Termites can be terrifying. The termite is an international pest that has the ability to cause thousands of dollars in damage to the average home. The first few signs of a termite infestation in the home can mean they have already taken over the unseen parts of the house. Where there are termites, there is an increased risk of structural collapse and damage to wood, floors, and furniture. Ants and termites can also be found together with an increased risk of certain types of fungus in the area. If you have a terrifying termite infestation in the house, it can be tempting to take matters into your own hands. Termite tubes are a common sight that leads to their nest. But should you remove termite tubes when you find them in the home?
Should I Remove Termite Tubes?
Here’s what to know about the presence of termite mud tunnels, and why pest control experts say you should leave termite tubes where you find them.
The Damage Termites Cause
According to pest control experts, termites are one of the worst pests you can have in the house. Termites cause damage to an estimated 600,000 homes in the United States every year. The worst part, termites can cause significant structural damage.
Homes affected by termite damage in the US have to fork out an estimated $1 billion in damages every year.
If you spot the first signs of a termite infestation, you should never think of it as a small problem. Instead, view the signs as a serious hazard to the structural safety of your house and contact a local termite control company near you.
Identification of Termite Tubes
Termite tubes, also known as mud tubes or shelter tubes, are one of the most visible signs of subterranean termite activity. Identifying these tubes is crucial for early detection and prevention of termite infestations. Here’s how you can find termite tubes and protect your home:
Appearance
Termite tubes typically appear as narrow, cylindrical structures made of mud or soil. They can vary in size, ranging from pencil-thin lines to thicker tubes, depending on the termite species and environmental conditions.
Location
Termite tubes are commonly found along the exterior walls of buildings, foundations, and other structures. They may also extend from the ground to wooden structures, such as floor joists, support beams, or wall studs. Indoors, termite tubes can be observed in basements, crawl spaces, and utility areas.
Texture
Termite tubes have a rough texture due to the particles of soil or wood fragments mixed with saliva used in their construction. Unlike other structures like cobwebs or insect cocoons, termite tubes feel gritty to the touch.
Visual Inspection
Conduct a thorough visual inspection of your property, paying close attention to areas where soil meets the structure. Look for irregularities, such as mud trails running vertically or diagonally along walls or other surfaces.
Function of Termite Tubes
Termite tubes serve several important functions for the termite colony, contributing to their survival and expansion. Understanding the purpose of these structures can provide insight into termite behavior and aid in pest management efforts. Here’s why termites build tubes:
Protection
Termite tubes provide protection for termites as they travel between their underground nests and food sources above ground. By constructing these tubes, termites can avoid exposure to predators, sunlight, and desiccation, which could be detrimental to their delicate bodies.
Moisture Regulation
Termites require a moist environment to survive, as they are highly susceptible to dehydration. The mud used in termite tubes helps retain moisture, creating a microclimate conducive to termite activity. This moisture regulation is crucial for sustaining termite colonies in dry or arid conditions.
Navigation
Termite tubes serve as navigation pathways, guiding worker termites to food sources and allowing them to efficiently forage for cellulose materials such as wood. By following these tubes, termites can establish and maintain access routes to their preferred food sources, facilitating colony growth and expansion.
Chemical Communication
Termite tubes also play a role in chemical communication within the colony. Termites deposit pheromones along the walls of the tubes, which help regulate the behavior of colony members and coordinate activities such as foraging, mating, and nest construction.
Signs of Termites Around
According to expert exterminators, one of the first signs of a possible termite infestation is their sound. Termites make an audible sound when they move around walls or foundations. This sound can usually be heard by humans as a (slightly annoying, repetitive) clicking noise.
Termite colonies will also leave behind droppings, and other unfriendly signs of a termite infestation all around the house. Droppings and termite corpses are more likely to show up where you don’t look, such as under and behind things.
With termites around, you will also start to see damage around the house. Look for any food sources, such as wood that has been splintered or eaten away, or look around for the presence of sawdust.
Termites also discard their wings. Termite wings are another potential sign of a termite infestation that you might find around the home.
Termite tubes can also signal termites. These tubes are created as they move around, and it’s mistakenly one of the first things that people try to eradicate.
Should You Remove Termite Mud Tubes?
Termite tubes can be thought of as tunnels for termites. When pests like termites need to move from one place to another – usually for the purposes of finding food or breeding – they will create these tubes or tunnels and leave sawdust and dirt in their wake.
However, it is important to note that experts recommend leaving termite tubes intact. Call in a professional to inspect and diagnose the situation then exterminate the termites.
While it can be tempting to remove termite tubes as you find them, the repair or removal of termite tubes doesn’t take care of the termite infestation. Most eradication experts say that termite tubes should be left alone until you have managed to call in local exterminators.
In fact, termite tubes are an essential part of the process for an exterminator. For an effective eradication of the termites in your home, an exterminator needs to see exactly where termites have gone – and where termite nests might be found around the house.
With termite tubes left alone, experts have an easier job tracking the termite activity and getting rid of them… For good!
Additional Reading: Termites: How to Identify and Control Them – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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