What commonly triggers a wood-destroying pest infestation?

Moisture buildup within structures is a primary factor that triggers wood-destroying pest infestations, particularly for organisms such as termites, carpenter ants, and certain wood-boring beetles. Wood-destroying pests are attracted to moist environments because they need a certain level of humidity to thrive and reproduce. When there is excessive moisture, it can lead to wood deterioration, which creates an ideal environment for these pests to invade, feed, and cause structural damage.

In contrast, the excessive use of pesticides can sometimes repel pests or kill existing ones but does not inherently trigger an infestation. The presence of only hardwood trees is not a suitable factor as wood-destroying pests can thrive on various types of wood, not only hardwoods. Similarly, a lack of any wood products in the area would reduce the risk of an infestation since wood-destroying pests require wood as a food source. Thus, moisture buildup is the main environmental condition that fosters the onset of wood-destroying pests.