Do termites bite humans? No. Here is why.

Safety is a primary consideration for anyone dealing with a pest problem.

One of the most dreaded pest problems to encounter is termite infestation. These are notorious for causing significant damage to building structures. However, whether these pose bodily harm to humans or not remains to be seen.

If termites conveniently feed on wood (known to be hard), the thinking in many quarters is that these may be able to inflict painful bites on humans.

So, is that the case? Here, all your safe-related questions will be adequately answered.

Can Termite Bite Humans?

To put the records straight, termites do not bite humans as their jaws aren’t developed enough for such. Now, when it comes to bites, soldier termites are the most menacing.

However, because of their small jaw, an attempt to inflict pain through bites doesn’t achieve the desired effect.

This is good news for anyone having fears of being bitten by termites. However, such good news is short-lived when you discover that asides from being unable to inflict bodily harm, lots of damage can be caused.

In other words, the inability of termites to bite humans is just one part of the equation.

These pests are known to cause significant damage. They’re among the most dreaded pest problems to have for good reason. Termite problems might linger for long without notice.

By the time they’re discovered, major damage has already been done.

Should I Worry?

A confirmation of termite presence around your property is a good reason to be worried.

While these creatures can’t inflict bites, they readily cause havoc. Havoc in this sense refers to the destruction of property. Termites readily target cellulose-rich materials from where they get nutrients.

Construction materials rich in cellulose include wood and drywall. Asides from these, other items rich in cellulose and also targeted by termites are plant byproducts, cotton fibers, and paper products among others.

All of these cellulose sources are abundant in homes. Therefore, your home or property is a potential termite target. There’s enough reason to be worried whenever you find out or notice termite presence.

In such cases, urgent action needs to be taken.

In the Absence of Bodily Harm, there’s Risk to Property Damage

At the onset, we were concerned with finding out if termites posed any bodily danger. Having found out that they do not, the next logical thing to ask is what other risks are posed by their presence.

There’s every reason to be worried about termite presence around your property.

As stated earlier, termites will readily feast on cellulose-rich materials. Building structures are known to have an ample supply of these.

So, in a situation where a full-blown termite infestation is underway, the collapse of your ceiling may result. Also, floors might give way among other risks.

Types of Termite

Termites can be classified into three main types; dampwood, subterranean, and drywood termites. The type of damage depends on the type of termite involved. In any case, none is preferable to deal with.

So, why are we considering the types of termites? One of the ways to easily identify the termite problem you have is by knowing the behavior of each type.

This enables you to activate effective control measures to contain the problem.

  • Dampwood Termites

While these termites won’t bite humans, they target cellulose-rich materials. These are distinguished by their preference for wood with high moisture content.

As such, you’ll hardly find dampwood termites in your home or other man-made structures due to insufficient moisture content in wood.

Other sub-types of dampwood termites include the pacific dampwood, desert dampwood, Nevada dampwood, and Florida dampwood.

  • Subterranean Termites

As the name implies, subterranean termites live in the soil. These pests build mud tubes connecting their nests to food sources like fence posts, trees, and lumber among others. These too cannot inflict bites on humans.

There are sub-types of subterranean termites that include western subterranean, arid-land subterranean, and dark southeastern subterranean.

Others are the desert subterranean, eastern subterranean, and Formosan termites.

  • Drywood Termites

Your home may be infested with drywood termites.

While these too cannot bite humans, they cause heavy damage to structural timber. Here, your hardwood floor or wooden doorposts among other structural components are easily targeted.

Like other termite types mentioned, drywood termites have sub-types that include desert drywood, western drywood, and southeastern drywood termites.

We’re discussing termite bites, right? So, why is all this information necessary? We’ve veered into other areas such as termite types to help with easy identification and extermination.

It’s already clear that these pests do not bite humans. However, they pose a danger to building structures.

The Best Way to Contain a Termite Problem

The presence of termites within or around your structure isn’t one to be taken lightly. These cause all forms of havoc which can be handled professionally.

Here, the help of an expert is key to overcoming termite presence.

Only reputable pest management services should be contacted for termite treatment. DIY treatment measures should be ditched as these have proven not to be as effective as professional treatment.

An experienced and trained technician assesses the level of damage as well as the severity of infestation to proffer the best solution possible.

Preventive Measures To Prevent Termite Bites

Having successfully treated a termite problem, certain measures are necessary to forestall future occurrences.

These include removing or reducing moisture around your property. Termites thrive in moisture. All leaky pipes, faucets, and exterior AC units should be fixed.

You’ll also need to fix structural components like soffits, fascia, and rotted roof shingles. This serves as a preventive measure to keep termites at bay.

Also, consider replacing loose mortar and weather stripping around windows and basement foundation.

Other ways to keep termites at bay include scheduling an annual professional inspection. Remove all firewood within your immediate vicinity to a distance of about 20 feet off your property.

Are there visible changes around doorframes, windows, and skirting boards? If there are, consider calling for further inspection and possible fixes.

Termites do not bite humans but cause a different type of problem; that is, structural damage. You don’t want to lose your beautiful property to these pests.

As such, we’ve provided several tips to easily follow in taking back your home.

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