Termites can be one of the worst things to happen to a homeowner, quickly creating significant damages and piling up treatment and repair costs. Being able to locate and identify a termite nest or mound on your property is a key step towards keeping your home and your wallet safe. Here is what you need to know about termite nests and mounds.
What is a Termite Nest?
Termite nests are where termites live; they both shelter the termites and protect them from predators. Since termites have a soft, protective layer that dries out easily, the workers construct nests with a warm, humid interior sealed off from the outside.
Photo Credit: cgdeaw / Canva Pro / License
What does a termite nest look like? Depending on the species of termite, the interior of the termite nest may be an elaborate work of architecture made up of networks of galleries and tunnels as well as kick-out holes (aka exit holes) or ventilation holes. It may also be as simple as an excavated piece of above-ground wood in your home or a tree in your backyard.
Photo Credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org / Ipmimages
The tunnels and mud tubes lead to the colony’s nesting chambers as well as food sources, though this structure varies by species. Subterranean termite nests can be up to 15 feet or more below ground.
What is a termite nest made of? Termite nests are made out of whatever material the termites are burrowing into, such as wood, but may also be constructed from a mixture that includes saliva, feces, or soil. They use these materials to create a network of tunnels and chambers inside the wood, or beneath the ground, depending on the species, in which to live.
What is a Termite Mound?
The mounds are only the exterior part of the nest, as the tunnels and galleries where the colony resides are down beneath the ground. The mounds are solid, but porous, since they are built to protect the colony from hot temperatures by circulating airflow into the nest.
Mound building termites live mainly in the southern hemisphere. Many of these mound builders are part of the genus Macrotermes, which is found largely in Africa and Asia. However, they are related to the Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) which is most commonly found in the U.S.
What do termite mounds look like? Small termite mounds look similar to ant hills or mole hills, with a flat top or pointed end and blending into their surroundings.
Large termite mounds are far more elaborate structures, looking almost like towering sandcastles. Large termite mounds are domed or cone-shaped with chimneys and pinnacles. In northern Australia, the mounds are known as magnetic mounds, and are wedge-shaped.
What is a termite mound made of? While ant hills are just made of dirt, termite mounds are made from a combination of soil, termite droppings (aka frass), and saliva.
Do Termites Live in Mounds or Nests?
Termites live in both nests and mounds. But that’s just the short and sweet answer.
Here’s the longer, more detailed answer: Some termites build hidden nests, but you’ll find other nests raised above the ground into a mound. Some termite colonies will build their nests completely underground, while others will steadily build above ground as the colony expands.
Though you may find very small termite mounds in the U.S., most mound-building termites live in Africa, Australia, and South America, aside from the conehead termite that constructs above ground nests on trees.
Types of Termites in the U.S. and Where They Live
- Conehead termites: This species builds nests in trees, shrubs, and on open ground. They behave similarly to ants, creating above-ground mounds and even foraging in the open, traveling long distances and surviving in most tropical environments. In the U.S., conehead termites live only in Dania Beach and Broward County, Florida.
- Dampwood termites: The biggest of all termites, this species is completely wood-dwelling and does not need contact with the soil, living in trees, logs, and posts above-ground.
- Drywood termites: This species lives in areas of the country with high humidity, making nests entirely above ground in dry wood, not making contact with the soil. They get moisture from the wood they consume. Drywood termites create “kick-out” holes, leaving small mounds of termite frass outside of the wood.
- Formosan termites: This species of subterranean termite builds nests both above and below ground. The above-ground nests, called carton nests, can be found in the walls or voids in buildings. Formosan termites build carton nests from carton material (soil, wood, and excrement) that resembles cardboard or paper-mache.
- Subterranean termites: This species is the most common, and gets moisture from the soil. They make their nests underground and construct mud tunnels to protect them from the elements as they travel.
How to Find a Termite Nest
It’s important to monitor your property for signs of termite activity to avoid costly and devastating damage to your home. Nests are often hard to spot, but there are other ways to monitor your home and lawn for termites. If you do come across any of these signs, then you should call a termite control pro right away.
Ways to find termite activity in your lawn:
- Mud tubes on walls or trees
- Mud trails in the soil
- Termite wings
- Holes in trees
- Mounds of frass
How to find a termite nest inside your home:
- Discarded termite wings
- Loose tiles
- Mud tubes on walls and around support beams and baseboards
- Peeling paint and wallpaper
- Pin holes in drywall
- Rotten or blistering floorboards
- Small piles of termite frass around floorboards, door frames, and window sills
- Visible tunnels in the wood along walls and ceilings
- Warped wood
How to Get Rid of a Termite Nest in the Wall
Hiring a pro is the best way to get rid of a termite wall nest and eradicate the colony. Termite control professionals use these methods to get rid of termite nests:
- Heat treatment: Using 120 F for 35 minutes to kill the termites.
- Termite bait stations
- Termiticides: Pros often drill a hole and inject pesticides or termiticides into the wall or around the home.
- Fumigation, also known as tenting
However, here are a few different DIY methods to consider as temporary measures.
FAQ About Termite Nests and Mounds
How Big Can Termite Mounds Get?
If left undisturbed, termite mounds can stay up for years (the oldest being over 4,000 years old), and the colony will continue to grow and build to accommodate for their increasing size. The tallest termite mound ever recorded was found in the Republic of Congo and was 42 feet high.
How Far Do Termites Travel From the Nest?
Termites can travel up to 100 feet from the nest when searching for food, but they don’t like to travel long-distance, and only go so far for the sake of food. If there is plenty of food closer, then there is no reason to go further.
How Long Does it Take Termites to Establish a Nest?
Termite nests grow alongside the colony, and colonies are slow to grow. It takes about five or more years for a termite nest to grow big enough to invade homes and produce swarmers; however, Formosan termites can cause damage as little as three years after a colony is established.
Hire a Pro
Termites can cause a whole mound of issues to your home if they aren’t controlled. Let Pest Gnome connect you with experienced termite control pros in your area for fast, friendly, and affordable treatment. They assess each situation and provide customized treatment plans to fit your needs.
Sources:
Main Image Credit:
Background: phanasitti / Canva Pro / License
Termites: ApisitWilaijit / Canva Pro / License
Termite mound: EcoPic / Canva Pro / License
