Termites are insects that can eat through wood, degrading the structural integrity of your home. They travel into homes by following trails of moisture and wood particles outside or inside walls. Termites use their antennae to detect chemical signals from other termites to find a food source.
According to our experts from Pro Termite Control, the most common signs of an infestation are small piles of frass on the ground near a possible exit hole on the exterior wall. Therefore, homeowners need to know how to identify these holes so they can take action before it becomes too late.
What are Termite Exit Holes
If you’ve ever had termites invading your home, you’ve most likely seen tiny holes in an infested wood. These tiny holes are what we call “exit holes,” or holes created by swarming termites that are trying to leave their nests.
Exit holes are small marks in wood, drywall, and other construction materials left by some termite species right before mating season. Some of these tunnels are used by flying termites as exit routes on their initial trip out of the nest.
After the flying termites have fled, a nymph termite will seal the hole with a brown, plaster-like substance composed of excrement, soil, and wood particles.
Exit holes are somehow similar to termite holes, where termites dig their way into a wood structure to reach the core and feed on it.
The main difference between termite holes and exit holes is that they are made by alates (flying termites) to leave their parent colony rather than a worker termite looking to feed.
How to Identify Termite Exit Holes
Exit holes can be challenging to identify since many people don’t understand how exactly they look like. There are several signs that termites have been in your house, but the most common one is tiny holes in your wall or flooring.
These exit holes can be found anywhere around a house but are typically close to moisture because that’s where the swarming alates believe they’ll find a new colony.
To identify an exit hole, take note of the following:
- Termite exit holes are circular and no more than 18 inches in diameter.
- After the alates or swarming termites have left the nest, the termite nymphs will close the openings with a frass paste.
- Uncovered termite holes are uncommon because the nymphs work swiftly after the swarmers depart the nest.
- Kicked-out wood resembles the tiny mustard seeds that frequently accumulate.
What Types of Termites Create Exit Holes?
Although you might think that all termites create these exit holes when they swarm, that’s not entirely accurate. Some types of termites actually create their own exit holes in the wood just before swarming, while other species use existing natural entry points to get into a home.
The most common type of termite that creates exit holes are drywood termites. These pests are termites that feed off on dead trees and wood. Drywood termites can often be found in homes and buildings where the wood is old and dry.
When mating season comes, the termites cut through the wood with their jaws and create a hole from which they emerge to find a mate.
Do other Insects Make Exit Holes?
Termites aren’t the only insects that can gnaw through wood materials. A variety of wood-destroying pests can make quite similar, small, round holes.
Among these insects are powderpost beetles, carpenter ants, bark beetles, and carpenter bees.
Unfortunately, each of these has distinct behaviors and wooden preferences, leaving it difficult to identify which wood-boring bug you’re dealing with.
This is why it’s always a good idea to seek the assistance of pest control professionals when finding termite holes or ones left by other bugs.
What to Do With Termite Exit Holes?
The moment you suspect you have termite exit holes in your property, it’s good to call a pest control company and have them inspect your property.
After you’ve found these exit holes and called a pest control company, there are a few steps that can be taken to prevent this from happening again.
Regularly inspecting the exterior of your home for moisture leakage is important, as well as having wood pieces replaced with chemical-resistant materials such as plastic or metal.
To eliminate an existing termite infestation, it’s best to work with a local termite treatment contractor who will come out, assess the situation, and offer solutions for getting rid of these pests.
Contacting a professional service will ensure you won’t deal with any unexpected issues during the process and ensure the complete elimination of all termites on your property.
The Keynote
The article has provided you with some useful tips on identifying the signs of termite exit holes in Malaysian homes.
You will be able to determine if your home is at risk by looking for these telltale signs, so it’s worth taking a few minutes now before disaster strikes and damages are done!