Termites do not target only dirty or old homes. They come to any building that offers them three things: food, which is wood and paper; moisture; and an easy route from the soil. If you remove one of them, they stop advancing.
Here we review the common causes. For treatment, see getting rid of termites.
The main causes: Cellulose food (wood and paper), moisture, and an easy route from the soil to the building.
Moisture: Pipe leaks, air conditioner condensation and irrigation at the foundations attract termites.
Bridges: Any wood, paper or cardboard touching the soil becomes a direct route into the house.
Gaps: Expansion joints, pipe entries and foundation cracks let them in, even through very small openings.
Timing: Winged reproductives emerge after rain or warm weather to found new colonies.
Moisture
Subterranean termites need moisture badly, while drywood termites prefer wood with low natural moisture.
- Pipe leaks: Especially under sinks and inside walls and floors.
- Roof leaks: And dripping air conditioners near the walls.
- Irrigation at the foundations: Spraying the garden onto the house wall dampens the soil next to the foundation.
- Basements and storerooms: Poor ventilation and high humidity.
Wood and Paper Near the Soil
Any cellulose material in contact with the ground is a direct bridge to your home.
- Wooden door frames: Touching an earthen or damp floor.
- Stored wood: Firewood and cardboard boxes near the walls.
- Dead trunks and trees: Close to the building.
- Mulch and sawdust: If placed against the wall.
Construction Gaps
Termites slip in through very fine cracks:
- Expansion joints: Between the floor and the wall.
- Pipe entries: The openings around drain and electrical pipes in the floor.
- Foundation cracks: And any cracking in the concrete.
- Old buildings: Weak foundations with no chemical barrier to begin with.
Rain and Seasons
Winged reproductives emerge after rain or warm weather to found new colonies. If you see fallen wings near the house entrance, it means a colony is nearby and may have already entered.
- Wings near lights: Winged termites are drawn to windows and lighting.
- New construction: Imported soil may carry colonies.
How Do You Know Your Cause?
- Look for the nearest moisture source to the infestation.
- Inspect the wood that touches the ground.
- Review any recent digging or construction next to the building.
- Follow preventing termites to stop it from recurring.
Factors That Increase the Risk
- Damp, heavy soil: It holds moisture and helps the tunnels.
- Dead trees: A food source and nearby colonies.
- Digging work: It may push colonies toward buildings.
- Night lighting: It draws winged termites to the windows.
Questions That Help You Diagnose
- Have pipes or air conditioners leaked near the wall?
- Is there wood or cardboard touching the ground?
- Has there been construction or digging near the house recently?
- Have you seen wings after rain?
Soil and Design
Wood that touches the soil directly is a highway for subterranean termites: wooden door steps resting on the ground, fence posts, and outdoor seating timber against the wall. Likewise, wooden construction debris buried in the soil turns the ground into a food store for the colony before it heads to your home.
Cellulose Food
Termites feed on cellulose, meaning wood, paper, cardboard and raw cotton. Stacking cartons on the floor, old newspapers near a damp wall, or firewood piled against the outer wall gives them easy food. This does not mean the house is unclean; it means that having these materials in a damp setting tempts them.
Leaks and Drainage
- A leaking garden tap or drain pipes near the foundation.
- Air conditioners that drip onto the wall.
- Ground that slopes so rainwater runs toward the foundation.
- Planter beds against the wall that are watered daily.
New Building or Old?
Some people think a new house is safe, but a new building can be infested if the soil was not treated before the pour or if gaps were left near the foundation. An old building may suffer because cracks and leaks have built up over the years. That is why periodic inspection is useful in both cases.
How Do You Pinpoint the Cause of the Infestation in Your Home Step by Step?
- Start with a walk around the building: look for wood, cartons or firewood touching the walls or the soil, and for moisture building up at the foundations.
- Check pipes, sinks and air conditioners for a leak or constant condensation.
