What Do Baby Termites Look and Act Like?

It can be challenging to detect a termite infestation, especially if you don’t know the signs of a termite invasion in your home or business. Some people know only about adult termites — what they look like, the areas of a property that are typically affected, and how these insects behave — without considering the other stages of the termite life cycle. 

Identifying baby termites can be extremely useful in recognizing an infestation before it gets worse. Use this guide to prepare, so you will know what you are looking at if you ever encounter a baby termite. If you ever find baby termites in your home or business, contacting experts to eliminate these pests immediately will prevent them from further damaging your property.

What Do Baby Termites Look Like?

All species of termite start as eggs inside a nest put there by a termite queen. The eggs are usually pale yellow, white, or clear, but you may not see them if they are protected and out of sight. 

The baby termites (larvae) will look like tiny adult termites when the eggs hatch, even though they might be roughly the same size as an egg. They will be white to almost completely clear and have soft bodies. 

As the termite larva grow and become termite nymphs, they will molt multiple times. Then, each termite will take on one of three roles as types of adult termites: soldier termites, worker termites, or reproductive termites.

What Does a Termite Nest Look Like? 

The odds are slim that you will see termite eggs when checking your property for these pests. The nests are hard to find. Termites create maze-like tunnels in wood or plaster along with mud tubes, and the nests are built within those tunnels.

Even though the eggs usually aren’t visible or easy to find, there is something you can do to track down a termite problem: keep an eye out for young termites. If you see one, you should take action immediately to remove all of them from your property.  

Tip: Hollow-sounding wood might indicate a chamber holding thousands of baby termites, so always look for this sign of termites in your building. 

How Do Baby Termites Act?

In addition to knowing what a baby termite looks like, it is helpful to understand how they behave. 

Young termites don’t feed themselves and are usually kept within the nest. At this stage in their life, the termites won’t be destroying your property. However, baby termites grow quickly. Before you know it, they will be active adults eating away at your home or place of business. 

In addition to growing quickly, termites also reproduce rapidly. After mating, the queen termite in the colony may start laying a few eggs every day. For the first year, she might lay less than 100 eggs. That might not sound too terrible, but the number increases over time. Later, she could produce hundreds or thousands of eggs a day. Regardless of the types of termites, from subterranean termites to drywood species, all termite colonies reproduce quickly, causing extensive structural damage. 

The Benefit of Termite Inspections With Professionals

Unfortunately, it is challenging to identify baby termites, so it’s easy for homeowners and business owners to miss the signs of an infestation. So while you might be able to take a DIY approach to other things, termite inspection and removal are best left to the experts.  

A termite inspection is a great way to get peace of mind, whether you are a property owner or want to inspect a house before buying. If termite damage is found, the right experts will know how to eliminate them as efficiently as possible.

During an inspection, a technician will check the interior and exterior of your property to look for signs of termites. Remove as much clutter as possible throughout your home or business so the tech can access all areas, including the attic, basement, and crawl space. Miniature termites might be hiding in unexpected places, but a professional will know exactly where to look. 

We Can Help You Identify and Eliminate Termites

A termite infestation can be unnerving. These tiny bugs can cause extensive damage to your home or business if you don’t stop them in time. It’s best to rely on professionals who know how to inspect a structure for signs of termites to reduce the amount of damage and money you will need for repairs.

Budget Brothers Termite & Pest is here to help. We can thoroughly inspect your property to let you know if termites are a problem and can recommend the right remedy. You can rest assured these pests will be stopped before they can do more harm. 

Contact us to learn more about termites or schedule an inspection or treatment service with the pest control professionals.