What are Termites?
Searching for Termites around your home or business could be very difficult because termites rarely emerge from soil, mud tubes, or food sources through which they are tunneling. These wood-eating animals build homes underground. Most people are not aware they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. Termites look like ants from numerous points of view, and flying ants also swarm, but the differences between flying ants and termites are:
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Ants have bent antennae while termites have straight antennae
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Both have four wings, but an ant's rear two wings are shorter while the termite's wings are the same size
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Termites have a robust, single full size body while ants have a constriction in the middle
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In order to prevent termites around your home or business, start by keeping mulch piles and woodpiles far from the building's foundation (30 feet, if possible). Don’t build wooden structures against the foundation or near a crawl space, keep firewood at least 20 feet away, and keep plant material to a minimum. Termites love mulch, fallen trees, and debris. Also, make sure there are no water leaks, moisture, or standing water around your home or business. Regularly inspect around the outside of your home or business for opportunities for termites to find a way into your home or business. We would love to talk with you more about ways you can prevent termites from invading your home or business. Contact The Xterminator at XThatBug.com
What are the signs and symptoms of a Termite infestation?
Signs of termites are not always easily visible for an untrained individual, but when you look for evidence in and around your home of termites, you can detect a potential termite problem. If you see any of the following, it’s time to contact a pest control specialist like The Xterminator at XThatBug.com, who can immediately determine the extent of the problem and provide a recommendation about the appropriate course of treatment.
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Mud tubes on the exterior of the home (used by termites to reach a food source)
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Soft wood in the home that sounds hollow when tapped
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Darkening or blistering of wood structures
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Uneven or bubbling paint
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Small piles of feces that resembles sawdust near a termite nest
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Discarded wings near doors or on windowsills indicating swarmers have entered the home
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Seeing swarmers, winged termites, on a warm day in the Spring of the year
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Termites cause billions of dollars in home and business damage each year. The professionals at The Xterminator will not only solve your termite problems but can help prevent future termite problems and damage with a regular termite control plan. Contact us at The Xterminator for your pest control solution.
