Termites can spread easily within a structure so long as they have access to cellulose, which is found in the wood that they infest.

Termites are notorious for spreading quickly once they have infested a wooden structure. As with any pest, the rate at which termites spread has to do with a number of factors that can encourage or inhibit their growth:

A large termite colony can eat up to a pound of wood per day, which may not seem like a lot. However, because termite infestations can go unnoticed for long amounts of time, their population size can grow and damage can get worse right under your nose. Termite colonies can contain anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of insects, and queen termites can lay as many as 30,000 eggs in a single day! Termites spread by traveling through underground mud tubes or cracks in the walls, and by flying when seeking out new places to infest.

Even if your next door neighbor has a termite infestation, it doesn’t guarantee that you have one as well. Termites don’t necessarily move from one house to the next after an infestation. That said, if homes neighboring one another were built simultaneously or with already-damaged wood, there’s a higher chance multiple homes are infested. The severity of infestations can vary from house to house, as well. Bottom line, if you see a tent over your neighbor’s home, there’s little reason to panic. Simply take preventative measures and schedule an inspection to stay on top of any termite activity in your home.

Termite infestations are rarely caught in their early stages, meaning they can spread quickly without being noticed. Although they won’t infest an entire neighborhood, seeing your neighbor infested with termites should encourage you to implement prevention methods and regular inspections into your pest control routine.