Termites sting and are annoying. On top of this, these pests can damage your house. While termites fill their bellies, you may need to empty your wallet to fix the damage. Identifying and eliminating termites is important to keep them out of your home. Also, this prevents you from spending money on repairs or replacements. Many Clermont Pest Control experts can identify the kind of termites that are invading your home and know where they can be found.
Identifying Termites
Termites are destructive pests that feed mainly on decaying wood. They can cause significant damage to your house without being noticed. This makes it important to know the various kinds of termites in the city and how to eliminate them. Each of the following species has unique behaviors and biology. But treatments for these species are the same.
- Subterranean termite. The workers of these species are cream-colored and wingless. But their swarmers are black and have white wings. They are commonly found in warm areas.
- Drywood termites. These browner termites have two sets of wings they often shed. They are usually found in warmer locations.
- Dampwood termites. These termites are bigger than dampwood and subterranean termites. They can be brown, light brown, or red.
Signs of Termite Damage
Since most termites are hidden in walls, finding termite damage can be hard. Termites usually damage houses underground. Thus, the rot they cause may not be noticed until it is costly. Below are signs of damage that termites leave behind:
- Mud tubes. These tubes are often found in the foundation of a house. They are built to allow termites to travel through.
- Mud spots and peeling paint. If termites have compromised the wooden structures of a surface or wall, the paint on it can start to peel. Also, it can have mud spots.
- Wood holes. If wood sounds hollow when you knock on it, termites might have consumed its cellulose.
Common Treatments for Termites
Pest control experts have different treatments for termites. The treatment they can use for your specific issue depends on how serious it is.
- Liquid termiticides. Traditionally, termites are handled using liquid pesticides. These products are applied under or around your house. They offer lasting chemical barriers around your home. But you need gallons of these products. Also, the treatment requires drilling and injecting them through patios, adjacent concentrate, and porches.
- Bait termiticides. This treatment involves using material that termites eat. Once termites ingest the bait and take it back to their colony, they spread the poison. Typically, baits are placed below ground around your home’s perimeter. As termites tunnel through the bait, they leave behind a scent that attracts more of their peers to the bait. However, it can take months before termites can find the bait. Also, baiting can be more expensive. It may require several visits to monitor termite activity and replenish bait stations.
- Heat treatment. This is an expert-recommended termite treatment. It involves heating the wood in a structure with heaters. During the treatment, temperatures can spike up to 120 degrees F and stick to it for a minimum of 33 minutes. Eventually, the heat will kill the termites.
- Fumigation. This treatment is recommended for extreme termite infestations.