Do Termites Hang from the Ceiling?

Termites — they are the home-eaters and destroyers. Most likely, your home is one of your greatest investments, and how depressing it is to realize that it could be one step away to destruction, all because of termites. Termites mostly feed on wood and plant matter, so if you are wondering do termites hang from the ceiling, the answer is yes!

Do Termites Hang from the Ceiling? — Signs and Symptoms

Once termites have invaded a part of your house, it does not take too long before they cause extensive damage. But how do you detect termite infestation?

Signs You Have Termites

The most dangerous thing about these pests is that it can be hard to detect them without the help of a pest control professional. Good thing you can watch out for the presence of the following common signs that may suggest termite infestation. However, remember that the absence of these signs does not mean that termites are not present in the structure.

• Swarmers or flying ants, which are a group of adult termites that leave their colony to create a new one, inside your house. Swarming happens when a colony gets to a certain size and is most common during the warm days of March to June, particularly after rain.
• Lines of mud-like material, which is a mixture of soil and the termites’ feces and saliva, is visible in an irregular pattern. You can also find termite eggs around these areas.
• Mud tunnels or tubes, which connect the colony’s nest to their source of food (in this case, the wood that forms the structure of your home). Old, inactive tubes fall apart easily; however, termites can rebuild them. If there are gaps in your foundation wall, the pests can use them to reach sills and other wooden parts.
• Heaps of wings, which are wings the swarmers have shed. This indicates that they have developed and entered a new phase.
• Live termites — a colony consists of winged reproductive kings and queens that are half an inch in length and brown or black in color, and wingless and white workers that are sterile and typically concealed within infested wood.
• Damaged wood that appears crushed. If a wooden structure is infested, a dull or hollow sound is created when tapped using a hammer.
• Small holes on the wood
• Warped paint
• Termites in ceilings

How to Inspect for Termites

If you notice any of the signs above and suspect a termite infestation, you might want to inspect if there is active termite activity. A complete inspection means you have located mud tubes and damaged wood.

You can do the inspection yourself. To start, prepare a flashlight, an ice pick, pocketknife, or screwdriver, and coveralls.

Generally, termites build their nest at or close to the ground, although they may also be found above the first floor level in warmer places. So you may want to start your inspection in the basement. Look at suspected infected spots. If you see swarmers or shed wings, this is often an indication that the insects are active.

Examine wood using the ice pick, screwdriver, or pocket knife. Make sure to inspect the following areas:

• Wood construction in the basement
• Ceiling
• The foundation’s exterior and interior, especially where wood is on or close to the ground
• Sills, support posts, subfloors, window frames, etc.
• Concrete areas, such as steps and porches, that are attached to the wooden structure
• Hollow blocks and gaps in bricks or cement
• Exterior wooden parts, such as scrap wood, fence posts, exterior window frames

If necessary, contact a pest control professional to help in the inspection.

Questions

Do termites make holes in the ceiling?

Yes. Termites mainly feed on wood, so anything — from your walls to ceilings — can be eaten and damaged. They usually do this through gaps or cracks on walls, the drywall, or wooden structure. These insects also create holes where they get rid of their waste and feces.

Can you hear termites on the roof?

While active termites do create sound, it is very subtle and is almost impossible to be detected particularly during the active hours of the day. However, if you do happen to hear something coming from your ceiling or wall at night, you can consider the presence of termites in your home.

Bottom Line

Termite infestation in your home can be an annoyance that you should definitely get rid of as soon as possible with some sort of termite control services if you do not want to suffer extensive damage and expensive repair fees. These home-wreckers feed on wood and plant matter, and if you are curious how fast termites eat wood, know that they can eat a lot in a short span of time. They live and eat on walls and wooden structures. And do termites hang from the ceiling? Yes, they can eat your ceiling as well!