How Fast Can Termites Eat Wood?
Termites can eat a lot of wood in a short period of time. How fast they can do this depends on several factors, including the type of wood and the size of the colony. A large colony can eat a lot of wood in just a few months.
A colony can be made up of thousands or millions of termites. Each individual termite has a specific job in the colony. For example, a single termite worker will travel out into the surrounding area to find food. Once it finds something, it will signal to the colony. In this way, the entire colony works together to ensure the colony gets all the food it needs.
An average colony of termites can eat about a foot of 2×4 wood in just six months. A larger colony can eat three feet of wood in just a month. A colony of termites can also damage your home much faster than you might imagine. The speed of damage depends on the size of the colony and the location of the home.
A subterranean termite can have colonies with thousands to millions of workers. Each colony will have a queen in charge of reproduction. These colonies can grow large and infest multiple homes.
One of the main ways termites can damage your home is by eating the wooden foundations. Once they start to eat the wood, it will begin to crumble. This weakens the structure of your house and can lead to serious structural problems.