During certain times of the year, termite swarmers come out in full force. These swarmers leave their underground nests to fly away and locate mates. When is termite season? When they swarm depends on the species of termite, the geographic location and is fairly weather dependent. Eastern subterranean termites usually swarm in the spring on a warm day following a rain event, first in the more southern states and then further north as temperatures rise.
Termites can be a homeowner's worst nightmare, as they can pose a serious risk to the structure of a home. If left unchecked, termite colonies can increase their numbers within the walls of your home, feasting on the cellulose found in wood. Thousands of termites in a mature colony over the course of several years can cause such significant structural damage that may require repair.
Mud tubes the width of a drinking straw connect termites to their food source.
If a colony of hungry termites takes root in your home, it can cause expensive damage. According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause $5 billion in damages each year at the national level. For individual homeowners, these pests can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage.
For instance, termites can cause blistering in wood flooring, or damage wood by hollowing it out due to their need to feed. When compared to the costly damages that termites can cause, the cost to treat termites and of an annual inspection is far less and can give you added peace of mind.
Dark areas or blisters in wood flooring can indicate termites feeding within or below.
Termites can go undetected on or in your property for years until you start to see visible signs. In that time, they can grow and multiply. Mature termite colonies can range between 60,000 and 1 million termites. That means that there may be damage beneath the surface of your home that may compromise its structural integrity with a full-blown infestation of termites.
Mounds of pellets, resembling sawdust or coffee grounds, can indicate the presence of active drywood termites.
The longer a termite infestation goes unchecked, the more damage these hungry pests can cause to wooden structures within your home. Regular inspections can help mitigate future termite issues.
After swarming, termites usually leave discarded wings. There may also be several black or brown dead termites found.
The Drywood Defend System is our first-ever specialized treatment that will help prevent a drywood termite infestation. We monitor any new activity by inspecting your home and reinforcing the Drywood Defend barrier each year, as needed.
Your Terminix professional will conduct a thorough termite inspection.
Our three-part termite treatment will be applied to the interior, exterior and other vulnerable areas of your home to create a zone of protection.
We'll come back every year to inspect, provide additional termite treatment and reinforce your home's protective barrier, for as long as you keep your plan.
In order to know if you have a termite problem, you must first be able to recognize what a termite looks like. Though there are many species of termites, these insects do tend to have a few characteristics in common. Here's what to look for when identifying termites:
Termites are small insects that are usually less than a half-inch in length. These insects live in colonies with their own hierarchies. Termite colonies can vary in size, including just two termites -- a king and queen -- to a few hundred individuals. However, mature termite colonies can contain 60,000 to 1 million termites, depending on the type of termite species. These large colonies can quickly cause damage to wooden structures.
Termites eat wood for its cellulose, the most plentiful organic compound found in nature. It is the main building block of plants and found in many materials humans use every day. Termites feed on many of these materials to get the cellulose they need: plants, plant byproducts, cotton fibers (your t-shirt, for example), paper products and, of course, wood.
While termites are drawn to wood, there are other factors that may lead to a termite infestation too. Moisture around your home, cracks in and around the foundation of your house, and wood or mulch in direct contact with your house can all leave your home vulnerable to termite infestations.
Termite "swarmers" are winged termites that fly away from their colonies in search of a place to start a new colony. When termites swarm depends on the species of termite, the geographic location of the colony and weather. Eastern subterranean termites, one of the most common types of termite that infest homes in the U.S., usually swarm in the spring following rain, first in the more southern states and then further north as temperatures rise.
Because termites breed rapidly, it can be difficult to completely get rid of termites. A termite professional is trained to find the routes they may have taken to expand into other areas of your home to more effectively control your termite problem and help stop them from causing extensive damage.
Depending on the size of your infestation, the type of termites (subterranean, drywood, dampwood, Formosan, etc.) in or around your home, and various other factors, the best treatment for termites will vary. A termite control specialist can evaluate the problem during their initial inspection and determine an appropriate treatment to help remedy the situation effectively and efficiently.
