Termites are one of the most insidious pests out there, in a world that is full of gross and bothersome bugs. While other pests might be more disgusting (bed bugs) or hazardous to your health (roaches), none can match the termite in terms of sheer destruction. A termite infestation that’s left undeterred will destroy your home’s lumber, and they’ll do it around-the-clock. Termites don’t need to sleep and there are hundreds (perhaps thousands) of them – which means you’re dealing with a non-stop eating machine.
Want to save your home from termites? Early detection is key. When you spot a termite infestation early, you have many different options for treating it. But once a termite infestation has spread throughout the home, there’s only one guaranteed treatment option: structural fumigation. And that means leaving your home for a few days, locating a place to stay and finding a temporary home for your pets. Want to avoid that hassle? Then let’s figure out if you have termites.
Did you create an attractive environment for termites?
Termites have to find their way into your home from the outside world, and that’s made much easier when they’re already present on your property. What makes termites set up shop in your yard? Wood. If you have piles of old lumber, firewood or even dead tree branches/stumps, these are all attractive breeding spots for termites. And once they’ve set up a nest in close proximity to your home, it’s only a matter of time until they wander over there and get inside.
Have you found telltale signs of termites?
There are two excellent ways to spot the presence of termites in your home from the outside. The first is by the appearance of mud tubes. These look exactly as you’d expect them to, and termites create them on exterior walls and foundations for safe transportation.
You should also search for piles of discarded wings, which will look similar to this. When termites establish a new nest, they sprout wings and swarm. Once the nest is established, they shed those wings and go back to eating.
If all else fails, call in the professionals
Professional pest control companies deal with termites all the time (and we should know). So if you really think there might be termites present, the safest option is to call in a pest control company. They can inspect the property closely and tell you definitively if termites are present, and estimate how widespread the infestation is. And as mentioned above, if termites are found throughout the home, it’s too late for spot treatments; you’re headed for a structural fumigation.