Before deciding on a treatment, it's important to know the pests you're dealing with. Admittedly, many people have never even seen a termite. That's because they stay well hidden. Termites thrive in dark, moist conditions, preferably in soil. On average, they leave their protective environment about once a year for mating purposes – a reproductive process known as "swarming." After successfully mating, they search for a new location to nest and feed.

Similar to ants, termites live in large interdependent colonies. These colonies operate much like a factory, numbering anywhere from 250,000 to, in some cases, more than one million termites. Worker, soldier and reproductive termites have specific tasks to keep the whole system running. At the center of the colony is the queen and king whose joint purpose is reproduction. The worker termites' role is crucial: collect enough food to feed the entire colony, including the thousands of new larvae that are hatched each season. Termites feed on cellulose materials and are especially attracted to one particular source: wood. But how do they find it?

Question: Do termites only attack old run-down buildings?
Answer: Termites have been found in buildings as early as four days after construction.

Question: Are there different kinds of termites?
Answer: Entomologists have identified over 2,300 species worldwide, 45 of which exist in the United States. Generally, homeowners only need to worry about two types: Subterranean and Drywood termites. Each must be dealt with separately.

Question: Are there other wood-destroying insects to worry about?

Answer: Besides termites, there are many other insects which can feed on the wood in your home. Powder-post beetles are second only to termites in the severity of their destruction. Like termites, they can also do extensive damage before their presence is known.

Question: If I've never seen any evidence of drywood termites or powder-post beetles, does that mean my home is free from wood-destroying pests?
Answer: Not necessarily. These pests work from the inside out and are extremely difficult to detect. Drywood termites are especially difficult because, with the exception of rarely seen swarmers, the other members of the colony spend their entire lives inside the wood.

Damage Comparisons

Less dramatic–but no less disastrous–is the damage caused by termites. In fact, termites cause more than 750 million dollars in damage every year. That's more than all fires, storms, tornadoes, earthquakes and hurricanes combined.

It's best to start fighting before the battle's over

Of course, even if you can't spot signs of the enemy, you'll still want to know whether you have a drywood termite problem before it's too late.
No one can track the enemy's trail better than a professional pest control operator. An inspection by one of these thoroughly-trained professionals is the most intelligent strategy you can use against the enemy within.