Everything to Know About Termites in Louisiana

Louisiana is famous for its Mardi Gras festival and delicious cuisine, including its gumbo and beignets. Unfortunately, termites are also a well-known part of Louisiana. These wood-eating pests lurk behind walls and snack on any wood they find. If you live in the Pelican State, here’s everything to know about termites in Louisiana. 

From termite extermination to prevention, we’ll give you an overview of what homeowners should know about this annoying pest. This guide also will tell you what termites look like and how to recognize the signs of a termite infestation. We’ll help make sure that your new houseguests don’t stick around and cause structural damage to your home. 

What Do Termites Look Like in Louisiana?

Termites are ant-sized bugs with soft bodies. As social creatures that live in colonies composed of hundreds to one million plus members, termites each serve a specific role, called a caste.

What a termite looks like varies depending on its caste role:

• Workers: Workers are typically pale in color. Their function is to find food and carry it back to the nest. They also care for the eggs and the young.
• Soldiers: Soldiers are the warriors of a colony. Armed with fierce mandibles and a liquid they squirt to ward off enemies, soldier termites protect workers from other predatory insects. 
• Swarmers: Also known as reproductives or alates, termite swarmers are the winged termites. In the swarming season, they leave their home colony to start their own new termite colony. 
• King and queen: Every colony has one termite king and queen. Once two swarmers mate, they lose their wings and become a king and queen. The termite queen lays eggs to populate the colony. She has a very different appearance from other termites, as she has a distinctive extended abdomen that can grow up to 1 inch long.

Termites are sometimes mistaken for other insects, especially ants. To distinguish termites from other bugs that look like termites, here are some of the identifying characteristics of termites:

• Two straight antennae
• Six legs
• Bodies segmented is a head, thorax, and abdomen
• Straight waist
• Most termites are blind; only flying termites can see
• Soldiers have mandibles (jaws)
• Reproductives have two pairs of wings of equal size

Coloration and shape vary somewhat from species to species, but you can always look for the basic identifying traits. If you’re not sure if you have termites or another type of insect, you can always get a termite inspection to confirm what type of insect is invading your home.

Types of Termites in Louisiana

The combination of heat and humidity in Louisiana creates the perfect temperature and climate conditions for termites. The termites in Louisiana that cause the most damage are subterranean and drywood termites. 

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites nest in the soil and build tunnels to access your house. These mud tubes, called termite tunnels or mud tunnels, allow subterranean termites to access your home without risking exposure to the sun or to enemy predators. Once inside, they eat the wooden components of your house, including furniture and the frame of your house.

Species of subterranean termites in Louisiana:

• Arid land subterranean termite (Reticulitermes tibialis)
• Eastern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes)
• Dark southern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes virginicus)
• Light southern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes hageni)
• Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus)

Appearance:

• Workers have slightly translucent, creamy white skin.
• Soldiers have pale cream or light brown bodies. Their honey-colored heads are darker than the rest of their body. They have mandibles that distinguish them from other termite castes.
• Swarmers are dark brown or black with white wings.

Size:

• Workers are 1/4 inch long.
• Soldiers are 1/4 inch long, the same size as workers.
• Including the length of their wings, swarmers measure 3/8 to 1/2 inch long.

Swarm Season:

• Arid-land subterranean termites are spring and fall swarmers. They swarm during the day.
• Eastern subterranean termites swarm from January to May. They swarm during the day.
• Dark southern subterranean termites swarm from March to April. They might occasionally swarm in late fall as well.
• Light southern subterranean termites are daytime swarmers. Swarming season runs from September to November.
• Swarming season for Formosan subterranean termites is from May to June. They swarm at dusk or night.

Treatment Methods:

• Baiting systems
• Termiticide

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are among the hardest to detect because they never need access to soil or moisture. Since they get all the moisture they need from the wood they eat, drywood termites only nest in wood. They don’t burrow underground like subterranean termites. As a result, they can hide behind your walls for a very long time without ever once making an appearance.

Species of drywood termites in Louisiana:

• Dark southern drywood termite (Kalotermes approximatus)
• Southeastern drywood termite (Incisitermes snyderi)
• West Indian powderpost drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis)
• Western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor)

Appearance: 

• Workers are a cream or a gray-white color. The head might be white or a pale yellow color.
• Soldiers also have creamy white coloration. What differs is their mandibles and their rectangular heads, which are usually a dark yellow-brown color.
• Swarmers are honey-colored. They possess colorless or brown wings.

Size: 

• Workers are 3/8 inch long.
• Soldiers are 5/16 inch long.
• Including its wings, swarmers are 3/8 inch long.

