How Do Termites Spread: Causes and What You Can Do

As someone who has years of experience in the pest control industry, let me tell you — termites are no laughing matter. These tiny critters can cause massive damage to your home, costing you thousands in repairs if left unchecked. Trust me, I’ve seen the aftermath of their destructive power firsthand.

Homeowners often underestimate the threat termites pose until it’s too late. That’s why understanding how these pests spread is crucial in protecting your property. Believe me, you don’t want to be caught off guard when they start munching away at the very foundation of your house.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of termites, exploring:

• How they spread their colonies and what you can do to prevent them from infesting your home.
• The telltale signs of a termite problem, so you can catch it early before it spirals out of control.
• Effective methods to get rid of termites and those pesky swarmers once they’ve made themselves at home.
• When it’s time to call in the big guns – professional pest control experts who can handle even the most stubborn infestations.

We’ll also introduce you to some of the top-notch pest control companies in the nation, so you know who to trust when termites come knocking on your door.

And let’s not forget the cost factor. Getting rid of termites isn’t cheap, but trust me, it’s a small price to pay compared to the astronomical repair bills you could face if you ignore the problem.

Termites Spreading Behavior and Travel

Termites can be complex insects to understand. Knowing how to recognize the type of termite you’re dealing with can help you determine how to track and manage termite spreading.

Termite Spreading Behavior by Type

Spreading behaviors can vary depending on the kind of termite that you’re dealing with. The following are the most common types of termites that homeowners deal with and how they usually spread.

How Do Dampwood Termites Spread?

Dampwood termites are some of the largest termites in North America, measuring up to 5/8ths of an inch long. Dampwood termites usually do not infest homes, as they require an excessive amount of moisture to survive. Unlike subterranean termite species, dampwood termites do not need to create underground colonies, instead living directly in the wood that they are consuming.

Due to their high humidity needs, dampwood termites tend not to move colonies unless they run out of food. This means that the most common way dampwood termites spread is through connecting sources of food. If you have some wood items on your property and you allow dampwood termites to eat through them, they could eventually begin trying to feed on your home’s structure.

How Do Drywood Termites Spread?

Drywood termites typically only spread during swarming. During swarming, termites grow wings and pair up to mate and form additional colonies. We’ll go into more detail on swarming and how it works in later sections.

How Do Subterranean Termites Spread?

Subterranean termites usually get into your home through foraging. Termites must forage in search of food, which is an especially essential skill for subterranean termites.

As their name suggests, subterranean termites travel underground, creating mud tubes and tunnels in search of sources of cellulose. These tunnels may connect with your home. If there are sources of wood on your property, you might find these pests in your home.

How Far Do Termites Live Underground?

Unlike most types of insects, termites do not simply prefer to live underground — they cannot survive without creating new colonies underground. Subterranean termites may build their mud tunnels only a few feet below the ground in the summer months, as they search for wooden structures in your home to feed on.

In the winter months, subterranean termites are forced deeper underground, burrowing 18 to 20 feet below the ground. However, if you live in an area where many homeowners use central heating, the warmer surrounding soil might cause termites to burrow closer to the crust of the soil. This makes regular inspections especially important in suburban areas.

How Far Do Termites Travel From Their Nest

Termites typically don’t enjoy traveling very far away from their colonies, and they will usually only travel as far as they need to in order to locate food. However, most types of termites can travel up to 130 feet away from their colonies. Once they locate food, they will leave a chemical trail behind using pheromones, which allows other termites to locate the food source and cause an infestation.

The Main Ways That Termites Spread

Termites spread using a variety of methods. The method that termites may use when spreading on your property can vary depending on the time of year, the type of termites on your property, and additional factors.

Swarming

Termites mate using a process called “swarming.” When it’s time for termites to swarm, some worker termites sprout wings and develop into alates. When they are living as alates, termites may resemble carpenter ants with wings. Interestingly, even after sprouting wings, worker termites will only make one flight, called the “nuptial flight.”

As the name suggests, the nuptial flight is when male and female worker termites exit the colony to pair up. After forming a pair, the male and female termites will bond, begin a new colony, and become the new king and queen termites of each respective new colony.

Swarmers fly and explore the area to pair up with a termite of the opposite sex. Many termite colonies swarm during the spring season when humidity is high, and scientists have observed multiple local colonies swarming at the same time.

Swarming is important because most male and female termites who are part of the swarm never lay eggs — instead, they become a food source for birds and other insects. Swarming can be one of the first signs of termite activity on your property, so it’s important to know when and where to keep your eyes out for reproductive termites.

When Do Termites Swarm?

Termites swarm when the weather is suitable for mating. They cannot swarm without wings, and termite wings don’t sprout until the humidity of spring arrives. You’re likely to see termites swarming right after it rains, especially when the humidity in the area is still high. Early morning swarms are especially common throughout the United States.

How Far Do Termites Fly When They Swarm?

Termite colonies enter homes in search of food. Subterranean termites travel outside their nest using a series of mud tubes, which may lead to your home if you have firewood, rotting baseboards, or other food sources that could attract termites.

