Homeowners dread hearing the words “termite infestation,” but these are a reality and must be dealt with at the first signs of trouble. Unfortunately, it may often take an expert to easily recognize those first and earliest signs of a termite infestation. Fortunately, for those living in Acadiana area (from Houma to Marksville and Lake Charles to Baton Rouge), there is Sugarland Exterminating.

For more than 40 years, this firm has helped those in the area around New Iberia to combat pests of all kinds. Sugarland Exterminating deals with rodent infestations, termites, and all other similar pests. They should be considered the “go to” solutions for home or property owners in the region who suspect that they might be dealing with a termite issue.

Reading the Signs

How can the layman tell if it is termites? Unfortunately, there are many signs due to the fact that there are few different kinds of termites. Consider the following indicators of trouble:

1. Small wood pellets – one type of termite, known as the “drywood” termite, will chew its way through wood and then use the opening as a sort of waste disposal tube for the established colony. So, if you notice some small holes in the surface of wooden structures, and see what appear to be miniscule pellets or dust near this opening, it could easily be the sign of termites.
2. Swarms – during spring weather people are often astonished to witness swarms of termites. Most are even more astonished to discover that these swarms are actually a mass exodus of “king” and “queen” termites seeking to build new colonies of their own. The most common time to witness these events is after a rain fall and during daylight hours, and even if the swarming is not witnessed, there is often a lot of evidence left behind in the form of many dropped wings.
3. Dropped wings – the swarms will eventually need to re-settle, and when they do, they will have to shed their wings to do so. A pile of tiny wings near doors, windows, or other window structures on a building are often an indicator of termite infestation.
4. Obvious damage to wood – most people understand that termites eat wood. Because of this, when new and very obvious damages appear to wooden structures or parts of a building, it is a warning that termites may be at work. This is especially true if the damages seem to look like small tunnels or if there are signs that mud has been pulled into the tunnels, as this indicates nesting by subterranean termites.
5. Knocking – when a property owner suspects the presence of termites and sees signs of wood damage they can often confirm their fears by knocking on the wood. A few short raps will frequently be answered by faint replies of knocking. This is actually the “soldiers” that are seeking to worn the nest to potential trouble by knocking the wood.
6. Tubes – perhaps the most famous sign of termite infestation is the presence of even a few “termite tubes”. The subterranean termites like to live beneath the ground and must build their nests in the dirt. To do this requires the removal of tubes of dirt or wood, and often, these prove a good indicator of their presence.

Now that you know the signs, or at least some of the simplest methods for detecting the presence of termites, you may want to get in touch with Sugarland Extermination. They can confirm your theory and begin formulating the ideal solution.

Sugarland has extermination services for termites and also makes preventative measures readily available too. They can show you any areas of vulnerability in your property too, and really ensure the best results for your money.