If you notice termites coming up drains, it is strong evidence that there's a sound termite activity inside the bathroom, and perhaps in your entire house.
Bathrooms are often the site of moisture problems caused by leaky pipes and the combination of humid showers and inadequate ventilation. As if these moisture problems were not enough, they also can create conditions conducive to termite infestations.
Drain flies are sometimes called "moth flies." While they are members of the order Diptera — the true flies — their hairy bodies and wings make them resemble moths. They are dark in color (brown or black) and quite small, measuring one-sixteenth to one-quarter of an inch in length.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
It is common for the flying termites to enter homes through the vent, and you may see a few crawling in the bathroom or kitchen. However, if you find these termites flying indoors or notice a large number of wings inside the house (Figure 4), then you quite likely have an active infestation in your home.
If you notice termites coming up drains, it is strong evidence that there's a sound termite activity inside the bathroom, and perhaps in your entire house. Termites often build their mud tunnels along the water pipes or on the tile walls that connect taps.
Typically, finding a pile of termite frass big enough to spot is a pretty clear indication of a termite problem. If you find termite droppings but no termites, call a professional termite exterminator for further assessment regarding the presence of termites on your property.
If nothing else suits you, go and try the successful heat treatment to control termites at home. Just use hot air or increase the temperature of the infected area up to 120 degrees and maintain it for half an hour. This much heat for this much time will kill the termites instantly.
By the time you notice them, it might be too late. If you can not identify the signs of a termite infestation like termite droppings, the infestation can quickly spiral out of control leaving you with thousands of dollars in damage or even losing your house altogether.
So, where do termites come from in the house? Termites commonly enter homes and buildings anywhere there is wood-to-ground contact. This could include door and window frames, deck posts, and more. Some types of termites, like the subterranean termite for example, can enter through a home's foundation.
Body: Light gray or tan body and lighter-colored wings. The body and the wings are covered with long hairs, giving the fly a fuzzy appearance. Characteristics: When at rest, the drain fly folds its wings over the body in a characteristic roof-like manner. Size: Drain flies measure about 1.5 to 5 mm long.
2) Pesticides – Anything that is categorized as a poison should not go down your sink. This includes insect killers, rat poison pellets… anything you use to get ride of unwanted critters and weeds. This stuff gets into the systems and causes environmental harm, and you definitely don't want poison residue in your sink.
Finding termite swarmers inside a building is a sure sign the building has an active termite infestation and needs to be professionally treated. Call the pest control company and arrange to have the building inspected and treated.
Termites are notorious for causing significant damage to wooden structures, but what many homeowners don't realize is that these pests can also pose a threat to plumbing systems. These tiny destroyers can exploit plumbing voids to gain access to your home.
Musty Smell
Be cautious not to mistake a musty or foul odor in your home for something as benign as dirty laundry—it could actually be a sign of a termite infestation. Termites, particularly when they are present in significant numbers or when their nests are large, can emit a distinctive, unpleasant smell.
Termites aren't known to pose any significant health risk to humans. However, they can cause extensive damage to buildings and paper-based objects within them.
Mud Tubes: Subterranean termites build mud tubes along foundations or in crawl spaces to travel between their colony and food sources. Hollow-Sounding Wood: Wood that sounds hollow when tapped could indicate termites have been feeding inside, often causing damage that goes unnoticed.
Insurers typically view termites as avoidable and possibly a result of the homeowner's negligence. Your homeowners insurance is designed to cover you for sudden or accidental events, and termite damage is neither. Be sure to take precautions to prevent an infestation before it begins.
Termites dislike certain odors that act as repellents to them. Some of the common smells they hate include orange oil, neem oil, garlic, cinnamon, vinegar, mint, and citrus.
One of the biggest concerns people have when it comes to termite control is whether they can get rid of termites on their own. The answer is almost always a resounding “no”. Treating termites is not a DIY project, as colonies can be hidden anywhere in or near your home and often in areas you can't access.
Best Termite Foam for Direct Spray: Termidor Foam
If you have termite problems in the cracks and crevices in your home, Termidor Foam gives you a major advantage. Different from baits and liquid barriers, Termidor Foam can be used inside the home.
Termites are small insects that are particularly drawn to homes. Within a home, the bathroom is the most likely room to house the bugs since they like digging their mud tunnels into wet wood. If your bathroom doesn't vent properly or holds in moisture, termites will be drawn to the walls.
Thus, neem oil for termites can be the best natural termite killer and help you get rid of termites permanently from your wooden structures. If you are wondering how to do neem oil treatment for termites, simply inject it inside the wooden structures.
Essentially, termites definitely bite wood and do attack other insects, but they do not bite people. Although homeowners experiencing an infestation should not be concerned about receiving bites from termites, professional extermination methods should be sought and implemented to protect the structure of your home.