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Termites are little cunning pests, creeping silently into your house, and you cannot even suspect that they are there until the situation becomes really bad. Termites can damage your house a lot and there are chances you may not really understand it until it gravely happens. These insects are dangerous to the building of your house and need to be looked out for immediately.
Understanding Termites
Termites are small insects. They live in colonies. They eat wood and other plant materials. Scientists study how termites think and behave. This is called termite cognition. Termites use senses like smell and touch to communicate. They work together to build their nests. Termites have amazing abilities. For example, some species can build huge mounds. These mounds have complex tunnels inside. Termites work as a team to dig these tunnels. They also work together to find food. Studying termite cognition helps us understand how insects think and solve problems.
To start eliminating termites it would be a good idea to first get familiar with their nature. The social order of termites is made up of three groups living in the ground, dry wood, and damp wood. Subterranean termites are those who construct their colonies underground and from which they eat their way into the wood buildings. Drywood termites live and eat the wood they live in, usually in a large group inside beams and walls. Dampwood termites like to live in places that are moist and where woods decay or in poorly ventilated areas.
Indications of Termite Activity
Catching termite attacks early is very important. Look for the mud tubes they build to travel between their home and food. Signs of damage include hollow-sounding wood, floors that flex, and paint peeling off walls. This means you have a termite problem. Pay attention to when termites typically swarm – usually in spring and again in fall.
Some of the signs include:
Frass: Termites generate the so-called frass, which looks like small, pellet-like drops and is usually located alongside infested wood.
Blistering Wood: The peeling and blistered appearance of wood outwards can indicate the manifestation of termite damage beneath its surface.
Preventative Measures
Moisture Control
The key to preventing termites is controlling moisture around your house. Make sure water doesn’t collect near your home’s foundation. Repair leaky pipes and roofs right away. Using dehumidifiers can help dry out wet areas like basements and crawl spaces. Keep your attics and vents clean and well-ventilated.
Wood-to-Soil Contact
Another key for prevention is reducing wood-to-soil contact. Use softwood for bearers and replace with properly treated trusses later. An idea is to get these products installed. Removing the pile of wood and trash around your foundation is another great idea.
Regular Inspections
In a casual sense, prevention is very important. You can easily check for and prevent termite problems. Make sure to do regular check-ups to inspect your home for termites. Look for any signs of wood damage or termite activity like mud tubes. Termites can also be found in mulch beds, tree stumps, and plants near your home. Catch any termite issues early to prevent bigger problems.
Professional Pest Control
To start with, you can get regular pest control checks by a professional company like Little Critters Pest Control. These experts can check for termites and give prevention tips. They also offer pre-treatment options if your house is new. These are good things to consider.
Landscape Maintenance
Maintaining your yard is key for termite control. Termites first eat dead things. You should remove dead trees, branches, and stumps from your property. Don’t let mulch build up near your house. This can cause dampness. The main thing is to keep firewood away from your home.
Chemical Treatments
Soil Treatments: Termiticides are treated in the soil at the bottom of the building in order to create a chemical shield that either keeps termites away or kills them. This procedure is mostly implemented during the construction stage, though it also presents on the existing structures.
Wood Treatments: Applying borate solutions can prevent damage. Borate chemicals are added to wood during the preservation process. The chemicals make the wood unedible for termites. Treating the wood will protect it. However, the untreated wood will still be affected.
Bait Stations
Installing termite bait stations on your property can be very helpful in dealing with the problem of termites. Bait stations are the main means of termite control. These stations are basically lures that attract termites. The bait contains a slow-acting insecticide which, once ingested by the termites, is transmitted back to the colony and eventually kills it.
Conclusion
In order to stop termites, you need to know the signs, their life cycle, and get information before trying to prevent them. The best way is to manage moisture, remove wood, regularly check, and control the environment. Pest control experts can help you with termite management.
Don’t forget that it’s very important to find a problem early. Then you can take action right away. This way, future repairs won’t be complex, and the building structure will stay in good shape. If termites are in your area, call a pest control service. They’ll fully inspect and make a treatment plan. Your home is one of your most valuable possessions. Use these expert tips to protect it from termites.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post