Will Destroying Termite Mud Tubes Help to Get Rid of Termites?

Subterranean termites are a homeowner's worst nightmare. These termites lives underground, where they can take moisture from the soil while avoiding predators and sunlight. Subterranean termites have a unique habit that makes them a menace to homes throughout Australia; they build mud tubes from the soil to nearby food sources.

If you find mud tubes in your home or somewhere on your property, you might have a termite infestation. While it's a good idea to break a section of a mud tunnel to see if the tunnel is still in use, you should avoid totally destroying termite mud tubes.

Destroying termite mud tubes will not eradicate the infestation. In fact, you could make the problem worse.

The termites will find a new food source

Mud tubes help subterranean termites to transport food from a food source back to their nest. If you destroy mud tubes, you will deprive the termites of their food source. But termites are stubborn. They'll simply find a new source of food somewhere else on your property. So, rather than having the termites contained in one area, you could then have them in several locations.

The termites will build mud tubes in other areas

Naturally, once you destroy termite mud tubes, the termites will seek to rebuild those tubes, but not in the same area as before. This is bad news because the termites could build their new mud tubes in a hidden location, such as inside a wall or behind a piece of furniture. As a result, you might not see the new mud tubes for months or even longer.

The mud tubes can help a pest controller find a termite nest

Mud tubes usually extend from the soil to another location where there is wood and moisture. This means that mud tubes can help you to identify the location of a termite nest. This is very useful for a pest controller, who can identify the location of the termite nest and then destroy it.

Call a pest controller if you see mud tubes

Rather than destroying termite mud tubes in your home, call a termite control service. A pest controller will first identify which areas of your home are infested, with the help of the mud tubes, and later try to locate the colony. They can then do some spot treatment and use termite bait stations to eradicate the entire colony.

Don't destroy termite mud tubes if you find them in your home. Leave them where they are so that a pest controller can use them to treat and track the termites.


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