Do tree stumps attract termites? Yes they do. Termites are attracted to wood structures of all kinds and are known to thrive on cellulose or the contents of deadwood. They will chew furiously through and wood material in their efforts to stay alive and contribute to the colony. Any type of wood is at risk, including the tree stumps that may litter your yard. Consider hiring a tree service company for professional stump removal if you notice any of these infestation signs. Contact Top Tree Service Company at 678-916-6040 or 912-480-0132 for tree stump removal today.
Signs Your Tree Stump Is Infested With Termites
Though swarms of termites emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, etc. out in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern and do not automatically indicate a serious termite infestation, you must make certain to eliminate any source of tree termites from trees on your property. Tree stumps attract termites and that is never a good thing.
Find a Termite Nest in Tree Stumps
You can usually find a termite nest in tree stumps. You can dig around the base of the tree to check for termite nests. Mud tubes could also be a sure sign that termites are in the area. The pests build these mud tubes to move between their nest and food without being exposed to the air. You can find these tubes in the cracks of bark on the tree.
Tree stumps attract termites because they usually go after the deadwood of a tree. So if you find termites on any of your trees, it usually means the trees are unhealthy. Unfortunately, the problem will only worsen; as the termites eat the wood, it will speed up the deterioration of the tree. If you don’t get successful termite treatment by a professional pest control service, you may have to get the stump removed.
You Stumps Will Sound Hollow
Wood can become hollow as the termites chew their way through the material from the inside out. To test if your stump is hollow, tap its surface with a hammer. Hollow wood is likely to produce a dull thumping noise if infected. In this case, stump removal is highly recommended as it indicates an ongoing problem.
If you do have a hollow tree stump, it is a tell-tale sign of a termite infestation. If you don’t get the the stump removed in a timely manner, the stump removal cost could go up. If you don’t take the steps to call a stump removal company, the fact that your tree stumps attract termites will not change.
The Stump Will Have a Soft Texture
If you ignore a stump, it could decay, attracting subterranean termites who favor this type of wood. Damaged wood is soft and spongy because the termites have eaten through the material. If it’s easy to drag a screwdriver through the wood, your next step is to inspect it for mud tubes and termite poop. These tubes are the pathways that subterranean termites use to travel through the stump or drop down to the soil. Because tree stumps attract termites, it’s best to just have the stumps removed.
Visible Termite Frass
Dry and damp wood termites expel frass or excrement. Drywood termites produce a material that looks like sawdust, while the damp wood insects leave behind a similar material in a small pile of sawdust-like material . You may see the frass around or directly on top of the stump. Since both termites can infect your outdoor space, you should conduct regular evaluations of your trees. Dying or decaying growths are appealing to these insects, and you may need to consider complete tree and stump removal. These are just a couple reasons why you should get rid of tree stumps.