Termite Picture

A termite picture may allow you to identify these wood devouring insects if you should spot them in your home. Although termites often remain hidden out of sight because of their inability to tolerate light and heat, a homeowner may see them at certain times, especially during swarming season. The more you know about these destructive pests, the better equipped you'll be to protect your home against the expensive damage they can cause.

Finding a reliable, licensed pest control service is one of the most important steps you can take when you're trying to protect your residence from termite damage. If you live in an area where termite infestations are common, you may want to consider preventive measures to keep termites out of your home before the damage starts. Most standard homeowners policies do not cover termite damage, which makes homeowners vulnerable to the financial effects of these destructive pests. A termite picture can be a valuable tool in protecting your home.

Subterranean Termite Picture

Because many termites spend most of their lives in their underground colonies or buried deep inside wooden structures, you may never see them. However, even when they stay hidden, these pests are capable of causing enormous damage to a property. Subterranean termite species typically begin the colonization of a property outside the home in damp soil. Eventually the worker members of the colony will make their way from the underground colony into the home using a system of mud tubes that they construct in order to avoid exposure to sunlight.

A picture of the mud tubes that subterranean insects create may be even more helpful than a termite picture when it comes to identifying the signs of an infestation. Mud tubes can be seen running along the outer walls of the house, along the foundations or in the crawlspace under a home. If you've noticed irregular brown lines running along the outside of your residence, a picture of mud tubes may help you determine whether you have subterranean bugs or any other termite species on your property.

If you see a subterranean termite, it will most likely be during swarming season. In the warm months of spring, the reproductive members of the colony swarm in open areas in a search to form new colonies. A picture of a swarm will help you recognize this phenomenon. If you see clouds of winged insects gathering around porch lights or lighted windows at night, they may be winged termites. Consult a winged termite picture to confirm that these insects are not winged ants.

Winged ants are similar in many ways, and it's not uncommon for homeowners to confuse the two bugs. A picture of winged ants will show you that these pests have elbowed antennae and three separate body segments, including distinctive waists. A winged termite picture will show you that these species have a continuous, unindented body and straight antennae. When you see a winged termite picture, you'll note that the reproductive colony members can have brown or black bodies, and their wings are extremely long.

In swarming season, it's not uncommon to see piles of discarded wings in or around a house. If you see insect wings inside your home, it's very likely that an infestation is taking place. Contact a pest control service for a complete inspection of your residence. A picture of these wings can help you identify them. Browse through online galleries to find images of wood devouring bugs and the evidence they leave behind.

Pictures of Termite Damage

When it comes to drywood species, you are more likely to see the damage they create than to see the insects themselves. A drywood insect may spend its entire life inside the wooden structures of a home. You may see tiny openings called kickout holes in your baseboards or walls where drywood insects have pushed out their fecal pellets. A picture of kickout holes will allow you to recognize these openings if you see them in your house.

Drywood species tend to hollow out the areas across the grain of wooden structures. You may note these hollowed areas if you inspect the wooden fixtures inside your house. If you tap on a post or beam and hear a hollow sound, drywood pests may have devoured the interior of the structure. A termite picture of a drywood specimen may show you a soft, brown body and a round head. Like subterranean species, these reclusive pests are seem most often during swarming season, when the reproductives leave the colony.

A termite picture can be a helpful way to identify these wood devouring bugs. Even if you never see them up close, you'll be able to recognize them if and when they do appear. The more you know about the appearance and behavior of these creatures, the better equipped you'll be to have them eliminated.