As their name suggests, subterranean termites spend much of their time underground. If swarmer termites discover suitable wood to tear through in your building, they will start building their colony in the soil outside of your property, eventually constructing underground tunnels leading to the structure. These tunnels will be evidenced by “mud tubes” that rise up like ridges in the ground on the premises. Once they make it inside, their damage will look like water-damaged or striated wooden materials.
If you can catch these mud tubes early, it’s important to tell a professional termite exterminator right away. Otherwise, these pests will chew their way through the cellulose in your wooden structures silently, feeding and growing their colonies for years without being found. Catching and taking action against termites early can save you from thousands of dollars in repair expenses.