Termites are major wood-destroying pests. The word "termite" comes from the Latin word Termes, meaning wood worm. Most Michigan termites are subterranean because they must have moist ground in which to build their nests.

The food of subterranean termites is largely cellulose, which comes from many sources. Termites will eat all materials made from plants or cellulose-containing plant products.

Subterranean termites are most abundant in moist, warm soils containing plenty of food. Such conditions are found beneath poorly ventilated buildings, scraps of lumber, stumps covered by fill, grape roots (usually in old abandoned vineyards), or any part of a wood structure close to the ground such as porches, foundation sills, or steps.

Termites travel from nests in the soil through a brownish, corklike tube to their food supply. When, through control measures, the contact between the nest in the ground and the wood upon which they feed is broken, termites die.

Termites feed on the inside of sills, studding, floors, subfloors, casings, baseboards, and other wood structures. They tunnel these parts of a house leaving in many cases only thin shelves of the harder part of the wood. Inside the galleries, the wood is rough, tooth-notched, and occasionally coated with yellowish corky, muddy material that is often black-specked.

Termites rarely appear on the surface except when they are winged and swarming, usually in April or May following a warm rain. However, they can also thrive in summer and fall. If the wood upon which they are feeding is broken through, they immediately seal the opening with a brownish cork-like material. Termites do not leave sawdust as do powder-post beetles and carpenter ants. Also, there are no small openings to the outside of the wood as in the case of powder-post beetles.

Homeowners should be constantly on the lookout for termites. An easy way to locate termite damage in sills, floor joists, and studding is to plunge an ice pick or screwdriver into the wood. If the wood is solid, the ice pick or screwdriver will not go in very far. On the other hand, it the pick enters easily, all wood should be inspected carefully for termites. Also, look for mud tubes from the soil across the foundation to the wood. These can be seen in crawlspaces or basements, across foundations or in block voids.

When you find insect-damaged wood, be absolutely sure the insects are still present and, if so, whether or not they are termites. Determine the extent of the damage by probing with an ice pick or screwdriver as mentioned above.

When a termite infestation is present, you have two choices: (1) rely on the services of a qualified and experienced termite control operator; or (2) attempt to control them yourself. The first choice, in most cases, is recommended. Do-it-yourself termite control is seldom satisfactorily achieved.

While termite control can be fairly expensive, the cost is usually justified by the special equipment such as concrete drills and pressure applicators, technical knowledge and experience, large volumes of chemicals and time required to properly apply the treatment. Special attention should be given to termite-proofing chemicals and structures built into buildings on "floating" concrete slabs. If the slab cracks, even as little as 1/32 of an inch, the termites are afforded a well-protected, hidden, and direct route to and from their food source.

If this is your first encounter with termites, above all, do not panic. Take your time selecting a qualified and experienced termite control company. Termites work slowly, so the chances of your home collapsing in an additional two to three weeks or even months are extremely slim.

The best way to select a company is to: (1) choose several companies and establish their credibility through the Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce; (2) obtain both damage and cost estimates from several companies; and (3) obtain references from the companies and check the references as thoroughly as possible.

Courtesy MSU Extension