Understanding Termite Behaviour: Why They Invade Homes

In order to prevent a termite infestation that could cause extensive damage to your property, you first have to understand why these destructive pests choose your home to live in. It’s not personal. Termites need moisture to survive, and they thrive in moist environments. Houses provide plenty of moisture, especially when there is poor ventilation. Bathrooms create humidity, and many older houses have leaky pipes or poor drainage. Heating systems can create moisture, especially if windows aren’t opened regularly. Wood, the absolute favourite food of termites, is often the building block of any property, and will attract and hold moisture, creating the perfect home for a termite colony to move into. The trouble with termites is that they are small and they are clever. They can enter your home through the tiniest crack or crevice and create mud tubes to travel from their colony to their food source. They eat any cellulose-based material, which includes cardboard, paper, plant-based material, cotton, and clothing. They eat wood from the inside out, making detection difficult until they have caused significant damage.

Termites Are Just Looking For Suitable Living Conditions

Termites are social insects that live in colonies just like ants and bees. Although they are sometimes called “white ants,” they are from a different order of insects and share a similar lineage to cockroaches. Their colonies can range in size from a few thousand to millions and are structured in a caste system that consists of:

• Workers – forage for food, build tunnels, care for the young, and cause the most damage
• Soldiers – defend the colony from predators
• Reproductives – including the king and queen, whose job is to reproduce, and winged alates that fly off to establish new colonies

They generally invade a property in search of food and suitable living conditions. Gardens with chopped trees and wood piles can provide the perfect stepping stone into a warm, damp home.

Ways To Help Prevent Termite Infestation

The simple solution to prevent termites from invading your home is to make it less attractive to them. Any leaky pipes in and around your property should be fixed to eliminate excess moisture. Install extraction fans in rooms without windows—especially bathrooms and kitchens—and use dehumidifiers in damp areas like basements to reduce humidity. Regularly open windows and doors to create airflow throughout your home. Reducing dampness and mould also benefits your family’s health. Clear away clutter and debris—piles of wood, cardboard, and other cellulose-based materials around the house and yard act like a vacancy sign for termites. Ensure any wooden structures don’t have direct contact with soil by using a metal or concrete barrier instead. Seal up any cracks to prevent termites from entering your home. All these measures will make your home less attractive and less accessible to termites.