Termites
Termites are destructive pests commonly found throughout Tennessee that can cause significant damage to homes, businesses, and wooden structures. These small, social insects feed on cellulose found in wood, paper, and other plant materials. Because termites work quietly inside walls and foundations, infestations often go unnoticed until severe structural damage has occurred.
Why they’re a problem
- Structural damage: Termites consume wood from the inside out, weakening beams, flooring, and support structures. Over time, this damage can compromise the safety and integrity of a building, leading to costly repairs.
- Hidden activity: Termites typically remain hidden within walls, floors, and foundations, making early detection difficult. By the time visible signs appear, the infestation may already be extensive.
- Rapid reproduction: Termite colonies can number in the hundreds of thousands, and their queens can lay thousands of eggs over several years, allowing infestations to grow quickly.
- Difficult to control: Because termites live inside structures and underground, effective control requires specialized treatments and expert knowledge.
- Decreased property value: Untreated termite damage can reduce property value and complicate real estate transactions.
Signs you may have termites
- Mud tubes: Termites build mud tubes along foundation walls, crawl spaces, or wooden beams to travel between soil and food sources while protecting themselves from air exposure.
- Wood damage: Wood that sounds hollow when tapped or shows blistering, cracking, or crumbling paint may be damaged by termites.
- Discarded wings: Swarming termites shed their wings after mating; finding piles of discarded wings near windows, doors, or light sources can indicate termite presence.
- Frass: Drywood termites leave behind tiny, pellet-shaped droppings called frass near infested wood.
- Sagging floors or ceilings: Structural damage caused by termites can result in uneven or sagging floors and ceilings.
- Increased termite swarms: Seeing swarms of winged termites, especially in spring and early summer, signals active colonies nearby.
Professional termite control involves thorough inspection, baiting systems, localized treatments, and preventive measures to protect your property.
Contact Professional Pest Management to keep termites under control and protect your home or business — call (931) 680-7249 today.
