Have you ever wondered what could be eating your house out of the ground without your knowing it? In Singapore, the concern is usually about subterranean termites. These extremely destructive pests cause the greatest percentage of termite damage in the country, and they tend to attack timber structures way before any visible damage is detected.
At Ninja Pest Control, we believe being informed is the first step in defence. It is important to know more about these mysterious invaders, their life cycle, their habits, and their indications to ensure that your property is not harmed. It is time to explore why these termites are such a menace and why professional intervention is the best protection.
What Are Subterranean Termites? The Ultimate Builders
Subterranean termites are those species that are found in underground colonies. These pests have a very crucial relationship with the soil, which supplies them with the moisture needed to survive. They are indeed the unrecognised builders of the insect kingdom, and they build long tunnels, so-called mud tubes, to pass between their nest and the timbers of your house.
Life Inside the Colony
A colony of termites living underground is a very organised society, with each caste having a particular, necessary role:
- Workers: These are the most destructive and numerous termites. They are pale and blind and have to forage for food (cellulose, which is in wood), feed the colony, and construct those telltale mud tubes. It is they who are doing the real harm to your property.
- Soldiers: The soldiers are large, dark-headed, and strong-headed mandibles, and they are employed to defend the colony against danger, mostly ants.
- Reproductives (Alates or Swarmers): These are the winged termites that are seen during swarming. They are expected to leave the mature colony, mate and create a new colony, which is normally close or inside a new structure
- Queen: The most important character, and the one that lays thousands of eggs daily to keep the colony alive.
Spotting the Signs: Is Your Home Under Attack?
Since underground termites are hidden in the soil and wood, it is important to identify the slightest indications of their existence to detect them early. Have you visited these places recently?
- Mud Tubes: These are pencil-like holes constructed of soil, wood particles and saliva. They are usually found running up concrete foundations, walls, or floor joists, acting as protected highways for the workers. Finding a mud tube is often the strongest visual evidence of an active infestation.
- Discarded Wings: After a swarm (when reproductive termites fly off to find new mates), they shed their wings. The fact that there are little heaps of clear, often the same wings about the window sills, doors, or vents is an indication of a mature colony in the neighbourhood.
- Damaged Wood: Termites are known to chew on the wood in the middle of it, leaving a thin layer of paint or surface wood. Tapped wood may be hollow or brittle.
- Sagging or Distorted Features: Advanced damage can lead to the doors or windows being a tight fit or floors and ceilings sinking, and this is an indication that the structure is weakened internally.
Your Best Defence: Professional Termite Control
In the case of the colony of underground termites, DIY methods can hardly be used. The size of the underground network demands a professional approach that is distinct to the Singapore setting.
In Ninja Pest Control, we apply proven, trusted strategies that are aimed at efficient removal and prevention. We do not merely treat the symptoms; we aim at destroying the colony and its origin in the soil.
In case you have observed any of the above signs, then do not wait until it is too late. Termites are 24/7 workers who never sleep, and they transform small damages into significant structural problems quite fast.
The most important thing that you can do to ensure that you protect your biggest investment, which is your home, is to seek the services of a professional pest control service.