Having a lot of bugs in your home is one thing, but having termites that can come in and start to destroy your home is a whole other story. But how do you know if you have termites that are coming into your home or onto your property? Termites make mud tubes and with these tubes, it is a great indication that you have termites. A Five Star Termite & Pest Control delve further into this topic below.
What are Termite Mud Tubes?
termite tubes or tunnels, are structures that the termites build to collect their colonies. The tubes are made of soil, water, and termite saliva. They use these so they can find food that is above ground. They have different tubes for different purposes.
Working tubes – can transport thousands of termites from their food to their nest.
Exploratory tubes – are thin tubes that you can see on walls and can be up to 15 feet above ground. These tubes come from the soil and don’t connect to the wood.
Drop tubes – these tubes or connections between the ground and the wood. It allows quick access to the food source and is a connection between the ground and the working tube.
Swarm tubes – swarm tubes can be known as swarm castles. This is when they create a temporary structure when they are moving from soil to the structure.
If you see these types of tubes in your home, it can cause a lot of damage.
Why Do Termites Make Mud Tunnels?
Termites make tubes to protect themselves from the elements and predators. These tubes help protect the termites from light, temperature, rain, and wind. Termites are very small but have very large colonies. If a predator finds them then it becomes an easy way for that predator to have a meal. These predators can include spiders, wasps, cockroaches, crickets, centipedes, dragonflies, Plus some birds and small mammals. The mud tubes help termites navigate over non-wood surfaces on their way to find wood, paper, carpet, fabric, cardboard, and more.
How Do You Identify Termite Mud Tubes?
Termite mud tubes are about ¼ to 1 inch in diameter. They look like veins that are spread out along the areas of your home, such as walls, ceilings, and foundations. Depending on the type of tube and how active the infestation is, can depend on the color and density of the tube. If you see tubes in your home, you most likely have a termite infestation and will need to seek professional help. You cannot just remove them because termites will quickly rebuild their mud tubes.
What Makes Termites Stay Away?
To try to prevent termites from happening in the first place there are a few things you can do. Keep all of your lumber, wood, paper, and any other type of debris away from the foundation of your home. Seal all gaps in your home. Cut back any plants or trees that are leaning against your home. Often check the exterior wood structures, such as sheds and fences for any rotting wood. Plus getting regular pest control can help eliminate the termites.
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If you are noticing any termite mud tubes in or around your home then you need help. Give A Five Star Termite & Pest Control a call and they will come out and get rid of the termites that are trying to destroy your home.
