Termites, which
play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material, become a problem when they consume structural lumber. Every year
thousands of U.S. housing units require termite treatment. These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts
and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. Successful termite management requires special skills, including
a working knowledge of building construction and an understanding of termite biology and identification. In most cases, it
is advisable to hire a professional pest control company for the inspection and control problem.
A typical homeowner's insurance policy does not cover
destruction caused by termites, even though they cause over 1 billion dollars in damage to homes throughout the United States
each year. It’s important that homeowners understand the threat of termites, and take the necessary steps to protect
their homes.
Subterranean termites are extremely destructive. First they build tunnels to wooden structures, and
then they burrow into those structures to obtain food. Any wood or cellulose-containing material constitutes termite food,
and given time to do so, they’ll eat until nothing is left but a shell. Termites avoid light and air, so they build
their colonies where you’re not likely to stumble upon them.
On the off chance you do see them, remember
that it’s easy to confuse termites with ants. Fortunately, there are features that distinguish them.
Ants: constricted waists,
bent antennae, two sets of wings (one wing is longer than the other)
Termites:
thick waists,
straight antennae, two sets of wings (same size)
Wood-boring beetle
larvae feed on wood and wood products. Adults of some species bore holes into plaster, plastic, and soft metals. Many species
cause problems when emerging from wood in newly constructed buildings because they leave small circular or oval exit holes
in the wood. To avoid these problems, infested wood must be kiln-dried before being used for lumber. The species Deathwatch
Beetles is primarily found in soft woods (girder, beams, foundation timbers, some types of furniture, with some species attacking
books). False Powderpost female beetles bore a tunnel, or egg gallery, into wood or other materials, then deposit eggs in
pores or cracks within the tunnel. Adults of some species bore through such soft metal as lead and silver, as well as plaster
and other non-wood materials. Affected structural wood should be removed and replaced whenever possible.
Wood
Wasps and Horntails. Wood wasp damage in buildings is likely to be more cosmetic than structurally weakening.
Emerging wood wasps can chew through any substance: wallboard or plaster walls, hardwood floors, carpeting, linoleum, non-ceramic
floor tiles, and other interior surfaces.
Carpenter Ants. Several species can damage wood in
building and other structures. Though ants don’t eat wood, they bore into it to make their nests, sometimes causing
serious structural damage. Also, they nest in hollow doors, cracks and crevices, furniture, wall voids, and termite galleries.
New building infestation occurs when land-cleaning in the area disturbs existing native colonies.
Carpenter Bees. Carpenter bees are large, yellow and black (or blue-black) bees that become active in early spring. This bee
is commonly 2/3 to 1 inch long, usually with a shiny abdomen and a yellow thorax. Its look-alike cousin (the bumble
bee) has a fuzzy abdomen. Although it is rare to be stung by one, their sheer size is scary and people generally stay
clear of them. Carpenter bees get their name from their ability
to drill through wood and nest in the hole. Their drilling creates a near-perfect hole, approximately 1/2 inch in diameter.
The hole is usually located on the underside of the wood surface; including siding, soffits, decks, overhangs, fence posts
and window frames. Although the hole appears to be only an inch or two deep, it rarely ends there.
Excerpts from
University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, UCIPMOnline, “Statewide Pest Management Program”.
