Believe it or not, termites have been plaguing the Earth for more than 120 million years. Known as “silent destroyers”, you do not want to find this pest in your home as it is capable of destroying structures made of wood quickly. Instead of attempting do-it-yourself measures to eradicate an infestation, always work with a licensed pest control professional who can correctly treat termite infestations before they get worse.
Termite Appearance
Unfortunately, sometimes termites can be difficult to identify as they look similar to flying ants, a pest of much less concern. With multiple species found in the U.S., each of varying degrees of concern, it’s important to know which termite has infested your home.
Termite Color
Termites can vary in color. For example:
- Some species, such as the conehead and dampwood termites, have cream bodies with dark heads.
- Subterranean, drywood and Formosan termites tend to be cream or brown.
All worker termites are cream, so it can be difficult to know which has infested your home. It’s important to work with a pest control professional who knows what each termite species looks like, and can recommend the best course of treatment.
Termite Size
This pest is small in size, ranging from 3 mm to 1 inch long, depending on the species. Every species has long and oval-shaped bodies, but the conehead termite has a pear-shaped head.
Termite Swarmers Appearance
Termite swarmers, which have wings, can be mistaken as flying ants. When looking at the pest in your home, keep in mind that:
- Winged termites have a straight waist, straight antennae and their wings are equal in size
- Flying ants have waists that are pinched in the middle, bent antennae and two sets of wings with the top set being larger.
While flying ants swarm various times of the year, termites are likely to swarm in the spring.
What to Do If You Find Termites in Your Home
Don’t make the costly mistake of misidentifying termites in the home. Be sure to contact Upstate Pest Pros in Greenville, SC right away. We’ll be delighted to determine the nature of your infestation and serve you to discover the best course of action.
Your Local Pest Professional You Can Trust in Greenville, SC:
Upstate Pest Pros can help you no matter the challenge you’re facing. Offering a complimentary pest inspection, homeowners in the Upstate of South Carolina can explore their options without any upfront commitment. Nonetheless, it’s critical to recognize that time plays a pivotal role in curbing further infestations and minimizing potential damage.
We specialize in a wide variety of different pest control services across the entire Upstate of South Carolina, including Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, SC and surrounding areas.