Each year, termites cause more than a billion dollars of estimated damage in the United States. This is greater than fire, flood, and other natural disasters combined. Unfortunately, however, many homeowners believe misconceptions about what termites are, how they work, and how best to treat them. Below are a few common termite myths, as well as the facts that demystify them.
Myth: Deforestation destroys termite colonies.
Fact: Termites move on to other food sources when they are displaced from their home. They will seek out healthier areas, which may mean nearby homes. If you are moving into a new house where land was recently cleared, professionals recommend a termite inspection because of the probability of termites. Once the initial assessment has been conducted, yearly follow-up inspections are advised.
Myth: Fumigation on the ground and any other surfaces outside your home can kill termites.
Fact: Termites live in huge colonies. The only way you can eliminate termite infestation is by killing the settlement and, most importantly, the queen, who is the sole breeder. Therefore, you have to target the entire colony to eradicate your termite problem.
Myth: They are Solitary Creatures
Fact: The subterranean termites live in colonies whose numbers range from 60,000 to 1 million members. Drywood termites, another species living here, favor smaller groups that rarely exceed 4,800
Myth: My home was treated for termites before construction, so I don’t need to worry about them.
Fact: Termite treatments won’t last for 20 years. Some termite treatments have a one-year warranty with options to extend. However, environmental factors, products used around the house, and the quality of work performed all influence the length of time the treatment is effective.
Myth: Termites won’t Infest Homes That Have Wooded Areas Around Them
Fact: Termites are always looking for new food sources. Even though wooded areas can surround your home, termites could still infest your home. Most homes contain a large amount of wood and provide an almost unending supply of food for termite colonies to grow and thrive.
Myth: Termites can eat through concrete.
Fact: Termites are strong creatures but not strong enough to eat through concrete. However, concrete often is not a sufficient barrier to prevent termites from reaching the wooden parts of a house.
Close up of Termites
All poured concrete foundations contain small holes and cracks, which termites squeeze themselves through. In addition, once they discover a food source, termites will build mud tunnels to protect worker termites as they travel back and forth from the food source to the colony. So, even if you have a concrete foundation, it’s important to get regular termite inspections to ensure no termites have made their way through.
Myth: If a house has been treated for termites once, you don’t have to worry about them ever again.
Fact: Termite inspections play a crucial role in keeping your house maintained. Once an initial inspection has been done, make sure to schedule regular inspections to catch any termite activity early to provide treatment beforehand. It is recommended that a termite inspection be performed once a year to be most effective.
Myth: My neighbor had a termite treatment, so their termites got pushed to my house.
Fact: Termite colonies are large. Several houses in an area can share one termite colony. Treating one place for termites can make them more active in another, already infested home, but it will not drive them to another house. If a house has a chemical barrier in place, the termites will not cross it.
Myth: Termites Have a Short Life Cycle
Fact: The termite life cycle varies based on the types of conditions and environment. On average, termite soldiers and workers can live for up two years. While this might not seem that long, the thing to remember is the queen can live for several decades. During this time, she is constantly laying new eggs and increasing the size of the colony.
Common Termites in Florida
Florida is home to three main types of termites:
Termites at a small hole in the timber of an old damaged wood table. Larger-than-life reproduction ratio( about twice life-size). Termites are insects in the order Isoptera.
- Subterranean termite
- Dampwood termite
- Drywood termite.
The Drywood Termite
Drywood Termites are found in the southern coastal areas. They are plentiful in a strip along the United States’ southern border, ranging from California to Florida. Drywood termites have different behaviors and tendencies compared to Subterranean Termites, and therefore, they need a different treatment approach when it comes to eliminating them from your home.
How to Identify Drywood Termite Infestation
Several ways to identify dry wood termite infestations include;
- They are visible. These are the warmers that fly about in the house.
- They make random clicking noises.
- Evidence of wood-colored dropping or pellets, especially caused by frass dry wood termites.
- Hollow or Weak Timber, e.g., on furniture and infested wood.
There seems be several ways for you to find out it is termite in your house. One of them is frass – termite droppings.
How To Get Rid of Drywood Termites and General Pest Control
Treatment for control of drywood termites consists of structural fumigation or localized or spot wood treatment. The localized or spot wood treatment method should only be used in the case of limited infestations.
Man who destroys harmful things in an abandoned building
Myth: DIY termite treatments replace professional extermination
Fact: Do-it-yourself termite treatments will not produce the results you desire. DIY methods seem the most affordable and simple way to eradicate termites but will ultimately lead to growth. The chemicals that homeowners have access to aren’t strong enough to perform termite eradication. Even if a homeowner accesses the right chemicals, only a professional possesses the knowledge and expertise to target infested areas effectively. Attempting to treat termites yourself may put yourself and your family in danger.
Biotherm Green Solutions serves Orlando, Tampa, and most of Florida. Our technicians have the tools and experience to exterminate dry wood termite infestations in all stages of life.
We approach each client individually by selecting the best treatment plan. We guide you on how to prevent future infestations best.
If you suspect you have a pest problem, contact us for a free inspection. Our trained technicians will evaluate your home for signs of termites and provide a termite control plan if necessary.