What You Need to Know About Termites in Arkansas

Eastern subterranean termites are active and cause damage to homes across the state of Arkansas.
Written by Talullah Blanco
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
Eastern subterranean termites are active across the state of
Arkansas
and have caused millions of dollars in property damage. The only way to protect your home from termite damage is to catch an infestation in the early stages. 
If you are a
homeowner
in Arkansas and live in a high activity area there is a 1 in 5 chance you’ll encounter these pests. That’s why you need to know termite basics: how to identify an infestation, when to expect a swarm, and what to do if you discover termites in your home.
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How to tell if you have a termite infestation

Termites damage 600,000 homes in the United States each year because they eat wood from within and they’re easy to miss. Termites can go unnoticed for months causing irreparable damage to your home. 
Every homeowner should know the warning signs of termite infestation to prevent serious damage. Call a termite professional as soon as you notice these indicators of termite activity:
  • Hollow-sounding walls or floors. Make it a habit to knock on your walls, floorboards, and other wood structures in your home. If there’s a hollow sound, you likely have a termite infestation. 
  • Termite mud tubes. Subterranean termites create these pencil-sized tunnels to protect themselves while traveling from their underground nest to your above-ground home. You’ll find mud tubes around termite nests, wood structures, and your home’s foundation. 
  • Discarded wings. Termites fly in swarms when they leave the nest and drop their wings before they move into your home. Check your windowsills for discarded wings to confirm a recent termite infestation. 
Keep an eye out for peeling paint and wallpaper, blistered floorboards, tiny holes in drywall, termite droppings, and stuck doors or windows

Are termites a problem in Arkansas?

It’s estimated that termites damage 1 in 5 Arkansas homes located in high activity areas. As a homeowner, you need to be able to identify termites in your area to develop and implement an effective control strategy.
While there is only one type of destructive termite that is found in Arkansas it causes millions in damages. Here’s the most common termite in Arkansas and when to look for them:

Eastern subterranean termites

This termite is the most common and widely distributed termite species across the eastern region of the United States and Texas. The Eastern subterranean termites are highly destructive to structural timber because they eat wood rapidly from within and can build above and below ground nests. 
They travel via underground tunnels that span within a 100-yard radius from their colony nest to search for a food source. These termites will also build above-ground nests inside the walls or cavities of your home—if moisture regularly collects in these locations. 
Eastern subterranean termites will swarm during the spring in the morning following a rain shower. If you live in Arkansas you should start monitoring your home in early March for signs of infestation.

What to do if you have termites

If you notice early warning signs of termites and think you have a termite infestation immediately arrange for an inspection with a termite technician
Termite treatment options will vary depending on the severity of the infestation. Here are some of the termite treatments used by professionals:
  • Bait systems. This method uses a control agent to kill moderate termite infestations. Stations will be placed around your property to lure termites away from your home and the worker termites will carry the agent back to their nest. 
  • Liquid and foam barriers. If you have a subterranean termite infestation, an exterminator will use this method to control it. The perimeter of your home will be treated with a liquid or foam control agent to create a barrier that kills termites on contact. 
  • Fumigation. Serious cases of termite infestation will require fumigation. A pest professional will tent your entire property and use a fumigant to penetrate all the surfaces in your home to kill the termites.
While there are do-it-yourself termite solutions are available, they are not nearly as effective and could potentially cause further damage to your home. If Eastern subterranean termites are disturbed they will secretly move to another area in your home and cause more damage. 

How to save money on homeowners and car insurance

Unfortunately, your
homeowners' insurance
policy won’t cover termite damage, but it will protect your home against other perils that are common causes of property damage in Arkansas.
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FAQs

If you live in a high-activity area, there is a 1 in 5 chance your home will be affected by termite damage.
The frequency at which you treat your home for termites will depend on the type of treatment you use. You’ll have to monitor bait stations every few months but a liquid termite treatment should last five years.
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