With Spring just around the corner, we can expect to begin seeing pests as well. And among them, termites. While we see many different types of pests, termites may perhaps be the ones that tend to cause the most damage to both your home and property. In this article, we are going to review some little known facts about termites so that you are better armed when dealing with these destructive little pests.
Termites Are Social Insects
Much like ants, the termites we see have developed a full society consisting of workers, soldiers and those who reproduce to grow the colony. All of the termites, save the ones who reproduce, are blind. Because of this blindness, termites have developed a communication system via pheromones that are transferred via their waste, which their fellow termites eat to not only gather information but culture bacteria in their digestive tracks.
The termite’s second form of communication involves a sort of headbang that causes vibrations for the rest to feel.
They Only Need A Pennies Width To Get In
These two communication methods allow termites to communicate important information. Such as where to find the smallest of cracks to invade your home. Termites only need the width of a penny to get in. Making it near impossible to keep them out, however with due diligence and routine
Ants are the main predators of termites
You can rest assured that if there is an active colony of ants nearby, there likely won’t be a colony of termites. Sometimes ants will even organize a mass invasion of a termite colony! Of course, ants carry their own array of concerns with them, especially carpenter ants, which will also eat away at the wood and the foundation of your home.
Termites never sleep
Termites are always eating, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Honestly, you have to admire their work ethic. But that also means that your termite pest control efforts need to be concentrated and effective in order to eliminate the threat to your home.
Springtime is the ideal season for termite colonies to fester. The warm temperatures and the rain that comes with the spring season make for an ideal breeding environment for termites. Damp wood will have termites flocking to your property, so be wary of those April showers!
Ultimately, the most effective way to exterminate a termite colony is to hire an exterminator. Spot treatments may be effective for managing a colony until a professional can assess the damage, but given the invasive nature of termites, the only true way to guarantee their extinction is to call the pros.
