HOW DO TERMITES GET IN YOUR HOUSE?

How do termites get into your home? These pests slip through foundation cracks, damaged wood, attic vents, and any area where wood meets soil. Once inside, they chew through your structure silently, causing damage long before you see any signs.

Termites constantly forage the top soil looking for a food source consisting of cellulose. Once a source is found the release pheromones to tell others in the colony where the food source is located. Termites can enter the smallest of crack in any foundation even as small as 1/72 of a inch wide!

Subterranean Termite

Subterranean termites live in underground colonies and are the most destructive termite species in the U.S. They enter homes through mud tubes built from the soil to exposed wood, often through crawlspaces or foundation gaps.

Drywood Termite

Drywood termites don't need contact with soil. Instead, they infest dry wooden areas like attic beams, roof structures, or hardwood floors by flying in through vents or cracks and establishing colonies directly in the wood.

Dampwood Termite

Dampwood termites thrive in wood that is wet or decaying, often entering homes through water-damaged areas like leaky basements, plumbing issues, or rotted siding. They're less common but still a concern in humid zones.

Formosan Termite

Although less common in Missouri, Formosan termites are aggressive and known for building huge colonies. They can enter through any small crack and chew through wood, drywall, insulation—even electrical wiring.