He says "Hey babe, come look at this...looks like termites!" I reply "No way!" but as I walk over and look and see that there is also another "muddy tunnel" caked to the cement slab close by, I officially freak! The contract on our house was seriously JUST signed & executed...and now this?! You ever have that "one step forward and two steps back" feeling? I was DEFINITELY feeling that way! Jon went ahead and sprayed bug killer around the perimeter of the house and we went on to my grandparent's house. *sigh* We were both pretty much a wreck!
We asked my Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam their thoughts and they both advised we needed an exterminator ASAP and that hopefully they hadn't entered the house yet. THEN, we called Linda, our realtor. She put me at ease as much as she could and offered a phone number for her favorite extermination company and stated we'd prob just need a spot treatment. I called ALLIED ANTIMITE Termite & Pest Control first thing Monday morning but the earliest appt available was for Wednesday. Apparently this is the "Termite Season" and they are invading like wildfire!! Ack!
Tony came out to survey the damage and give me an estimate Wed morning. Outcome is that we have 2 spots that need treatment, both brand new with no damage yet. Praise God!! The first is by the front door (where we spotted them) and the second area is in front of the house in the flower bed. Tony quoted me $400 and assured me it was no big deal and they would be 100% gone by Thursday after the spot treatment was done. SUCH A NICE GUY!! I will definitely recommend ALLIED ANTIMITE to others!
I called Linda to report the findings and she said she would correct our disclosure staetment and forward on to the potential buyers. The knot in my throat grew! What if they don't buy now?! They still have 11 days left in their "option period"...couldn't the little pests have waited a couple months?! Sheesh! Oh well, it's done now.
SO...now we wait. The spot treatment is taking place as I write and we haven't heard anything from buyers. No news is good news, right?! ;-) I didn't know anything about signs of termites. Thankfully, Jon did. I would have assumed it was a mud dobber home, not termite tunnels! Since finding out we do have them, I have talked to several friends, family and co-workers who have also had the same issue! Some live in our same neighborhood. Who knew?! I guess termites aren't the best topic of conversation but it I felt compelled to write b/c it is something we need to be made aware of.
Useful Info: I've been on google non-stop since finding out we had the termite issue....
It most definitely IS "Termite season" and the little monsters are everywhere! Stats on most sites online say 70%+ of DFW homes will have early signs of termites THIS MONTH!!! Check around the preimiter of your home. Go up in your attic to see if they're swarming. Inspect your flower beds (mulch). The recent DFW storms have probably slowed them and washed outside signs away but they will return! :(
Subterranean termites are the most popular North Texas termite and their homes are usually formed in soil. In the very beginning, while looking for a home, these termites swarm/fly...they look like tiny flying ants (see picture on the left).
Once they find their new home, they bed down and create elaborate tunnel systems and mud tunnels through which they access aboveground food sources. They rely on water/moisture so they have to come aboveground to retrieve from the soil. Once the colony has been established and breeding/infestation starts, the termites look more like ewy gooey tiny worms (see picture on the right).
Here is a picture of what the "mud tunnels" look like that you might see attached to your concrete slab or alongside a flower bed, etc. BE ON THE LOOKOUT!
All so gross, I know! Last, I leave you with some preventative measures to help in protecting your home:
Eliminate Moisture Problems
Repair leaking faucets, water pipes, and a/c units
Divert water from foundation
Keep gutters and down-spouts clean
Remove excessive plant cover and wood mulch
Get rid of standing water on roof
Keep all vents clear and open
Seal entry points around water and utility lines or pipes
Remove Food Sources
Keep firewood, lumber, or paper away from foundation or crawl space
Get rid of stumps and debris near house
Place screens on outside vents
Check decks and wooden fences for damage
Wood on your home shouldn’t contact the soil
Termite Warning Signs & Identification
Some indications you may have a termite infestation:
A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around your home.
Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings).
Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawl spaces.
Discarded wings from swarmers.
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