They then enter your house by eating through the exterior wood on your property or by tunneling beneath the earth to make their way to the interior of your home in search of food.

What to Do When Termites Swarm Outside

There isn’t much that you can do while termites are actively swarming. Killing the swarm will not stop the problem or prevent termites from mating. Swarms usually only last around 30 minutes, which means that a pest control company likely won’t be able to arrive in time to treat the termites as they swarm.

Making a mixture of water with a dash of cayenne pepper can encourage swarming termites to move away from a specific area of your property.

How to Stop Termites From Swarming

While you cannot remove a colony during the swarming process, there are steps that you can take before spring to discourage termites from swarming on your property:

• Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from the perimeter of your home
• Remove standing pools of water from your yard
• Receive regular pest inspections to check for termites and potential entry points
• Make sure wood siding is at least six feet above the ground
• Fix leaky gutters and plumbing

Remain vigilant for signs of termites on your property and contact a pest control company before spring in order to avoid swarming altogether.

How Fast Does a Termite Infestation Spread?

The rate at which a termite infestation spreads can vary significantly depending on several factors, including the termite species, the size of the colony, availability of food sources, and environmental conditions. However, termite infestations can spread alarmingly fast if left unchecked.
Factors Affecting the Spread Rate of Termites

• Termite Species: Different termite species have varying reproductive rates and feeding habits, which can influence how quickly an infestation spreads. For example, subterranean termites, which are highly destructive, can rapidly expand their colonies and cause extensive damage within a short period.
• Colony Size: The larger the termite colony, the faster it can spread. A mature colony with a well-established hierarchy and numerous workers can consume wood at a faster rate, accelerating the infestation’s progression.
• Food Availability: Termites require a constant supply of cellulose-based materials, such as wood, paper, or cardboard, to sustain their colonies. If there is an abundant food source nearby, the infestation will spread more rapidly as the termites exploit these resources.
• Environmental Conditions: Termites thrive in warm, humid environments, and their activity levels increase during these conditions. Conversely, colder temperatures or dry conditions can slow down their spread.

Mating

After termites pair up when swarming, they land, lose their wings, and become dealates. The dealates look for a place to begin their nest, typically a loose piece of firewood or a small burrow.

After creating a nest using surrounding materials and saliva, the termites lay their eggs and create a new colony. If this colony is located close to your home, these mating termites can spell major future problems for your house.

When is Termite Mating Season?

Termite mating season is dependent upon temperature, as the temperature must rise to a certain overall level for termites’ wings to sprout. This usually occurs in spring, oftentimes right after it rains and humidity in the air is still high.

Drywood termites tend to swarm in the later summer months, typically around July and August. Scientists have observed multiple species of termite swarming at the same time, even if their colonies are separated by long distances.

How Long is the Termite Mating Season?

The length of the mating season can vary from year to year because it depends largely on favorable weather conditions. Mating season could end early if a cold snap arrives and kills off the termite swarms before they can finish creating new colonies. However, if warmer weather extends into the fall, you could see termite swarms as late as October.

How to Get Rid of Reproductive Termites

Use the tips listed in the section above to prevent worker termites before they have a chance to mate and create a new colony on your property. Some of these tips include removing standing water from your yard, fixing leaky gutters and plumbing, and making sure wood siding is at least six feet above the ground.

Termite swarming only happens once per year, and most colonies swarm for only 30 to 40 minutes. While termites can cause severe structural damage to your home, they will not bite you while swarming, so a swarm does not provide immediate danger to you.

Budding

Termites are complex creatures that live under a strict hierarchy, with each caste in the hierarchy working to sustain the overall longevity of the colony.

Sometimes, when a colony of termites detects that it’s getting too large to sustain or is in danger, the colony may split off through a process called “budding.” During the budding process, a group of worker, mating, and soldier termites break off from the original colony to form a secondary, lesser colony.

Causes of Termite Budding

Termites are exceptionally intelligent insects, and they bud in order to protect their colonies — even if it means sacrificing a portion of the original colony. Termite budding occurs for three common reasons.

• Danger to the colony: Over time, a termite colony may run out of food or otherwise become unsustainable. In this situation, termites may bud to search for a new area to set up a more practical colony.
• Rapid growth: Growing too fast can also be bad for a termite colony, as it may exhaust resources for every termite living in the colony. If a termite colony is too successful, it might begin the budding process to keep resources balanced.
• Beginning of the mating process: Termites with wings take up more room than premature termites. During mating season, some termites that do not grow wings may spread by budding.

How to Prevent Termite Budding

The best way to stop the budding is to remove any termite colonies currently on your property. If there are no termite colonies on your property, there can be no budding. Ironically, because termites bud when they feel threatened, some termite treatments can increase budding activity.

This is why it’s important to contact a professional pest control company as soon as you notice termite activity near your home.

Foraging

Foraging is incredibly important for the sustainability of the termite colony. This is especially true for subterranean termites, which eat through a higher volume of food when compared to other species. When foraging, termites look for new sources of food. If they locate food, they will leave a scent trail of pheromones, which attract other termites from the colony to the food.

