Many assume cold northern regions, like Maine, are free from termite infestations, believing these pests thrive only in warmer, humid climates. However, termites are present in Maine, adapting to the state’s conditions and posing a threat to wooden structures.
Termite Presence in Maine
Termites are established in Maine, with the Eastern Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) being the most common species found throughout the state. These termites are known for their destructive habits. While the southern portion of Maine is categorized as a “slight to moderate” termite activity zone, these pests can be found across the entire state.
Eastern Subterranean Termites establish their colonies underground in moist soil. This subterranean lifestyle allows them to maintain the high humidity levels necessary for their survival, even in colder climates. They forage for cellulose, which is the main component of plant cells, making any wood material a potential food source. Their nests are typically located below the frost line but above the water table, providing a stable environment.
These insects are adept at finding food sources, often entering buildings through tiny cracks in concrete flooring or traveling under various types of flooring through narrow gaps. They can also feed on old roots, tree stumps, and fallen timber. The Eastern Subterranean Termite can cause economic damage, impacting homes and businesses in many urban and suburban areas across Maine.
Recognizing Termite Activity
Identifying termite activity often requires careful observation, as these insects frequently remain hidden. One of the most common and clear signs of subterranean termite presence is the construction of mud tubes, also known as shelter tubes. These pencil-sized tunnels, made from a mixture of soil, wood particles, and termite saliva and feces, protect termites from dry air and predators as they travel between their underground colony and food sources, often along foundations, walls, or wooden structures.
Another indication of an infestation is the presence of discarded wings, especially near windows, doors, or light sources. Winged reproductive termites, called swarmers, emerge from mature colonies to mate and establish new ones. After finding a mate, they shed their delicate, translucent wings, which are typically uniform in size. Finding these shed wings suggests an active infestation nearby.
Termite damage to wood can also provide clues, though it often goes unnoticed until the infestation is extensive. Termites consume wood from the inside out, creating hollowed-out sections and leaving a thin veneer of wood or paint. This can result in wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or surfaces that appear to have water damage, such as buckling wood, swollen floors, or bubbling and peeling paint. Unlike drywood termites, subterranean termites do not leave visible frass (droppings) as they remove it through their mud tubes.
Factors Influencing Termite Activity
Several environmental and structural conditions contribute to termite presence and activity, even in Maine’s cooler climate. Moisture is a primary attractant for subterranean termites, as they require ample humidity to survive. Sources such as leaky pipes, poor drainage around the foundation, or clogged gutters can create damp conditions in the soil or within structures. This moisture softens wood, making it easier for termites to chew through, and also encourages the growth of fungi that some termite species consume.
Direct wood-to-soil contact provides termites with easy, hidden access to food sources and moisture. Wood siding, door and window frames, or other wooden components that touch the ground are particularly susceptible. Even pressure-treated wood, while resistant, can become vulnerable over time, or termites may build mud tubes over its surface to reach untreated wood. Minimizing this contact is important for preventing infestations.
The presence of cellulose materials, abundant in homes, provides the necessary food source for termites. This includes not only structural timbers but also items like firewood, lumber, paper products, and fabrics. Storing firewood or other wood debris directly against a home’s foundation offers termites hidden entry points and a readily available food supply.
Despite Maine’s cold winters, termites can remain active year-round. Subterranean termites adapt by burrowing deeper into the soil, where temperatures remain stable and above freezing, effectively using the earth’s insulating properties. Within heated buildings, termites can continue their activity throughout the winter, as the indoor environment provides consistent warmth. Snow cover also acts as an insulating blanket, protecting subterranean colonies in the ground from extreme cold.