Different types of termites
There are three main types of termites: subterranean, drywood, and swarming termites, that infest homes around the United States. The most common, the subterranean termites live in the ground below your home where they find wood to eat. Drywood termites get their name from eating only dried-out or decayed wood. Lastly, there's the swarming termite that gets its name from the way it travels and flies around.
Subterranean Termites
There are many different kinds of termites throughout the United States. The most common is the subterranean termite. These termites cause damage to homes by eating up wood that's on or near your property. They can also create subterranean tunnels to find food and shelter.
Mature subterranean termites are reddish-brown, wingless, and have a round body shape with no visible antennae or eyes. They're about one inch long when fully grown.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are very similar to subterranean termites, but they don't create subterranean tunnels. They live in dry wood and are usually found around the roof or eaves of homes or buildings that have been built on soil.
Drywood termite wings look like a paddle shape when viewed from the side and will be a brown color with a white fringe at each end. They are about three-eighths of an inch long when fully grown.
Swarming Termites
Swarming termites are the ones that homeowners most commonly see around their houses. They are often mistaken for flying ants but are far more destructive. They are most often found in moist soil and will usually swarm at night.
Swarming termites have wings that are almost the size of their body, and use them as their main form of travel. They make funnel-shaped hills above ground during the day, but come out at night to mate. Termite swarms can happen throughout the year but are more common during the late spring and early summer months.
Why termites invade your home
Termites usually invade your home in search of food and shelter. However, there are a few other things that could be attracting these pests to your home.
Termites are attracted by moisture and warmth. They will typically show up in a damp area with terrible air circulation, such as the bathroom or kitchen.
They aren't picky when it comes to choosing which homes to invade. They will invade homes that aren't protected by preventative termite exclusion methods.
Inspecting your home for termites will not only help keep the termites out of your house but it also helps to maintain a healthy living environment by preventing mold growth and other harmful problems.
How to prevent termite infestations
If you're not ready to call a professional termite exterminator, there are a few things you can do to prevent termite infestations in your home. Here are some DIY and basic preventative measures you can take before contacting professionals.
- Inspect the property for termites periodically by looking under eaves and around windows and doors. You should also make sure termites cannot get into any cracks or gaps that exist on the outside of the building.
- Make sure termites cannot get into your home by sealing any small gaps that exist around windows, doors, and pipes.
- Remove woodpiles or stacks of firewood from the property as these are termite food sources.
However, termite infestations can be some of the trickiest pests to get rid of and, due to their destructive nature, are better left to professional care.
Contact Your Local Termite Exterminators
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