How Far Do Termites Forage From Their Colony?

Termites can travel up to 100 feet from their colonies in search of food. However, termites do not prefer to travel long-distance, and will usually stop foraging once they locate food. Removing potential sources of termite food from your property will discourage foraging behavior.

Major Warning Signs of Termites

Termite control is an absolute must for any homeowner. If you aren’t getting an annual termite inspection, you should be regularly inspecting your own property for these destructive pests.

What are the Signs of Termite Activity?

Knowing the early signs of termite damage and activity can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in termite treatment costs. If you notice any of the following signs of termites, don’t wait — call a local pet control service as soon as possible.

• Buckling floors: Termites feed on cellulose, which is a fibrous protein found in wood and wooden structures. This means that flooring can be one of the most vulnerable areas of the home. If you notice that your flooring buckles under your feet or feels “squishy,” it could be because termites are breaking it down by chewing.
• Swollen ceilings and walls: As termites feed, they release saliva to dissolve the wood, making it easier to chew. Over time, this moisture affects your drywall and ceiling. If you notice peeling wallpaper, swelling on your walls or in your ceiling, or a hollow noise when you knock on the wall, termites could be the culprit.
• Banging sounds: Soldier termites communicate throughout the colony by banging their heads on the walls of their colony tunnels. The vibrations from this head banging tell the worker termites to retreat deeper into the tunnels where it’s safe. If you have termites in your walls, you may be able to notice vibrating banging noises during the night. While this is usually only seen with severe termite infestations, you may still be able to hear noise with a mild termite problem if you listen closely.

What are the Symptoms of a Termite Infestation?

Termite infestations can cause serious, permanent damage to your property. If you notice any of the following symptoms of a termite infestation, don’t wait — call a pest control company as soon as possible.

• Hollowed out wood: The most damaging type of termites, subterranean termites, do not even live in your wood — they eat it. You can notice hollowed out wood by knocking on it. If you hear a resonant or echoing sound, chances are that termites have created this space by building tunnels. If you apply pressure to the wood, you might even notice a sound similar to that of crumpling paper.
• Frass: Termite droppings are referred to by pest control professionals as “frass.” You can identify frass by looking for piles of small, brown pellets. Depending on the type of termite you’re infested with, frass might also look a little like a pile of sawdust. If you have a termite infestation, you’re likely to see frass near the areas where termites feed.
• Insects themselves: Termites are largely nocturnal, and they prefer to stay out of sight. Nearly every animal that feeds on insects can easily consume termites, which means that it’s evolutionarily advantageous for termites to stay as hidden as possible. If you see termites crawling around at all, you probably have a severe termite infestation.

How Do Termites Appear Out of Nowhere?

When termites appear out of nowhere, it’s usually due to swarming. Swarming season typically occurs in the spring when the humidity is high. Termites don’t ever truly “appear out of nowhere —” if you notice a swarm of termites or you see a stray worker termite on your property, you already have termites.

In fact, termites prefer to spend most of their time hidden in the dark, and they are most active during the evening hours. If you’re seeing multiple termites at once, chances are high that you have a much larger problem than how quickly the termites arrived.

What to Do if You Have Termites

When you find termites on your property, it’s important to call a local pest control company as soon as possible. I recommend first getting a quote from nationwide termite control professional Terminix. Terminix has nearly 100 years of experience within the pest control industry, and their team has the tools to effectively remove even the most severe termite infestation. After your problem is corrected, they can even set up an annual pest control plan that keeps termites away year-round.

Read this in-depth review of Terminix for more information.

If it turns out that you don’t have termites, there are still steps that you can take to prevent these pests from taking over your property in the future. Orkin Pest Control is another trusted name in termite removal, and they have preventive treatment plans available as well. Get a quote from Orkin even if you don’t have termites right now to rest with a better sense of peace of mind.

Final Thoughts

Termites are persistent little buggers that can wreak havoc on homes like mine if I’m not careful. As someone who has seen firsthand the kind of damage they can cause, let me tell you – you don’t want to mess around with these wood-munching pests.

I’ve learned that termites spread through some sneaky tactics like swarming, budding, and foraging. And let me tell you, once they find a nice food source, their colonies explode faster than my wife can spend money at a shoe sale.

That’s why early detection is so crucial for homeowners like myself. I can’t stress this enough – if you even think you might have termites, don’t wait. Call in the professionals right away before that small problem becomes a costly nightmare.

I know the expense of an exterminator might make you cringe, but trust me, it’s nothing compared to the repair bills you’ll face if termites go unchecked. These guys are relentless, and they won’t stop until they’ve devoured everything in their path.

So stay vigilant, my friends. Inspect your home regularly and don’t ignore any signs of termite activity. Because once they’ve established themselves, getting rid of them is like trying to convince my teenager to clean their room — a seemingly impossible task.

Protect your greatest investment and your sanity. Don’t let termites catch you off guard. If they do, you’ll be cursing the day you ignored those little wood-eating monsters. Trust me, I know from experience.

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