Arizona rain triggers termite surge

Well, I'm kind of looking forward to the rain over the weekend after the kids are done trick-or-treating, but it could actually be scary for a couple of reasons, including a surge in creepy, crawly insects. Ants, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and termites, they're all out right now, and our Brian Webb is live with more. Brian. Yes, we love the rain in the desert, and so do the insects. Those mosquitoes, ants, and cockroaches are a pain, but it's termites that do the real damage. They're not in that tunnel, but there could be another tunnel right next to it. You're watching termite experts on the move, looking for any signs that this home is on the menu. And there it is, the dreaded termite tube. Take a piece of dirt, and they go up, and then they stick that dirt to the tunnel. They take a piece of wood and go back down. And that's their process all day, all night. Here's a look at live termites found on a picture frame at a different home, tiny but tenacious. Arizona termites hide from the heat underground in colonies that can reach 100,000 strong, but are ready to pounce after any rain, hungry and looking for their favorite food, the wood in your house. Now's the time to eat. Now's the time to get going. We're gonna build up our energy. And in a couple of months, they're gonna start spreading their colonies. Those swarming termites throughout the valley, the first sign of trouble, mud tubes, termites build the pencil thick tubes using their saliva. It keeps them moist and safe while they eat your home frame by frame. Catching them early can save thousands of dollars and likely your neighbors too 25% of all homes in Arizona have termites. If we don't solve them here, I guarantee you one of the neighbors has the same colony because that colony could be under the road out there, it could be under this driveway, it could be under the neighbor's house. But there are things you can do if you see signs of termites. Simply offer them an easier, better tasting treat. That will effectively become their last meal. They're gonna spread that product to the rest of the colony, and eventually one of them is gonna feed the queen, Queen dies. Colonies gone forever. There is one other note. If you plan to buy or sell a home, you need to have it inspected for termites. That is the law in Arizona. Live in Phoenix, I'm Brian Webb, Fox 10 News.