This year, the National Pest Management Association is marking Termite Awareness Week, which runs from March 8th to March 14th, 2020, with two consumer awareness campaigns: the Tiny Termite House project and the “Will They Eat It?” web series.
For the Tiny Termite House, the NPMA’s research team built a tiny model home entirely to scale (including insulation, joists, and working electric and plumbing systems), introduced 500,000 termites into the surrounding soil, and documented the resulting destruction.
In “Will They Eat It?”, Dr. Mike Bentley, entomologist and NPMA director of training and education, demonstrates the destructive power of 100,000 termites on everyday objects, including money, headphones, towels, and a shoe.
The NPMA is also advising consumers to look out for the following signs of a termite infestation:
- Swarmers, or winged termites in homes
- Discarded wings near windowsills and doors
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Frass, or wood-colored droppings in small piles
- Mud tubes near the foundations of buildings
“Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage in the U.S. annually, which is typically not covered by homeowners’ insurance,” says Cindy Mannes, vice president of public affairs at NPMA. “Winter weather can leave homes vulnerable to damage and moisture buildup. Termites are experts at finding, and capitalizing, on these faults. Once inside, termites are a major threat, as their constant chewing can compromise the structural integrity of a home from the inside out.”
