From how to know when you’ve got an infestation to understanding when a swarm is coming, you’ll need to stay up to date on what to do if you discover termites on your property.

Being unable to recognize the tell-tale signs of a termite infestation in your home could land you with thousands of dollars of damage before you know it.

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How to identify a termite infestation

Sometimes, termite infestations can take root months before you even realize there’s a problem. Before you’ve laid eyes on one of these little buggers, they could be making a meal of your home. Termites eat wood because they’re after an organic compound called cellulose.

You can combat serious termite damage by familiarizing yourself with just a couple of the early warning signs of a termite infestation. Keep an eye out for any of these signs if you want to stop termit

es in their tracks:

Droppings: Termite droppings, also known as frass, often look like small piles of sawdust or salt and pepper.

Mud tubes: Thin tunnels of mud running along your home’s foundation are the number-one sign that subterranean termites have entered your home.

Discarded wings: While worker termites may not have wings, reproductive termites do. One sign that you probably have termites is if you notice a lot of discarded insect wings, particularly on or around your window sills.

Hollow-sounding walls: If you notice a strangely hollow sound when knocking on your home’s walls or other wooden structures, you likely have a termite infestation.

Mississippi homeowners should also keep their eyes out for peeling or bubbling paint, small circular holes in drywall, and swollen walls or floors.

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Are termites a concern in Mississippi?

According to the US Forest Service’s map of Termite Infestation Probability Zones, Mississippi homes are at considerable risk of termite infestations.

Here are the three species of termites active in Mississippi and when to look for them.

Eastern subterranean termites

The eastern subterranean termite is present in every Mississippi county. These critters infiltrate homes through the foundation, leaving only mud tubes as evidence of their unwanted presence.

Eastern subterranean termites swarms can occur as early as January in some of Mississippi’s coastal counties, with peak swarming activity between late February and early April.

For the state’s northernmost counties, peak swarming season typically starts in April and runs through June.

Formosan termites

While Formosan termites are similar to eastern subterranean termites in terms of biology and appearance, Formosan termites are more aggressive about infiltrating Mississippi homes and cause more damage in less time than the eastern subterranean species.

Despite being a “subterranean” species themselves, Formosan termites are particularly tricky to eradicate due to their tendency to build aerial nests.

These termites typically swarm between late April and mid-May, though swarming can continue into June for some central Mississippi counties.

Southeastern drywood termites

The last of Mississippi’s three most common termite species is the southeastern drywood termite. Located only along the Gulf Coast, these termites infest dead, dry wood that has no contact with soil.

Southeastern drywood termite infestations are typically smaller and less common than other Mississippi species. However, older established colonies can be difficult to control.

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What to do if you have termites

If you notice signs that your home has been infested by termites, there are a few ways to eradicate them.

The following are routes a professional pest control company can take when it comes to dealing with termites:

Non-chemical treatment: If you want to avoid the use of insecticides when dealing with an infestation, one option is the use of biological control agents like nematodes and fungi to eradicate termites.

Bait stations: Cheaper and less invasive than other termite treatment options, small plastic bait stations can be placed around your home’s perimeter that will attract and kill termites. This method can take longer than more invasive alternatives.

Pesticide barrier: Exterminators can inject a liquid pesticide barrier into the ground around your home that kills any termites that attempt to breach it.

Fumigation: For extreme cases, fumigation is the way to go. For this method, you will have to vacate your home for 24 hours (including removing all pets). Exterminators will cover your home with a tent and pump in a termite-killing gas.

Find affordable home and car insurance

Most home insurance policies won’t cover termite damage, so knowing how to identify and combat an infestation is the best way to protect your home and your wallet.

Homeowners insurance can protect you against a number of other perils, though—which is why it’s in your best interest to have a policy at all times. By downloading the

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FAQs

Do most Mississippi homes have termites?

Mississippi is located in TIP Zone #1, meaning the threat of termite damage to Mississippi homes is high.

Are pesticides used against termites safe?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, tries to regulate pesticides such that they pose minimal risks to human health. Even so, many termiticides are highly toxic and people should exercise particular care when using them.

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