Where Do Termites Live ?

Termites have been known to operate secretly without the homeowners knowing it.  They leave some signs however, that  a trained eye can detect.  Pest Management Professionals know where to look for such traces and finding out the specific points or areas of the house that are infested.

It is one thing to be able to detect their activity, but finding their nests would be a different story.  It would require more work and a lot of searching and tracing. In fact, one may never really get to determine where these are.  Where do termites live then? And why do they prefer such places that are also very hard to find? What are the conditions that would attract these termites to live on that particular area?

The important question: “Where do termites live ?” The answer is quite easy actually – termites live on wood, and most live underground.  But determining exactly where do termites live, lies the difficulty.  For this reason, emerged the necessity to come up with a full proof termite treatment and prevention program. Various methods are now being integrated to give one’s house, the protection necessary in blocking termite attacks on every known means these pests take. 

Mostly, these termites nest on soil. These are commonly called the subterranean termites.  Traces are detected with the presence of mud tubes made by the subterranean termites – connecting them from their nest to their food sources.  These mud tubes serve as their pathways and a means of protection while they travel. 

Aside from the underground, where do termites live as well? There are those drywood termites that live where they eat – in wood.  Holes, leaks or cracks on siding and on wood portions of the house are also traces that should be checked.  These are signs of probable termite presence.  Decayed wood, timber and tree trunks on your yard are all prone to drywood termite’s infestation.  And that infested wood is their habitat as well.

Where do termites live, and what makes it their ideal environment?

Termites prefer a moisture-rich environment or where a water source is near. This explains why a damp wood or soil will likely invite termites to dwell on these.  Places where they are able to get protection from the changes in climate and probably from their long time enemies – the ants, would be their ideal habitat.

At times, when the weather is too cold, as in cold winter temperatures, termite activity may drop.  But if they are protected from such, they resume their  normal activities. Termites may seem predictable, having learned their nature and workings - but reality would show that these pests are elusive, showing some hint of unpredictability in their behavior.  So where do termites live exactly? One would know in theory, but it gets difficult as one goes out and actually checks where.