Wood Destroying Insects

Wood destroying insects include termites, carpenter ants, powder post beetles and carpenter bees.  Termites, carpenter ants and powder post beetles can cause significant structural damage to a home, whereas carpenter bees are more a nuisance pest.  

Some neighborhoods in our area have a high incidence of termites with as many as one out of five houses having active or previous infestations.  Termites are difficult to find since they live in the soil and only enter the structure to feed.  These insects do not like to be exposed to light or dry air so they eat within the wood and rarely break the surface, making them all the more difficult to spot.  In most homes that we find termites the owners are not aware of their presence.  

Carpenter ants can occur in any home and are generally drawn in by favorable conditions such as damp, decayed wood.

Powder post beetles are primarily a pest of older homes but will infest newer homes if damp wood is available.  

All of these insects prefer damp habitats.  Therefore your best  protection against wood destroying insects is to keep your framing clean and dry.  Eliminating basement and crawlspace moisture is critical as well as maintaining leak proof roof flashings.  In addition eliminating wood/.soil contact at such places as basement window frames and where planters are installed against the side of the house is necessary.  Taking precautions such as these, along with monitoring for insect activity will help to guard your house against insect damage.

Professional Home Inspection Service can provide Wood Destroying Insect reports in conjunction with a home inspection or as a stand-alone service.  Be sure to check with your bank before scheduling your inspection to see if the standard Wood Destroying Insect report will be adequate or if you need the FHA report version.  Either way, as Certified Pesticide Applicator Technicians, Professional Home Inspection Service can provide you with valuable information on wood destroying insects in your home.

Some Termite Photos

	The light brown lines on this picture are "Shelter Tubes" that termites build to get from place to place without being exposed to light or dry air.
	Extensive damage to floor framing caused by termites.
	Termite damage on a 2X4 stud in a basement.  Framing that is this extensively damaged is no longer functional.