Termites feed on wood and can cause severe damage to a house. Determining when these pests are in your home will enable you to avoid a serious problem. Read on to learn about termites and how Weatherford pest control professionals can help eliminate them.
The Life Cycle Of A Termite Colony
Termites live in large colonies that span several generations. Three kinds of termites in Weatherford share the colony’s work, including workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Workers are the most numerous, making up 90% to 98% of the nest, and are responsible for finding food, building tunnels, and raising the young. Soldiers usually make up 2% to 4% and defend the colony. Reproductives are the least numerous, responsible for mating and laying eggs.
Termites begin as eggs before becoming nymphs and eventually adults. After reaching adulthood, termites are alates or swarmers and grow wings. When the colony has reached maturity, the swarmers participate in a swarming event where they take off to find new wood to create a new colony.
During the swarming event, termites separate into male and female pairs in their new nests, becoming kings and queens. They mate, lay eggs, and a new colony of termites forms. This process makes it hard to eliminate these pests because if some survive and wood is near your home, they can form a new colony that can number in the thousands.
How To Identify Termite Damage
Termites are among the most destructive pests that can enter your home. They eat wood, which makes them dangerous to a house. Identifying termite damage early on will help to avoid a severe problem that could put the structural stability of your home into question.
Some signs of termites include the following:
- Mud tubes: A network of pathways through soil and wood that connect a termite nest to its food source.
- Damaged wood: The early stages of wood damage might appear as small holes.
- Blistered wood: Appears like water damage with bubbling or uneven paint.
- Frass: Small piles of sawdust-like material made from termite droppings.
- Discarded wings: Termites shed their wings when they find a new place to establish a colony because they no longer need to fly.
Termite damage can quickly expand and become a big problem for your house. Call for professional termite treatments in Weatherford when you discover termites to resolve the issue.
Factors That Attract Termites To Homes And Yards
Food, water, and shelter attract termites to a house. These insects feed on damp wood, so moisture is a common attractant. They also look for areas where they can build nests and access wood in the coming years. Some of the factors that attract termites to homes and yards include:
- Moisture: Termites feed on soft or rotting wood, so they look for damp areas when setting up a colony.
- Woodpiles: Stacks of wood next to a house are perfect for termites, providing a place to live, feed, and access the home.
- Tree limbs: Branches hanging over a house provide access for termites.
- Mulch: Laid or spread over the soil, mulch consists of wood chips and retains moisture for an extended period of time, making it attractive to termites.
The best way to avoid a termite infestation in your Weatherford home is to remove factors that attract these pests to your house. Cleaning up spills, moving woodpiles away from your house, and trimming tree limbs are common ways to keep these dangerous insects from causing damage to your home.
The Best Way To Protect Your Home From Termites
Termites can cause significant damage to your house and are hard to eliminate. Our service technicians at Pinnacle Pest Protection will inspect your home to find all termites, potential damage, and entry points. We’ll develop a treatment plan for termite removal and ensure they don’t return. Schedule a free evaluation today and learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Weatherford.