How much do you know about termites? It’s okay if your knowledge about them is limited. As long as you understand that they eat wood and are a threat to your home, you already have a good start. Today we will be further unraveling what makes termites tick. You will learn how to identify these destructive pests and hear about a foolproof method to stop them. Are you ready for an exclusive guide to termites in Montgomery County? Let’s dive in.
What Termites Look Like
Not all termites look the same. Within each colony exists a caste system comprised of workers, soldiers, reproductives, and swarmers. Here is a brief description of each.
- Workers: Often described as white ants, termite workers are tasked with gathering food for their colony. These are the termites that eat homes.
- Soldiers: Slightly darker and bigger than workers, termite soldiers are in charge of keeping the colony safe. These fighters will travel through underground tunnels and fend off other tunneling pests.
- Reproductives: Otherwise known as kings and queens, reproductive termites are much larger than soldiers and worker termites. Originally equipped with wings, the job of these termites is to lay eggs and reproduce.
- Swarmers: After six to seven years, when a termite colony has become fully mature, it will spawn winged termites called swarmers (which later become kings and queens). These termites have the job of finding new areas to build colonies. As extremely poor flyers, swarmers rarely travel far from their original nests but they can occasionally be caught by the wind and travel for miles.
Most of the above termites, you will never see, as they spend their lives deep underground or within a structure of wood. Swarmers are the only termites that freely venture above ground. Seeing these winged destroyers around your home, however, is a very bad sign. It is a clear indicator that a fully mature colony is nearby, most likely eating away at your home.
What Do Termites Want?
Of course, you know that termites need wood to survive, but what kind of wood do termites like best? The truth is, termites are picky pests that are attracted to softened woods that have been damaged by water, rot, or decay. Another thing you should know is that termites aren’t always drawn onto your property by just wood. They can consume decaying plant matter and anything that is paper-based. If you keep a pile of cardboard outside your home and it gets wet, it is one of the number one attractants for hungry termites. And the closer termites are to your home, the more likely they will be to start eating it.
Some Signs Of A Termite Infestation
Spotting termites can be difficult because of how silently they invade. Most clear signs of a termite infestation do not usually show up until years after they have invaded your home. These would be signs like overly squeaky floorboards, hollow-sounding wood, tight-fitting doors and windows, buckling walls, bubbling wallpaper, and dipping floors; major structural failures that cost a fortune to fix. There are a few early signs such as mud tubes running up your foundation, and frass (termite droppings) around pinholes in your home’s wood, but these are by no means signs you should rely upon.
Not-so-fun fact: Termite damage is not typically covered by homeowners' insurance. It is filed under a preventable disaster and is therefore considered your problem.
How You Can Keep Termites Away
There are many things you can do to maintain the quality of your home; professional termite control is just another way you can keep your home safe. Here at M.A.D. Exterminators, we are in the business of getting and keeping homes termite-free.
If your home is in need of the best termite-control that money can buy at a price that is friendly to you, we have your answer. Give us a call if you have any questions or to schedule immediate services for your Montgomery property. It would be our pleasure to lend you a helping hand.