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Tiny Termite House Shows Termites Destroy a House From Inside Out
The National Pest Management Association's Tiny Termite House provides a rare, behind-the-walls look at the devastating impact of termites. Witness firsthand as these silent destroyers consume a home from the inside out. Watch the destruction unfold, and learn more about this groundbreaking research and video production.
Video Transcript
Tiny Termite House
A first-of-its-kind, groundbreaking study by the National Pest Management Association.
A team of researchers set out to document the destructive nature of termites like never before. They constructed a model dream home and built it to-scale, replicating a real modern house. It had all of the materials you would find in a normal size house. From joists and insulation to working electric and plumbing. The house even had a custom kitchen and balcony overlooking an in-ground swimming pool.
The researchers introduced more than 500,000 voracious subterranean termites into the surrounding soil while capturing their non-stop destruction using high-definition cameras. What they observed over the next month is nothing short of mind-blowing.
Upon introduction, the termites immediately infiltrated cracks in the cement and openings where the wood came together. They formed dozens of mud tubes which are protected pathways to reach a food source. Mud tubes are a common, yet easy-to-miss sign of a termite infestation. Once the mud tubes were formed, the termites began feasting on the wood joists and plywood. Then, they moved up into the drywall and into the second story. After about 50 days of an active infestation, the researchers conducted a final tour to reveal the full extent of damage.
They found that nearly all of the floor and wall joists has been completely eaten away. The hardwood floors had buckled from the moisture left by the termites. The house was a total loss and structurally unsound. When the sub flooring was lifted from the cement slab of the foundation, hundreds of thousands of termites were found living underneath it. But what’s even more alarming is that from the outside, the home still appeared in pristine condition. This is proof that termites can literally eat you out of house and home while hiding out of sight.
Termites cause more than $5 billion in U.S. property damage every year. A cost that is typically not covered by home insurance policies. Don’t let your biggest investment become a termite colony’s next meal. Work with a licensed pest control professional to safeguard your home and wallet from these destructive pests.
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