Swarm Season: 

• Dark southern drywood termites are daytime swarmers. Their swarming season is from September to November.
• Southeastern drywood termites swarm from May to July. They swarm at dusk or night.
• West Indian powderpost drywood termites swarm at dusk from June through July.
• Western drywood termites are daytime swarmers that swarm primarily from May to June. Occasionally, they also swarm in September and October.

Treatment Methods:

• Borax
• Electrocution
• Freezing
• Fumigation
• Heat treatment
• Silica gel
• Termiticide
• Removing infested wood

Note: The colorations for both subterranean termites and drywood termites may vary by species. We’ve “painted in broad strokes” here to give you a general idea of what to look for.

Signs of Termites in Louisiana

It can be tricky to identify termites in your house, since sometimes termites hide in nests inside walls without ever emerging. Sometimes, signs of a termite colony might not be noticeable at all until years after the colony has been established.

Here are some of the signs of termites and termite damage that homeowners can keep an eye out for:

• Discarded termite wings
• Dead swarmer termites lying near windowsills or doorways

• Mud tubes 
• Peeling or blistering wall paint

• Termite droppings
• Holes in wooden surfaces

• Crumbling baseboards
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped

• Clicking sounds
• Sagging or warping floors
• Windows or doors that are hard to open

How to Protect Your Home From Termites in Louisiana

The best termite treatment method for your home depends on several factors, especially the type of termite you are dealing with. Baits are most commonly used for subterranean termites; the rest are commonly used for drywood termites; termiticides can be used for both. Although, sometimes a combination of treatments is ideal.

These are the best ways to get rid of termites in Louisiana:

Baiting Systems

Termite baiting systems use cellulose infused with insect growth regulators (IGRs) as bait. These bait stations are set 10 feet apart around your property. Once termites discover the bait, they bring it back to the nest. The bait will kill all termites who ingest the poisoned bait.

Borax

Borax is a chemical that dehydrates termites, which eventually kills them. Borax can be applied to the termite nest, trouble spots, or termite travel routes. Some may also know it by the name borate or boric acid.

Electrocution

Electrocution is a localized termite treatment that kills termites with electric shocks. With this method, licensed pest control professionals use specialized electrocution devices to send electric shocks into a termite nest. 

Freezing

Exposing a termite colony to temperatures below freezing will kill them. This method uses liquid nitrogen to expose termites to frigid temperatures for an extended duration until it kills the termite colony. 

Fumigation

Fumigation is also known as termite tenting because a giant tent is erected around your house. Then, toxic fumigant gas is pumped inside your home. The fumigant gas seeps into every crack and crevice, killing all the termites. As the most expensive and effective termite treatment, this process is intensive and usually lasts several days.

Heat Treatment

A heat treatment essentially roasts the termites at high temperatures of 120-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Microwave termite treatments are another form of heat treatment. Licensed professionals use specialized microwave equipment to eradicate termite colonies. Some homeowners prefer heat treatment because they want to avoid chemicals.

Removing Infested Wood

To get rid of a termite infestation, remove any infested wood. This can mean removing wood furniture or replacing components of the house that have been infested with termites. 

Silica Gel

Silica gel is a substance that is deadly to termites. Available in dust or spray forms, silica gel is usually applied to hot spots where there is a lot of termite activity. 

Termiticides

Termiticides are special termite-killing chemicals. They can be used for spot treatments or for soil drenching, where the soil around your home is drenched in the termiticide chemicals. Termiticides are also used for drilling treatments, where a hole is drilled so that termiticides can be applied directly to the active termite spots.

Termite Prevention in Louisiana

Finding termites in your home is a pain. Luckily, there are things you can do to lower the chances of termites invading your property. Here are three main steps homeowners can take to prevent their homes from ever contracting a termite problem.

Get a Termite Inspection

Homes should be inspected for termites annually. Hire a trusted, certified professional to conduct the termite inspection. Termite inspections may seem like an unnecessary expense, but keep in mind that termites are hard to detect. Catching termite problems early on will save you a lot of money in the long run, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. 

Lawn Maintenance

Maintaining a healthy lawn isn’t just about impressing the neighbors. Proper lawn care is also crucial for preventing lawn pests and diseases from invading your yard. Here are some lawn maintenance chores that will decrease the chances of getting termites in your home:

• Don’t overwater the lawn. Pooling water attracts termites.
• Fix leaky faucets or pipes. Dripping or leaking water attracts termites.
• Clean the gutters. Termites hide in leaves and debris that get stuck in the gutters. Make sure to clean your gutters whenever they get clogged. 
• Mow the lawn. Regularly mowing your lawn keeps your grass healthy, which in turn decreases the chances of your grass lawn picking up fungal diseases or lawn pests.
• Remove sticks and tree branches. Fallen sticks and tree branches can be used as a food source for a hungry termite colony. 
• Avoid using wood mulch. Since wood mulch contains cellulose, use rubber mulch or gravel instead.
• Eliminate sources of standing water. Remove outdoor pet water bowls, repair leaky faucets, and resolve any drainage issues in your yard.
• Store firewood properly. Firewood should never be in contact with your house or the soil. Store all firewood 20-30 feet away from the house where it isn’t touching the ground.

