Some of the most destructive pests are starting to come out of hibernation as the weather warms, which means more potential for your home to become infested. These pests can hide right under your nose without your knowledge (including in the wood structure of your home) – it’s when they start doing the worst damage that you start to notice. Actively be on the lookout in places you know bugs could be thriving to cut down on the chance that it becomes a problem. We’ve come up with some tips on where you can probably find the most common wood destroying pests below:

Termites: These springtime months are the prime time to find termites in your home. They are silent and leave barely any visible clues that they are in your home. You can find them by searching for hollowed wood, mud tubes, or by looking for the swarmers themselves around doors and windows.

Carpenter ants: Spring and summer are when carpenter ants thrive, so it’s the best time to catch them in the act. Carefully watch worker ants to see where they travel to find their nest. You can also set out pieces of food to entice the ants – and then watch where they go from there. Always watch for wood shavings or sawdust in your home as a tell-tale sign of carpenter ants.

Carpenter bees: These pests come out during this time in search of mates and can be extremely aggressive. They dig into the wood of your home to lay their eggs, destroying whatever is in the way. Carpenter bees look specifically for untreated wood and can be heard burrowing through it.

Powder post beetles: Active mostly at night, you have a higher chance of finding the wood damage they have done rather than the pests themselves. Their eggs are laid inside untreated wood and when they hatch, the beetles chew tunnels through the wood to get out.

Finding termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powder post beetles is crucial to maintaining the structural soundness of your home. This is why it is incredibly important to have an experienced professional routinely check your property for signs of infestation – to have one of Chilton’s professionals come by, call us today!