Termites are not very attractive insects. Their reputation for property damage keeps them on everyone’s list of most dreaded pests. Here in North Carolina, termites are recognized as a serious threat to homes and businesses, but the bugs play an important role in our state’s ecosystem. Most people don’t realize that the termite is actually good for the environment – but how?

It turns out that the same reasons that termites are good for the environment are the same reasons they’re a danger to your home.

Read on to learn more about how termites natural instincts can cause problems for your home.

Termites Are Excellent Soil Engineers

When you enjoy the natural beauty of the Uwharrie National Forest, you probably don’t notice termite mounds. The structures serve as vertical doorways to colonies housing hundreds of thousands of insects. They’re often surrounded by an abundance of healthy plants because they keep the underlying soil moist.

Every termite mound represents miles of burrows under the forest floor. The tunnels aerate countless acres and serve as a subterranean irrigation system. A thriving termite nest in our great outdoors helps control storm runoff and minimizes erosion. Termite soil engineering makes a positive difference in the wild.

However, those termites sometimes tunnel into homes, where their natural tendencies can cause the need for expensive repairs. They’re a literal force of nature, which is why it’s so important for homeowners to protect against termites the same way they would for other natural disturbances like storms, flooding or forest fires.

They’re Very Efficient Decomposers

Termites feed on the cellulose in dead trees and plants. The organic fiber serves as a colony’s main nutritional source, but the bugs also invade diseased trees. Their feeding processes help clear the surrounding environment by decomposing decayed vegetation.

This heavy labor sets the stage so that new plants and trees can grow! The insects dispose of plant clutter on the forest floor, they recycle vital nutrients back into the surrounding ecosystem. Termite foraging also improves oxygen flow around the base of healthy plants and trees. Our state parks benefit from termites in the wild.

As valuable as termites are to recycling the natural ecosystem, they can’t tell the difference between the timbers of your wood framing and fallen logs in the forest. Termite pest control discourages termites from approaching your home and encourages them to find food sources that actually help the environment.

Termites: Good For the Environment, but Not For Your Home

A termite swarm naturally follows the path of least resistance. Springtime swarms across your property can quickly move in unnoticed. The same termite burrowing that aerates forest floors undermines building foundations. Termite invasions chew up wood siding, ruin wood framing, and damage buried phone and power cables.

This is why periodic termite inspections are crucial. It’s important to be vigilant to prevent and minimize the damage of these tiny creatures. Less than five percent of 2,500 termite species cause the most destruction. Across the country, professional termite control services help more than 600,000 homeowners deal with infestations and damages every year