Termite Identification

Termites … How They Do Their Dirty Work

Termites live in underground colonies and are among the most destructive pests in the world. Their colonies can be substantial in size — with some colonies numbering more than one million termites. A termite colony consists of a king, queen, workers, soldiers and reproductives. The most numerous in the colony and the one that can eat away at your home is the worker termite. They constantly forage for food and cause almost 5 billion dollars of damage in the U.S. alone each year. However, the one you are most likely to see within your home is the reproductive, commonly referred to as a termite swarmer. While the reproductives (swarmers) themselves do not cause damage, they are a good indication that you may have an infestation within your home. These termite swarmers are active between March and October, but may also be discovered during January and February depending on the climate patterns. See our Termite Swarm Season Map for common time frames for your area.

Termite Facts

• Alabama and Mississippi are ranked among the areas of highest termite infestation probability in the U.S.
• Termites cause almost 5 billion dollars annually in damage in the U.S.
• Formosan termites, the most aggressive subterranean termite in the U.S., have been identified throughout portions of Alabama and Mississippi.
• Every home is a target for termites
• No attempts at termite proof construction have ever been completely successful

How Termites Enter Your Home

Termites only need 1/64" to enter your home. They enter your home through hollow block entries, cracks in concrete, expansion joints between walls and slabs, and through utility pipe entries. Even houses built on slabs are threatened by termites that find their way through utility entry points and cracks. See our interactive house illustration for more information.

Will Termites Attack a New Home?

Termites will eat anything made of wood, including a brand new home. In fact, termite infestation and termite damage have been known to occur in homes during the construction process. If your builder choses Wayne’s to treat your home during construction, please visit review your warranty features to learn more about your termite protection or contact your Wayne’s Customer Care Specialist today. There are many reasons you should maintain your Wayne’s Termite Protection.

Signs Of Termite Infestation Within Your Home

You are more likely to discover you have a termite problem by discovering the evidence they leave behind rather than the termites themselves. If you encounter any of these signs, please contact us immediately for your
free termite inspection.

• Piles of small, delicate wings shed by reproductives (swarmers)
• Mud tubes built by termites for above ground travel
• Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper
• Damaged or hollow sounding wood

Are ants or termites invading your home?

Ants and termites may be similar in some ways, but once you understand their difference they are very easy to distinguish. What do termites look like? Here are some simple ways you can tell them apart:

Termites	Ants
Termites have a straight waist or abdomen	Ants have a very thin waist or abdomen displaying their body segments
Termites have straight antennae	Ants have elbowed antennae
Termites are poor flyers	Ants are skilled flyers
Termites have four wings of equal size	Ants have four wings; two wing pairs of unequal length