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Termites are a homeowner’s worst nightmare because they will reach you at a house and home. You know as a homeowner your biggest investment is your home and if termites are on your property they do a lot of damage. In fact in the U. S. termites do more than five billion in damages annually. As a homeowner your cost of repairs are usually around $3000 annually. Here also a question arise should you buy a house damaged by termites?
You know nobody wants to deal with termites, So they Usually Hire Right Pest Control Companies for this Purpose, fortunately solutions has a 4 step process that will eliminate your termite problem.
Today we’re gonna discuss
- identification and
- inspection for termite.
These next few steps are critical to ensure that we use the proper treatment method because depending on the type of termite you have that will determine the next course of action.
First Step: Identification of Termites – are there different types of termites?
The first step of the process is identification all colonies of termites have members that perform different tasks. Let’s take a look at some of the most common different kind of termites, and how we might identify termites.
Eastern Subterranean Termites
The first of these is the eastern subterranean termite. This kind of termite colonizes in the ground. These are classified into following,
- The alate, warmers or winged termites once mature they leave the original colony and responsible for producing new colonies of termites. The body is black. It is approximately 18 the edge and has 2 pair wings equal in length. If you see this stage of termite inside or outside your home it should be cause for concern since it is an indication that the home is possibly infested with termites. would you buy a house with active termite infestation?
- There reproductive’s known as the king and queen termite that stay within the colony for the span of their lives.
- The next member of the colonies the soldier. They are approximately 1 quarter inch long. Their bodies are cream colored. The head is an orange brown color in is rectangular shaped. They have large mandibles that are used to protect the colony from intruders.
- Then there are the workers that are cream colored about an eighth of an inch long in a responsible for damaging the structure by eating the wood to collect cellulose which is their food. The majority of the colony consist of worker termites.
How, When Eastern subterranean termites in soil work or Damage things?
Eastern subterranean termite travel from the ground up to the structure, thanks for mud tubes which protect them from heat and direct sunlight. They travel up these tubes into the structure to collect cellulose which is their food source that’s found in wood, unfortunately that’s our home.
They usually swarm between January and may when conditions are either overcast or very humid.
Formosan termites
The Formosan termite, this species of termite colonizes in the ground and also above ground structures. These are classified into following,
- The alate ,warmers are winged once mature they leave the original colony and responsible for producing new colonies. The body is tan and is approximately one quarter inch and has 2 pair wings equal in length.
- There reproductive’s known as the king and queen that stay within the colony the full span of their lives.
- Soldiers are approximately 1 quarter inch long their bodies are cream colored, hair is tear drop shaped of orange color. They have large mandibles across and are used to protect the colony from intruders.
- workers that are cream color about 1/8 inch long, responsible for damaging the structure by eating the wood to collect cellulose.
How, When Formosan termites work or Damage things?
Formosan termites also known as the super termite does enormous amount of damage because of their very aggressive behavior. Typically found in warm coastal states. They can be found swarming in the evening from around dusk to about 9:30 PM. The time of year is usually between April and July. It can also be found swarming around exterior lining.
Dry Wood Termites
Dry wood termites, this type of termite does not depend upon moisture or soil like subterranean termites do. They instead colonize within wood. There specification, characteristics and classification is as follows
- The alate ,warmers are winged once mature
- they leave the original colony and responsible for producing new colonies.
- the bodies a reddish brown color is approximately 1 half inch long and has 2 pair wings equal in length.
- there are reproductive known as the king and queen.
- soldiers are approximately
- 1 quarter inch long
- their bodies are cream colored
- hair is rectangular shape.
- head has orange color
- they have large mandibles
- workers that are
- cream colored about 3 sixteenths of an inch long.
Dry wood termites are normally found up in the attic or in the eaves around the exterior of the house although swarms are pretty good indication that you have an infestation. Sometimes it can be very difficult to locate the nest.
Second Step: Inspection
The second step the process is inspection. We want to confirm whether we have termites or not. Termites can do a lot of damage in your home and you not even know it until several years later fortunately there are signs you can look for that will help you identify whether you have a termite problem or not.
Some of the signs are
- mud tubes
- frass
- wings and
- feces
Mud Tubes Common Sign of subterranean termites
Mud tubes are one the most common signs that you have subterranean termites in or around your home. These are pencil sized tunnels made by termites that act as pathways for them to move back and forth from their nest to structure.
These mud tubes will be found around wooden structures foundations or any other structural support.
Frass is the sign of Dry Wood Termites
Frass is another great sign that you might have some dry wood termites activity. fress look similar to sawdust and id left behind by termites while they’re digging through and consuming wood.
Feces and Wings
They also might appear in the form of a small woody palette which is actually their feces. Findings warmer winds inside your home indicates an active infestation of termites remember swimmer termites leave the colony to start new colonies so finding these in and around your home means that you probably have a heavy infestation.
What You Can Do?
When doing these inspections
- it is best to use a flashlight to check dark areas like basements or attics.
- You can use a screwdriver or another sharp indeed object to probe for termite galleries
- pay close attention to all the wood construction by support post or ceiling areas where soil meets.
would once you’ve identified the termite and completed the inspection process now you have all the information in order to move forward to eliminating termites.