There does, however, come a time when things should be believed, even if you cannot visually prove it for yourself. Termite infestations are one of those times; the chances of your home being destroyed by these pests are considerably higher than your odds of you seeing one crawling around your home. If you don’t believe us, here are a few things you should know about these destructive pests and identifying their presence around your Opelika property.
What Are Termites
Many different species of termites live around the globe, but here in Opelika, one is much more common than the rest; the subterranean termite. To avoid confusion, whenever we mention termites today, know we are referring to this specific species.
Termites in our area build large nests underground and use intricate tunnels to get around. More specifically, worker termites use these tunnels to travel safely between a source of wood and their colony. With no need to sleep and an almost infinite need for wood, workers gather and ferret food constantly. This gives king and queen termites the sustenance needed to reproduce and care for their loyal subjects. To keep their colonies safe from other tunneling bugs, reproductive termites produce soldiers. These slightly larger termites guard their colony against foreign threats.
Mud Tubes: The First Sign of Termites
When termites invade a home, they look for the path of least resistance to get into structural wood. If your home has wood that directly touches exterior soil, termites will have no trouble getting inside. It is only when a sturdy barrier of stone, concrete, or other non-wood material lies between termites and the wood they want to gather that these pests have to put in some effort. Even then, termites can create mud tubes to cross this gap. These tubes protect termites from drying out and gives them a safe way to travel up and down to gather wood.
Swarmers: Not Always a Bad Sign
Fully mature colonies produce termite swarmers once a year. These winged reproductive termites are given the job of leaving their nest and establishing a new colony nearby. Here are the two most important things you should know about swarmers.
If you find swarmers congregating around your home, it means your home is under inspection. If these pests find gatherable wood (wood that is softened by water-damage, rot, or decay), they will likely establish a colony nearby.
If you find dozens of swarmers inside your home, and you don’t have a habit of leaving doors and windows open, it most likely means your home is currently under attack. Why? Because without a direct way inside, the only way swarmers can get into your home is through tunnels made by other termites through structural wood.
Structural Damage: Always a Bad Sign
The most noticeable signs termites leave around homes come years after they infest a property. Here are a few more serious signs that termites cause over a considerable amount of time:
- Sagging drywall
- Bubbling wallpaper/paint
- Tight-fitting doors and windows
- Overly squeaky floorboards
- A soft clicking sound that is audible when your ear is pressed to a wooden surface
- Pin-sized entry and exit holes inside structural wood
When To Get A Professional Involved
Termites are not a pest you have to see to believe. Each year these destructive insects cost Americans over five billion dollars. To make sure your Opelika property isn’t harmed by termites, invest in ongoing termite treatments courtesy of Prewett Pest Control today. Using advanced treatments and termite monitoring systems, we will make sure these pests stay away year-round.
Contact us today to learn more and schedule your property for a service visit.