Termites

Individuals across the United States may encounter termites at some point. Unfortunately, these social pests can create immense issues for homeowners because they destroy wood. They work as a team to ensure that the colony can thrive. Termites crave cellulose which is found in wood, paper, and other products. As a result, they’ll tear through the wood around your home to get what they need to survive. When a termite infestation is left untreated, the termites are going to destroy the structure.

In some cases, the home will no longer be inhabitable. Therefore, it is pertinent to act immediately. Whether you’ve found termite mounds or woodpiles around your home, it could be a sign of a termite infestation. Once this happens, call your local exterminator to rectify the problem before it is too late. Although there are other termite species in the United States, the most common is the Subterranean Termite. It is responsible for 95% of the damage done to American buildings each year.

Learning About Termite Colonies

Consumers in your area should find out more about termite colonies. Each termite belongs to a colony with unique classes and characteristics. For instance, some termites are queen termites. Others are king termites. They’ll be explored in greater detail below.

Queen Termites

Queen termites are the largest termites in any group. They nearly reach 4 inches in length. Due to her massive size, she is going to need help moving through the termite tunnels. Soldiers will push her to the destination. Queens have one purpose. They help produce more termites to guarantee that the colony can continue thriving for many years to come. It is common for queen termites to live for ten years or longer while producing 30,000 eggs every day.

King Termites

You’re also going to encounter king termites. These termites are responsible for breeding as well. Kings and queens always work in pairs to reproduce and build a colony. King termites are larger as well, but they’re not as big as queen termites. Regardless, the pair is always going to work together to build the colony.

Workers

The termite colony is going to have worker termites too. You’ve likely already guessed that this termite is responsible for most things. It will help build tunnels, maintain tunnels, find food, and feed other termites. They have soft bodies so they’re vulnerable to invaders. Worker termites work around the clock and rarely take breaks. It is common for worker termites to reach 10mm so they’re regularly the size of rice.

Soldiers

Soldier termites have to defend the colony from invaders. They have white bodies without wings. Thanks to their powerful jaws, soldier termites can easily destroy predators. While they may encounter other predators, they will primarily battle ants.

Swarmer Termites

Finally, the termite colony will have swarmer termites. These termites are responsible for spreading the colony to new locations. They’re produced in spring. There are female and male swarmer termites. A pair can easily breed and build new colonies elsewhere. Although the colony will only have one king and one queen, it can produce countless swarmer termites.

Common Termites Found In Your Area

If you find termites in your area, you’re likely dealing with Subterranean Termites. They’re the most common in your area and elsewhere in the country. Learn more about these termites below.

Basics About Subterranean Termites

First, you should learn about the basics of these termites. They’re similar to other species since the colony is going to have workers and soldiers. The size and appearance of the termite depend on its class. For instance, the colony’s soldier termites can grow up to 3/8 of an inch in length. Their powerful mandibles allow them to defend the colony from invaders. They also have brown heads. Swarmer termites are larger since they grow up to half an inch in length.

Behaviors

You also need to learn more about the behaviors of these termites. Typically, Subterranean termites are going to remain underground. When they move around the ground, they have to stay in moist locations. They build and travel through mud tubes when they need to access nearby food sources. They use these tubes to avoid being exposed to open air. The colony will provide swarmer termites in spring. Then, the swarmer termites will begin building new colonies nearby.

Potential Threats

Unfortunately, Subterranean Termites pose numerous threats to numerous. They’re not dangerous to your health, but they can create other problems. For instance, they’re going to destroy your home. They chew through wood. If you don’t fix this problem quickly, they will destroy your home and make it unsafe. The repair costs could be immense.

Comparing Flying Termites And Flying Ants

You must remember that you might encounter flying ants and flying termites. Although they are similar, there are a few minor differences between them. When you look at a flying ant, you’ll notice that it looks like an ant. It has some of the same characteristics. Flying ants have stout wings that are different lengths. Their waists are pinched in the middle too. As for the flying termite, its body is going to be thicker with no pinch in the middle. Finally, the flying ant’s antennas will be elbowed.

