Do not let them tell you "it happens overnight." Formosan subterranean termites are aggressive, but biology takes time. A mature colony eating your home didn't appear yesterday.
The Science of Colony Growth
A termite colony starts with a king and queen. In the first year, they may only produce 50-100 termites. It takes 3-5 years for a colony to mature enough to cause the massive damage we see in litigation cases.
How We Use This in Court
When a pest control company claims the infestation is "new" and therefore not their fault, we hire entomologists to analyze the colony. If we find evidence of a 5-year-old colony, but the company inspected your home and marked it "clear" 6 months ago, we have proof of negligence.
Is This Happening to You?
If you see these signs, do not sign any release forms nicely offered by the pest control company.
Get a Free Case ReviewSubterranean vs. Aerial Infestations
Another common defense is claiming the termites flew in (aerial) and didn't cross their treated barrier (subterranean). However, we typically prove that the infestation originated from the ground because the home was not properly treated.
True aerial infestations without ground connection are extremely rare. We use biological evidence—mud tube patterns, moisture trails, and colony structure—to trace the termites back to the soil, where the treatment system should have stopped them.