Wood Destroying Organisms

What every potential homeowner "MUST KNOW" before you buy!  Let us help.

"Wood-Destroying Organism" means arthropod or plant life which damages and can re-infest seasoned wood in a structure, namely termites, powder post beetles, old house borers and wood decay fungi.

Reports are made on the basis of what was visible and accessible at the time of inspection.
It is NOT an opinion covering areas such as, but not necessarily limited to, those that are enclosed or inaccessible, areas concealed by wall coverings, floor coverings, furniture, equipment, stored articles, or any portion of the structure in which inspection would necessitate removing or defacing any part of the structure.

This is NOT a Structural Damage Report!
A wood-destroying organisms inspector is not ordinarily a construction or building trade expert and therefore is not expected to possess any special qualifications which would enable him/her to attest to the structural soundness of a property.

We ensure that ALL applicable paperwork is submitted accurately and in a timely manner.

As this is a formal inspection, our rates are based upon the square footage of your home.  
  

subterranean termite Subterranean Termite
(Length: 1/8" – 3/8")
These are social insects living in colonies in the soil. The colony is made up of workers, soldiers and reproductive's. Subterranean Termite colonies feed on wood or other cellulose material such as paper, cardboard and fiberboard. They do excessive damage in the U.S. every year. Workers are blind and cream colored, entering homes while foraging for food, through cracks as small as 1/64". The workers return to feed the other members of the colony on a regular basis. Winged reproductive's (swarmers) are dark, and many lose their wings shortly after their swarming flight.
Subterranean Termite Swarmer
(Length: 1/2")
These dark brown to black winged insects are the male and female reproductive's They emerge from the colony in a dark cloud at least once per year. Their short flight drops them to the ground where they then seek the proper conditions for the king and queen to start a small brood chamber in the soil. The swarmers are often confused with winged ants. The major visible differences are the waist (pinched in the ant, broad in the termite), the antenna (elbowed in the ant, straight in the termite) and the wings (two different sizes in the ant, all the same size in the termite).
 subterranean termite swarmers
drywood termites Drywood Termite
(Length: Up to 1/2")
This termite species does not live in the ground, but lives inside wood. They are most likely to be found in humid, coastal areas. Their colonies are much smaller than subterranean termites, and infestations found in wood are usually confined to a small area. One sign of a drywood colony is the presence of fecal pellets, often found in piles like tiny stones. Drywood termites push out these pellets through small "kick-out" holes they make. The holes are later resealed.

Drywood Swarmer
(Length: about 3/16")
These brown flying insects, identified by 3 darker veins on the front edge of their wings, swarm in late Spring and early Summer. Presence of straight antennae and only two distinct body segments differentiate them from flying ants.

drywood swarmer termites
formosan subterranean termites

Formosan Subterranean Termite
(Length: About 1/2")
Like subterranean termites, Formosan termites feed on cellulose material (i.e. wood), but they are more aggressive and attack wood at a much faster rate. They nest in the ground but can also live in aerial "carton" nests they make from chewed wood, soil, saliva and fecal matter. A Formosan termite colony is significantly larger than that of the subterranean termite, and can cause significantly more damage in a shorter period of time.

Powder Post Beetle
(Length: 1/8" – 1/4")
Adults are reddish brown to black and very slender. The Powder Post Beetle damages seasoned hardwoods such as flooring, furniture and structural woods. The larva, living in and eating the wood, can take up to four years to develop. Their presence is often indicated by piles of fine dust and by small exit holes in the wood. Control requires treatment by fumigation or replacement of the infested wood.

powder post beetle
old house borer long horned beetles

Old House Borer
(Length: 1/2" – 3/4")
This is a member of the group known as "long-horned beetles". Eggs are laid in crevices of the bark of cut logs. The whitish larva live 3-5 years or more, eating through the wood. During quite times, their feeding may be heard as clicking and rasping sounds. Adults leave infested wood through oval holes about 1/4" in diameter.

Carpenter Bee
(Length: 3/4" – 1")
These large dark bees that resemble bumble bees are often seen hovering around the eaves of a house, wooden fences or the underside of deck in the late spring. They bore round holes into wood to nest. They will nest in a wide range of woods, but prefer weathered and unpainted wood. Typically they do not cause serious structural damage unless a large number of bees are involved over a long period of time. Male carpenter bees tend to be territorial and can become aggressive towards humans by hovering close by. But this is merely a show as they have no stinger. 

carpenter bees
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