December 12th, 2017
Insects are not just nuisances, some are also a serious threat to building durability. The following types of insects are known to damage wooden materials in homes and in other structures: Termites, CarpenterAnts, Wood-boring Beetles, and Carpenter Bees. While all of the above insects can pose a threat to wood-framed homes, termites are the most prevalent and damaging insect. Therefore, most of this chapter addresses issues and practices related to the control and prevention of termite infestation. Some of the practices for repelling termites, such as eliminating hidden areas that termites can travel through undetected, are also relevant to carpenter ants. Carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles, like termites, can be treated chemically with insecticides. Carpenter bees can be deterred by plugging entrance holes that commonly occur on wood siding and soffits. There are about 56 species of termites in the United States that can be placed into two groups: subterranean (ground inhabiting) and non-subterranean (wood inhabiting).