Does termite damage worry you? If so, you are not alone. Every year termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and property owners spend over two billion dollars to treat them. This fact sheet focuses on how you, as a consumer, can identify and help protect your property from termites through effective prevention measures and appropriate use of termite treatments.

In this article:

• How do I know if I have termites?
• How can I prevent termite infestation?
• What are the different types of termite treatments?
• Are pesticides used against termites safe?
• How do I handle a termite infestation?
• What if something goes wrong?
• What is the government’s role in termite control?
• Where can I get more information?

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How do I Know if I Have Termites?

The first step in prevention is to be on the alert for termites. Termites rarely emerge from soil, mud tubes, or food sources through which they are tunneling. Most people are not aware they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. Some of the ways to discover if you have termites are listed below:

• Examine, by probing, exposed wood for hollow spots (using a flathead screwdriver or similar tool).
• Identify termite swarms (sometimes ant swarms are mistaken as termites).