Are you aware that termites in the United States are a multi-billion dollar problem? Do you know that one type of termite is head and shoulders above the rest? If you're not aware of the threat subterranean termites present to your Allen property, it is important that you get informed. These insects live in the ground and attack homes silently for years. If you let them attack your home, you can find yourself strapped with costly repairs as you enter into your retirement years. Sometimes, termite damage is unrepairable. Protect yourself by considering these 3 ways you can protect your Allen property from termite damage.
1. Know What A Termite Looks Like
If you cut into a stump or log and find lots of tiny white ants crawling around, it is important that you recognize those "ants" for what they are: Termites. Often, we're told that white ants have been found inside properties when termites are discovered. This is because termite workers look a little bit like ants. They have six legs, two antennae, and three body parts. There is one big difference, however. The waist of an ant is pinched. Termites have a fat waist and, due to their size, you may have a difficult time telling where the thorax ends and the abdomen begins.
Another termite you should recognize is a winged reproductive. We usually call these swarmers because of the way they gather together in a swarm. If you see tiny insects that are about ⅜ of an inch long, with narrow white wings that are rounded at the tips and stacked on top of each other, you're looking at a termite swarmer. Swarmers have dark-colored bodies, usually black. The color depends on the species.
2. Know-How To Detect A Swarm
It might seem obvious, but swarms can actually be difficult to detect. While you're certainly not going to have trouble detecting a swarm when you find hundreds of winged insects on the inside of your home, swarmers don't usually emerge from their nests inside structures. The job of these male and female reproductives is to create new nests in other locations. They want to be outside. When you add to this that they are attracted to light, there is really no reason a swarmer would want to be in your home.
When swarmers are released outside, they can leave your property in a matter of seconds, never alerting you to your infestation. After they mate, a few couples may return to your property in search of a place to nest. These are easy to miss because of their size. Those couples will mate and shed their wings quickly. So you need to keep watch for tiny white wings in the landscaping around your home and especially inside spider webs. The webs created by spiders act like sticky traps. They can be helpful for monitoring pest pressures.
3. Know What A Shelter Tube Looks Like
When subterranean termites feed on a home, they often have to create tubes of mud up the side of hard structures, such as a foundation wall or cement pier. These will usually be created in dark, secluded locations, such as in the crawl space under your home. You're probably going to have to get dirty to find them. Keep in mind that mud tubes may only be the width of a pencil and they will often appear in an upside-down lightning pattern.
Complete Protection
Did you notice how short our list was? Did you notice that we did not put the detection of wood damage on our list? There are really only three ways to notice subterranean termite activity early enough to prevent damage. The other way to prevent damage is to invest in ongoing, always active termite protection. This is where we can help. Reach out to Adams Exterminating Company for termite protection you can trust. Termite damage can be prevented. But it requires professional application of effective termite control products. Don't take a chance with DIY termite control. Connect with us today.