Termites are best known for their big appetites, but munching on your floorboards isn’t the only thing they do well. From familiar household dwellers to exotic colonies living in giant tropical mounds, different termites all around the world share the same embarrassing secret. Thanks to their insatiable taste for cellulose, the building block of plant life, termites can’t stop passing gas—a habit that may be polluting our planet.
The Link Between Termite Gas and Global Warming
We can’t smell termite gas, so what’s the big deal? At the heart of the issue is methane, the toxic compound termites release as part of their normal digestive functions. Odorless and colorless, methane belongs to a group of dangerous greenhouses gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, accelerating climate change and eventually causing irreversible environmental damage. On their own, termites don’t emit enough methane to cause a whole lot of harm, but as a global group, they pack a pretty powerful punch.
Doing Your Part in Controlling Termite Pollution
Hunting down every termite colony in the world isn’t possible, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play an important role in methane reduction at home. Being proactive about termite prevention and catching infestations early are two easy ways to make a difference. Here’s what you need to know about discovering and destroying termites before they have a chance to do any serious damage to your house or the environment:
1. Subterranean termites, the most common species in the U.S., use hidden mud tubes to travel from their underground colonies into the structures above.
2. Early detection is crucial. Once they move into a new home, termites reproduce remarkably fast, laying thousands of eggs on a daily basis. To find infestations in their early stages, be on the lookout for discarded wings, tunnels around the foundation, cracked paint and hollow spots along the walls and floors.
3. Waiting to call in the professionals can backfire. Because termite colonies cause so much damage and spread so fast, getting expert help is the best way to put an end to infestations before they get out of control. If you start to see more obvious signs of damage—warped walls, decayed wood and visible mud tubes—ask for an immediate inspection.
Worried about termites? Contact us at ABC Home & Commercial Services to learn more about our termite and pest control services in the Austin area and to schedule a service today.