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Feb. 27, 2008 06:26 AM

Termite damage on a homeTermites are considered the number one threat to homes in the U.S. — a risk greater than fire, flood and wind. While termites are not as visible or dramatic as these other dangers, their slow, methodical eating of house frames and support timbers can be very costly. In fact, according to the National Pest Management Association, termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damages annually. These hungry termites are found in almost every U.S. state, except for some regions in the West and North.

What separates termite damage from fire, flood or wind damage is its subtlety. Termites can infest wall studs and foundation timbers for years without visible signs of damage. One colony can multiply into several colonies with several entry points and feeding sites.

Signs of termites are often hidden or overlooked by the average homeowner. Swarms of winged termites in the spring may be misidentified as flying ants. Mud tubes along a foundation wall may be difficult to see in the dim light of a crawlspace. Homeowners in termite-prone areas should contact a termite professional to inspect their home to prevent and treat termite damage.

Termites have earned their most dangerous threat status due to their classification as social insects, which means they live in colonies and take care of one another. They groom and feed each other, protect the queen and the eggs she lays, and maintain the structure of the nest. With enough food (i.e. wood in and around your house), colonies can grow to support hundreds of thousands of workers. When they grow too large for one nest, colonies can divide to form new and separate colonies within the same structure. Left undetected and untreated, these termites can cause extensive damage.

Reference: Handbook of Household and Structural Insect Pests, edited by R.E. Gold and S.C. Jones. Entomological Society of America, 2000.