Cockroaches and mice may spread bacteria and disease, while wasps and bees can leave you with a painful sting. But what about termites?
These tiny, wood-consuming pests can cause thousands in damages yearly, striking fear into the heart of any homeowner. They can impact your home and wallet, but do termites bite people too?
Check out our blog, where we’ll discuss all the potential dangers of termites. Get ready to expand your termite knowledge, and join us as we uncover the truth about their biting behavior.
Understanding Termite Damage
Termites are some of the most destructive pests a homeowner can face. These tiny insects can cause severe wear to wooden structures, including homes, sheds, and decks. In fact, the National Pest Management Association estimates that termites cause billions of dollars in property damage each year in the United States alone.
So, how do termites enter homes in the first place? Here are some of the most common ways:
Cracks and crevices in the foundation or walls: Termites can squeeze through even the tiniest cracks in a home’s foundation or walls. Once inside, they go to the home’s upper floors, where they can cause significant damage.
Gaps around plumbing and electrical fixtures: Termites can also enter homes through gaps around plumbing and electrical fixtures, so it’s essential to seal gaps around pipes and wires.
Vents and chimneys: Termites can also enter homes through vents and chimneys. Install screens over vents and use chimney caps to prevent termites from getting in.
Soil-to-wood contact: When the ground touches wood, it creates a bridge that termites can use to enter a home. Try to keep at least a 6-inch gap between the soil and any wooden structures.
Moisture issues: Holes in your roof, leaky appliances, or any additional water damage could entice termites to enter your home, especially species that prefer wet wood.
Do Termites Bite People?
Termites may leave a dent in your home’s wood, but are they dangerous? Do termites bite people?
First, the good news: Worker termites do not bite humans. Unlike other pests like mosquitoes and bed bugs, termites do not feed on blood or have mouthparts to bite or sting. So you don’t have to worry about termites turning on you or your family.
Worker termites solely use their small mandibles to chew through and consume wood. They have no other food source, so they’ll only turn to your home or other outdoor wood sources to meet their nutritional needs.
However, not every termite species is harmless.
As the termite colony’s primary line of defense, soldier termites are equipped with powerful mandibles to fend off predators or threats. Typical invaders may include ants, spiders, and birds, but you’ll unlikely struggle with large animals searching for termites indoors.
Once confronted with a threat, soldier termites pour out of their colonies in droves to attack and drive off the disturbance. Their oversized mandibles can help pierce and bite through invading threats and keep the colony safe.
Typically, these mandibles aren’t strong enough to cause lasting harm to humans. While they may cause a world of hurt for a hunting spider or invading ants, you shouldn’t have many lingering side effects from a soldier termite bite.
But do termites bite people on purpose? These bites are uncommon; you’ll only interact with them if handled directly. Keep your distance from these defensive pests to avoid any accidental injuries.
The real danger behind a termite infestation isn’t their potential bite. In fact, solider termites aren’t even the cause for much of your home’s disrepair. Worker termites are primarily responsible for extensive repair costs and weakened structures.
With regular pest control treatments and inspections, you can nip a termite infestation in the bud before it causes severe problems.
How to Prevent Termites
Termites are a silent menace that can wreak havoc on your home and property. But you can take these proactive steps to prevent a termite infestation and save your home and bank account!
Keep Wood Away from Your Home’s Foundation
Termites are attracted to wood, so keeping wood away from your home foundation is essential. Never store firewood, lumber, or other wood-based materials close to your home’s foundation. Attempt to keep wood at least 20 feet away from your home.
If you need to keep wood nearby, ensure that the logs, limbs, or branches aren’t within close reach of the ground. Quick access to wood can encourage subterranean termites to infest these pieces and then turn to your home for another bite to eat.
Address Moisture Issues
Termites are also attracted to moisture, and remedying any moisture problems in or around your home can prevent termites and other pests. Regularly clean your home’s gutters to prevent water from pooling on your roof and around your foundation.
Repair leaky pipes and faucets to eliminate standing water or spaces where pests may congregate for a drink. Also, ensure your home has adequate ventilation to prevent moisture buildup.
Check out this guide to learn how to locate a water leak on your property.
Regularly Inspect Your Home for Signs of Termites
Routine inspections are essential to termite prevention. While some signs of termite activity may be difficult to detect, there are some key things to look out for.
These include
- Termite droppings or frass
- Mud tubes on your foundation or walls
- Discarded wings from swarmers
- Hollow-sounding wood.
If you notice these signs, contact a pest control professional immediately.
Seal Cracks and Openings
Termites can enter your home through seemingly minuscule openings. You can easily reduce the chance of a termite or pest infestation by sealing cracks in your home’s foundation, walls, and roof.
Don’t forget to check around pipes, vents, and electrical wires for additional gaps. You can use a silicone-based caulk to seal these openings and prevent termites from entering your home, but we recommend discussing your home repair options with a qualified professional.
Get Professional Termite Treatment
The best way to prevent termites is to get professional termite treatment. A pest control company can apply termite prevention treatments to your home’s foundation and surrounding soil to create a barrier that prevents termites from entering.
At United States Pest Service, we can also provide ongoing inspections and treatments to prevent a termite infestation from taking hold. Trust us to remove these destructive and harmful pests.
Contact us today to make your home termite-free!