Interesting Things About Termites

• Termites never stop eating. They’re going to work around the clock and continue eating wood every hour of the day.
• You have to deal with the termite colony immediately because they will not disappear quickly. A termite colony can stay on your property for 70 years.
• A termite colony may have half a million termites.
• Termites are beneficial in nature, but not around your home. They help recycle deadwood.
• The majority of termites need access to water. If they do not have water, they’ll dry out and die.
• Termites can live above ground. However, the ground has to be moist.
• Ants regularly attack termites and termite colonies. The soldier termite will defend the colony from predators.
• You can work with a professional exterminator to wipe out the entire colony.
• The world is home to a few thousand species of termites.
• In the United States, Americans will encourage 40 species of termites.
• Alaska is the only state that is free of Subterranean Termites.
• In America, Subterranean Termites are responsible for 90% of all damage to buildings.
• Termites are not able to eat through concrete, but they can easily move through the cracks in concrete.
• If you weighed all the termites in the world, they would be heavier than all humans.
• Worker termites are capable of chewing and digesting cellulose. Once they’ve done that, they will feed the cellulose to other members of the colony.
• Queen termites lay countless eggs every day and live up to 20 years or longer.

What Dangers Do Termites Pose?

You cannot ignore a termite infestation even though they’re not dangerous to your health. Termites are going to lead to immense problems including massive structural damage to your home. Once you’ve found the signs of termites around your property, you need to take steps to rectify the problem. The best way to do that is by contacting a local exterminator. If you don’t deal with the problem, it will only worsen. Before you know it, the necessary repairs will be very expensive. Otherwise, your home will no longer be safe.

Eliminating Termites Around Your Home

Ultimately, you must find a way to eliminate the termites around your home quickly. Don’t delay because the problem won’t improve. Instead, it’ll continue worsening. Termites can travel up to three hundred feet away from their colony. Finding their primary colony will be difficult, but you have to do it to guarantee satisfactory results. Unfortunately, it often requires assistance from a professional to resolve this issue. If you need assistance, we recommend contacting our local office. We’re always ready to help our clients. Call our office so we can begin helping you handle this problem immediately.

DIY Methods For Termite Infestations

You may believe that you can resolve this problem on your own. Ultimately, you might be able to achieve this goal, but you might not. It depends on the type of chemicals you use. It also requires a little luck. If you use chemical sprays, you may expose yourself to dangerous toxins. Suffice to say, the risks are too high. For the best results, call a professional in your area. Doing is the safest and most efficient way to get rid of termites around your property.

When Can Someone Get Here?

Our technicians are always eager to begin helping our clients. Whether you’re dealing with termites, ants, or other pests, contact our office. Our technicians are skilled and capable of fixing the problem. We can reach your home within 48 hours.

We Offer The Safest Termite Solutions

We’re always ready to help you and keep you safe during each phase of the treatment process. First, you can guarantee that we’re only going to use the safest EPA-approved chemicals and solutions. We’re never going to expose our clients to dangerous chemicals. Since we’re using EPA-approved products, you can guarantee that they’re going to be safe and effective. Plus, our technicians go through extensive training to guarantee your satisfaction and safety. Our technicians know how to use these products while keeping everyone safe.

Preventing Termite Invasions In The Future

Use the steps below to prevent termites from invading your property in the future.

• First, you need to make sure water is kept away from the home’s foundation. Use a combination of gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks to avoid issues. If you have any leaks around your foundation, fix them immediately. Make sure the AC’s drain line sends the water away from your foundation.
• Deal with excess humidity immediately. Be sure to check problematic areas such as your basement, crawlspace, and attic.
• Firewood shouldn’t be stored too close to your home. Instead, store all firewood at least twenty feet away from the home. Furthermore, keep it five inches or more from the ground.
• If you’re going to use wood mulch around your home, keep it 15 inches away from the foundation. Alternatively, you can switch to rubber mulch.
• Regularly check your home for the signs of termites. Look for cracked paint and mud tubes.
• Call us once you’ve identified potential issues around your home.

If you have any other pest control issues please check out other services.