- Inspect the lower wooden door and window frames and the floors next to the wall.
- Look for thin mud tunnels on the walls or foundations, and for fallen wings near windows and lights.
- Record what you find with photos, because it will help the specialist inspect and decide on a treatment plan.
How Do You Reduce the Causes Before Treatment?
- Fix leaks and drain water away from the walls, and avoid watering directly onto the foundations.
- Lift wood, cartons and firewood off the ground and away from the walls.
- Keep a clear gap between the soil and the wooden elements of the building.
- Seal cracks and pipe entries around the foundations.
- Inspect the building periodically, especially after rain, because early detection of signs reduces the damage.
For treatment, see the article getting rid of termites; for prevention, preventing termites; for signs of infestation, signs of termites; and for the full picture, the termite guide.
When Do You Call a Specialist?
If you find mud tunnels, hollow wood or fallen wings in large numbers, visit your nearest Orkida branch with a photo or a sample before any treatment, because the colony is usually in the soil or inside the walls and household spraying does not reach it. Follow the label and directions of any product, and keep children and pets away from treated areas. You can also browse the pest library for the rest of the guides.
The Difference Between Subterranean and Drywood Termites in Terms of Causes
- Subterranean termites: They live in the soil and need constant moisture, and they reach the building through mud tunnels from the ground. Their causes are linked to damp soil, leaks and wood touching the ground. For details, see the article on subterranean termites.
- Drywood termites: They live inside the wood itself and need no contact with the soil, and they usually travel in infested wooden furniture or used lumber. You will find their description in the article on drywood termites.
Common Mistakes That Raise the Risk of Infestation
- Storing wood, cartons and paper stacked near walls or on the ground.
- Leaving a small leak unfixed because its damage does not show quickly.
- Using garden soil or damp mulch against the wall.
- Bringing in used wooden furniture without inspecting it well.
- Only killing the winged termites that fall near lights without looking for their source.
Conclusion
There are three basic causes: moisture, cellulose, and a route to the building. When you cut one of them, the chance of infestation falls, and when you cut all three, it becomes very slim.
Products from the Orkida Store
We choose the treatment according to the type of termite and where the infestation is, and we recommend reading the dose and safety interval on the label before starting. For large infestations, it is better to use a specialist to apply the full barrier.
- Professional Termite Control Package for Homes: A professional termite package combining the specialized insecticide and application equipment, and it is the most suitable starting point for most homes.
- Agenda 25 EC Public Health Insecticide for Termite Control, 1 L: Agenda 25 (fipronil) is a concentrate for treating the soil around foundations, and it is one of the essentials of the chemical barrier that termites pass through, carrying the material into the colony.
Quick Diagnostic Questions
- Is there any wood, board or firewood touching the outer wall or the ground?
- Has water leakage or moisture been recorded in the bathroom, kitchen or near the air conditioner?
- Are there old stumps or decaying roots in the garden near the house?
- When was the building last professionally inspected?
If you answered "yes" to two or more questions, address those points first, then ask for an inspection to determine whether a colony exists. Treating before diagnosing costs you money and does not solve the root of the problem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a clean house immune to termites?
No. Cleanliness does not stop them if moisture, wood and a route from the soil are available.
Does concrete construction stop them?
Not entirely. They travel through very small cracks to the interior wood.
Are trees near the house a danger?
Dead trunks and old roots may carry colonies, while healthy living trees are less of a risk.
Do termites appear on the upper floors?
Yes, through tubes inside walls or ceilings, or via winged reproductives.
Does seeing wings near lights mean the building is infested?
It may mean a colony is nearby, but it is not conclusive proof, since winged termites can come from outside the building. Inspecting the area for mud tunnels or hollow wood clarifies the picture.
Is fixing the leak alone enough?
Fixing the moisture reduces the risk and slows the infestation, but it does not eliminate an established colony. For treatment, see the article getting rid of termites.