Termites are a pest that make their way into homes and buildings from the ground up. In Kansas, it is not a matter of if you get them, it’s a matter of when. They are mainly an underground species. However, during the spring or summer, when temperatures are consistently in the 70s and usually after a good rain, mature colonies will swarm. When they swarm, thousands of “alates” will fly up out of the ground and land on new ground to create new colonies.
Identification
In Kansas, the Eastern Subterranean Termite is the most abundant. The workers are up to 1/8 inch long and are a creamy white color. Soldiers are a little bigger and have a larger head that is yellowish in color. The primary reproducing couple can be up to 1/2 inch long and are very rarely seen unless swarming.
Signs of Activity
The most obvious sign of activity is any kind of termite damage. Look for mud tubes coming out of sheet rock or coming up from the ground at the base of the house or building. Additionally, there may be mud tubes running through wood that was carved out from the inside. Sometimes, if they have not broken through the wall, you can see where the sheet rock is pushed out a little. In addition, seeing swarming termites is an indicator that a mature colony is close.
What Attracts Termites
- Moisture
- Wood in the structure
How To Prevent Damage
- Regular inspections
- A termite bait system that is regularly checked
- This ensures that a colony does not go unchecked and untreated.
Termite peeking out of mud tube
Am I seeing termite swarmers or flying ants?