Seal Cracks

Termites find ways into your house through tiny cracks and crevices. Because they are so small, termites need an opening only as wide as the edge of a business card to fit through. To avoid termites inviting themselves indoors, use caulk or spray foam termiticides to seal up any cracks in your home. 

When is Termite Season in Louisiana?

Termite swarming season in Louisiana occurs about the same time as crawfish season, from February until July. Swarming is when termite reproductives, or swarmers, set out from their home colony in order to find a place to start a new termite colony. We don’t want to ruin your holiday, but unluckily, Formosan termites in Louisiana usually start swarming around Mother’s Day.

Swarming season is the time of year when termites are most likely to move into your home. So during termite swarming season, Louisiana homeowners must be extra watchful. If you spot signs of termite swarmers near your house, get a termite inspection for your home immediately to make sure that the wood-eating pests haven’t moved in. 

Termite troubles don’t stop with the swarming season, though. Termites are active all year long. Once termites set up a nest inside your house, they are there to stay. They continue to work and scavenge food all year round. 

Where Do Termites Nest in Louisiana?

Termite colonies live in nests, which house the king, queen, and the young termites. Workers build tunnels called mud tubes leading out from the nest. These termite tubes protect workers and allow them to safely scavenge for food and water, which they carry back to the nest.

Termite nests can be built in natural places like trees or near the ground. Subterranean termites nest underground and surface to forage for food The problem is that some termites nest inside the walls of a home and use it as their favorite buffet spot. 

Here are some types of termites that are less likely to infest buildings, since they prefer to nest in trees or other natural settings:

• Dark southern drywood termites
• Light southern subterranean termites
• Arid and subterranean termites

Where to Find Termites in Louisiana

The geographic regions where termites live depend on the type of termites, but some of the termite species distributed across the whole state of Louisiana include:

• Dark southern subterranean termites
• Eastern subterranean termites
• Light southern subterranean termites
• Southeastern drywood termites
• West Indian powderpost drywood termites

Since termites require warm environments with a lot of moisture and humidity, termites are most heavily concentrated in South Louisiana and the coastal regions closest to the ocean.

• Eastern subterranean termites are perhaps the most common type of termite found in the Pelican State.
• Formosan termites are especially likely to be found in southern Louisiana along the Gulf of Mexico, since they thrive best in coastal regions. 
• While Southeastern drywood termites are spread across the state, they are most heavily concentrated in South Louisiana. 
• Western drywood termites are distributed throughout New Orleans, although they are also found in other cities. 

Formosans are an invasive species that came to North America from East Asia sometime after World War II. To deal with this nuisance problem, the Agricultural Research Service created Operation Full Stop, a program dedicated to controlling the Formosan termite population in Louisiana and other states. 

Operation Full Stop is based in New Orleans. The program researches termites and collects data to find new, effective ways to eliminate problematic termite infestations. 

The most common New Orleans termites are Formosan termites. They are most heavily concentrated in the French Quarter area in the Big Easy. Formosan termites are also common in Lake Charles. 

FAQ About Termites in Louisiana

How Long Do Termites Live?

On average, termite workers and soldiers live about 2 years. A queen lives roughly 20-25 years while a king termite lives about 10 years. Of course, ages vary depending on the species of termite, but in general, expect your termite pals to stick around for a long time. 

Do I Need a License to Do My Own Termite Treatments in Louisiana?

For residential homeowners who want to treat only their own house, a license is not required for DIY termite treatment. If you have a termite control business that treats other properties for termites, one or multiple pest control licenses are required.

How Often Should You Treat for Termites in Louisiana?

Termite treatment is only necessary when you have an active termite infestation, and termites should be treated as soon as they are discovered. However, homeowners should always have termite prevention in place to protect their Louisiana home.

Is Your House Ruined If You Have Termites?

It depends on the extent of the damage. So long as a termite infestation is caught early on, the house can be saved from severe termite damage. Normally, it takes termites three to eight years to cause severe structural damage. Although if you have Formosan termites, they can destroy a house in just two years.

Say Adieu to Your Termite Problem

Louisiana is home to many festivals, and if you’re gearing up to celebrate Mardi Gras, you don’t want termites to come party at your place. As soon as termites are detected on your property, you must deal with these unwanted house guests right away. 

Tired of termites? Don’t hesitate to connect with a local termite control company to get rid of the termites on your property. 

Main Image Credit:
Background: Kruck20 / Canva Pro / License
Termite: ApisitWilaijit / Canva Pro / License