Termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles and other wood destroying insects are considered the real “home wreckers” in the insect world. WDI or wood destroying insects are not picky when it comes to chewing, they cause millions of dollars a year in damages to both homes and businesses. Once there is any sign of wood destroying insects, it is crucial to start treatment immediately to avoid further costly repairs! Some of the reasons these types of WDI cause so much damage is that it really takes a trained professional to inspect and uncover the secretive behavior of these insects. Wood destroying insect inspections are also necessary because these insects create most damage inside of walls and floors where they live most of their life leaving very little evidence of the damages they cause.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites can attack any property at any time! Termite damages to homes and businesses causes billions of dollars in damages because these insects are very difficult to detect. It is very difficult to the untrained eye to spot an infestation until the damage has been done due to their secretive behavior of building underground tunnels into your home or business. There are a few clues to know if you need immediate help. Signs include soft spots in flooring, insects that appear to look like flying ants, bubbling paint, discarded wings, mud tunnels up the basement walls in unfinished basements and damage to exposed wood such as windowsills.

Other noticeable signs of termite infestations can also be found on the outside of your property which can either show that termites are already in your property or may be building tunnels to get inside your home or business. Signs of termite infestations outside include damaged or rotted wood from old tree stumps, landscaping timbers and deck posts.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter Ants are busy chewers inside homes and businesses! These ants don’t eat the wood they chew wood away to create tunnels and nests that causes the damage to your property. The most common areas they like to nest or create tunnels is moist areas near plumbing, water damaged wood or other moist areas in and around your property. If you notice saw dust piles near your exterior walls of your property or inside mainly near plumbing, you may have an infestation that requires a highly trained technician to remove these ants before more damage is caused.

Powder Post Beetles

These types of wood destroying insects love your furniture! If you have discovered some of your exposed wood from your furniture that has small holes that appear in the size of a lead pencil you may have Powder Post Beetles. These round drill-like holes may be created by Powder Post Beetles. As they create these holes, they push the damaged wood shavings they create what is knows as frass. The Powder Post Beetle’s frass is often described as a baby powder substance because the frass is so fine. There are many different species of wood damaging beetles that could live inside the home. If you notice any signs of damage to your wood or exposed wood in furniture it is best to call a skilled professional to inspect and recommend the proper treatment for these beetles to prevent several thousands of dollars in damage to your property.

Wood-destroying insects can ruin many parts of your property and home. They often go unnoticed, causing serious damage behind the scenes. If you would like to learn more about preventing pests, or if you need to get a quote for pest removal, contact us at Guardian Pest Control.