come out on top – the termite. For one, termites build their homes deep underground and are mostly unable to resurface because if they do, their skin will dry out and they will die. When not underground, termites remain hidden as they live and work deep within a structure of wood. All in all, this destructive pest is quite difficult to detect and can therefore cause quite a bit of damage before you realize it is even in your Tennessee home. That said, how are you going to know if termites are eating away at your home? Let’s find out now.

Termite Caste System

Just like medieval Europe, termites live in a caste system comprised of workers, soldiers, and royalty. Workers work tirelessly to collect cellulose, the main component found in wood, to feed their kings, queens, and their subjects.

• Soldiers stand guard, making sure that the tunnels in and out of their colony are safe from unwanted intruders. 
• Kings and Queens, also known as reproductives reproduce to grow the colony. They also deal with young termites and assign them their roles within the caste system. Unlike workers and soldiers, once the colony is well established, reproductives can go above ground to find a new location to build a sister colony. 
• Reproductive termites can also grow wings and unlike workers and soldiers can go above ground. The purpose of this is to find a new location to build a sister colony. Once reproductives begin to swarm outside of the colony, a termite infestation is well under way. 

Signs Of Termite Activity

Termites are almost impossible to spot. However, they do leave behind some signs that will help you identify termite activity within your home. Some of the most common signs are:

• Mud tubes crawling up your home’s exterior foundation
• Frass (termite droppings) stuck to walls, or at their base
• Tight-fitting doors or windows
• Bubbling wallpaper or paint
• Hollow sounding wood
• Buckling walls
• Dipping ceilings
• Overly squeaky floorboards
• Soft clicking noises coming from inside your walls
• Swarmers or reproductives leaving the colony

Obviously, some of these signs are more concerning than others. To make sure your home is entirely termite free, we recommend letting the professionals here at Proven Pest Management come out to have a look. We will thoroughly inspect your property and let you know definitively whether or not you have a termite infestation.

What Attracts Termites To Your Tennessee Home

Everyone knows termites eat wood. Not everyone knows that termites are picky eaters. The termites in our area will only eat wood that has been softened by water damage or rot. As a result, you can make your home less attractive to these wood-eating insects by ensuring that there is not an active food source available for their consumption.

• Repair, replace, and retreat wood around your home that has been affected by moisture or rot.
• Address leaks around your home and eliminate any sources of standing water.
• Fix any broken gutters so that they properly channel water away from your home.
• Construct a non-wood barrier between soil outside and your home’s structural wood.
• Store firewood at least 30 feet away from your home and keep your yard clear of organic and wood-based debris.
• Do not mulch come in direct contact with the foundation of your home, and avoid using mulch with high wood chip content.

The less edible and accessible your home is, the better. In the end, the best offense is a good defense. Therefore, we recommend checking your home and investing in high-quality termite control courtesy of Proven Pest Management. We are the leading professionals in pest control methods and technology in the area.

If you’re worried you already have a termite infestation underway or your concerned about a future termite problem, please contact us today to speak with one of our friendly representatives about your free inspection. If we detect termite damage, we will come up with a plan that will solve your problem for good. Proven Pest Management will put your mind at ease.