Can Termites Bite People or Animals?

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Termites are the most common type of insect found in houses and on properties. They feed on cellulose, which is a material found in wood and paper.

Termites can go without food for up to months because they have an efficient system for recycling their own waste products as food sources.

But what if a termite bites you? Can termites bite people or animals? The answer by our termite control team may surprise you! Read on below to know more.

Can Termites Really Bite People or Animals?

Termites are known to be one of the silent but deadly creatures on this planet. You may be sleeping soundly in your bed without knowing these critters are already chewing up your furniture and other items in your house.

Now, can these critters really bite people or animals? The answer to that question isn’t likely but when faced with a threat, they can indeed bite.

Termites do not have any known defenses, so they will only attack when threatened. In their mind, humans are too large for them to chew on any longer than necessary; hence it’s unlikely they’ll want you as lunch material.

And if there’s one thing we can be sure of with termites-they’re absolutely harmless creatures (to humans and pets) unless provoked.

So don’t worry about being bitten by these crawlers because the truth is: No matter how hungry they get-termites cannot eat human beings. But of course, your property should be the thing you worry about because termites will devour it with no hesitation

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Are Termite Bites Dangerous?

If you find yourself handling some termites and suddenly you get bitten, then you don’t need to panic since their bites aren’t that dangerous.

The only thing you need to worry about is whether or not the termites have any bacteria that they may be carrying in their guts and if so, the kind of health problems might arise from those types of infections.

It’s suggested that you immediately consult with a doctor when you start to experience such biting incidents because this could also mean a higher chance for infection especially when you get bitten by a swarm.

However, if your bite wound isn’t severe, you don’t have to worry about it that much!

What Do Termite Bites Look Like?

A bite mark on human skin caused by termites can look like red welts. Depending on how severe it is, it can start oozing pus after some time has passed if you left it untreated.

The level of pain felt during these bites depends on how sensitive your body is and it should go away soon enough as long as there aren’t any serious complications happening.

Bite marks aren’t that deep and may resemble a bite mark from bed bugs, but the only difference is that you’ll find termite bites don’t leave blood stains.

How to Deal With Termite Bites

Once you find yourself bitten by a termite, there are some safety measures that needs to be done.

For instance, the moment you have discovered you’ve been bitten by termites, remove those creatures from your skin and find the nearest faucet to wash the affected area.

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Use an anti-bacterial wash to clean the wound thoroughly before applying a topical antibiotic ointment to it.

The next thing you need to do is use alcohol or hydrogen peroxide on the area with some cotton swabs and keep dabbing until it’s all dry.

Once done, you may take a gauze pad and cover it to avoid any irritation or risk of infection. If you start to develop a fever, it would be best to call a doctor since this can be a sign of infection.

Termites bites are not dangerous but they can be painful and severe if not handled properly, so make sure that your wounds are clean at all times for both prevention and safety purposes!

Takeaway

Termites are a common pest that can infest properties all across the country. They have been known to cause significant structural damage when left unchecked, but they’re also capable of biting people or animals if given the opportunity.

If you find yourself in need of termite management services, give Zip Pest Solutions a call!

We’ll dispatch an experienced technician and quickly get rid of any pests on your property for good. It doesn’t matter how big your problem may be: we’ve got you covered from A-Z!