Termite Mud Tubes!

Termite swarming season is among us.  However, if you don’t see a termite swarm, how else can you know you have termites?  There are several subtle signs of a termite infestation that can often go unnoticed.  One of these is termite mud tubes, or shelter tubes.  Subterranean termites make nests in the soil.  However, wood is their food source.  Because termites require moisture, they will construct tunnels out of mud to connect their nest in the ground with their food source.

Termite mud tubes are made of soil, feces, and saliva.  They help to provide moisture as the termites travel as well as protect them from predators.  The average size of a termite mud tube is about the diameter of a pencil, although they can be larger.  They are most often found along foundation walls or in crawl spaces along support beams and joists.  On the exterior walls, they will most often be on the shady side of the structure.  From a distance, mud tubes look like long lines of dried mud.  Breaking open a mud tube can help determine if termites are still active.  Seeing termites inside the tube is proof of a current, active infestation.  Not seeing actual termites, however, does not necessarily mean there is no active infestation.  Termites will often rebuild damaged mud tubes, which is another indication of current activity.  Old tubes are dry and will crumble easily when broken apart.

There are three common types of tubes built by termites.  One is working tubes.  These are the tubes that run from the nest to the identified food source.  Think of this as the termites’ road system to travel back and forth from home to work.  The next type of mud tube is an exploratory tube.  These are used when looking for a food source, but they will not actually connect to a wood structure.  The third kind of tube is a drop tube.  They extend from the wooden structure back to the soil.

Although termite mud tubes can be proof of a termite infestation, the absence of tubes does not necessarily mean that a structure does not have termites.  It is recommended that homes be thoroughly inspected by a pest control professional that is trained to detect various signs of termites.

View the Original Blog Here: http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/termite-mud-tubes-2/

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