How do you fight back against an enemy you cannot see? Termite season is right around the corner here in Fort Bragg and homeowners are scrambling to defend their homes before they arrive. You may be here today for that reason. We have for you today everything you need to know to fight back against elusive and seemingly invisible termite invaders. Here is what you need to know!
What Are Termite Swarmers?
Termites are strictly underground pests, right? Wrong. As termite season picks up here in Fort Bragg, you might start to notice termites flying around. These called termite swarmers. Each year, swarmers are produced from fully mature termite colonies and given the task of establishing new nests. What are termite swarmers? They are winged reproductive termites, A.K.A. the kings and queens of new termite colonies.
If you are seeing these winged termite royalties around your home, we have some bad news for you. If found outside, swarmers are a clear indication of a termite nest nearby. This doesn’t mean your home has an infestation, but it does mean it could have one soon. Seeing termite swarmers inside your home, however, is a good indication of a preexisting infestation, as nine times out of ten, swarmers get into homes through holes created by other termites. Most often the first sign you will notice with a termite infestation will be seeing swarmers inside your home.
Detailed Prevention Tips For Termites
There are a number of ways to make your home less accessible and attractive to hungry termites. Here is what we recommend:
Clean up leaf piles, sticks, and any other wood-based items. One easy way to attract termites is with wet cardboard, make sure not to let this happen on your property.
Trim back bushes and tree branches away from your home’s exterior. This allows sunlight to keep the exterior of your home dry, and the dryer your home’s wood, the less attractive it will be to termites.
If you use firewood in the wintertime, make sure to store it at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior foundation and do your best to keep it dry.
Avoid using wood-based mulches near your home’s exterior, as it can quickly lure in any termites in the area.
Check the condition of your home’s wood for rot, water damage, or decay. Have any affected wood repaired, replaced, and retreated.
If your home’s interior is too humid, consider using dehumidifiers to keep things dry.
Fix leaky piping and plumbing inside your home and eliminate sources of water build-up.
Inspect your gutters and make sure they are able to properly channel water away from your home’s exterior.
Keep in mind that these prevention tips will not remove existing termites from your home, but will just reduce your home’s chances of having trouble with termites in the future. If your home already has termites, your best option is to get the professionals here at Mendo Lake Termite Control involved. We have detailed and effective solutions not only to remove termites from properties but also to keep them termite-free year-round. To treat termites on your property, we will use a long-lasting liquid termiticide to create a barrier of defense around your home and fumigation if an existing infestation is large enough to need it.
With over 35 years of experience dealing with termites, you will find no-one better for the job. Give us a call today to schedule an inspection or termite control treatments for your Fort Bragg home. We can help you win your war against termites!