Termites gain access to your house through tiny gaps in the foundation, even if your house is made of concrete brick or blocks so even if you don’t think they can get into your house, you should get an inspection for termites every now and then. They thrive on cellulose, fibrous material found in plants and wood.
External manifestations are evidence of the damage on the inside. Detroit pest control strategies consider factors such as the species of the termites, their location, and the environment to prevent further loss from the termite activities. If you detect signs of termite infestation early enough, you can save your home from further damage.
As moisture-filled areas can be the perfect breeding ground for termites, it would be a smart move to ensure that there is no excess moisture in parts of your house. For this, consider getting your drains and gutters unclogged, which can help easy movement of water and thus prevent it from seeping into the walls or basement of the house. People who are adept at handling gutter cleaning and clogging issues, like those at Clean Pro Gutter Cleaning Detroit, can help out in this regard.
Signs of Termite Activity in your Home
- Wood flooring with blisters- The floor may appear water damaged because it’s peeling, uneven or swollen. Termites hide in moist areas where they build their nest. This moisture is then absorbed by the wood, causing it to swell.
- Termites’ discarded wings- When termites leave their nest to mate, they search new spots to build a colony, which is typically your house. During this process, they shed their wings because they do not need them any longer. Should you find discarded termites around your door, window, or wings trapped on spider webs, be warned- this is evidence of what is going on inside the house.
- Mud tunnels- Termites use fine soil, wood particles, and debris to make the foraging tubes. The mud tunnel protects them against predators and conserves the moisture within.
- Termite Fecal droppings- Dry wood termites live inside the wood. As such, the furniture in your home could be a termite nest. As termites eat through food material, they leave behind galleries that must always be kept clean. So, they throw out the grass leaving behind holes. And because they feed on wood, their fecal droppings are drop pellets.
How to tell winged-flying termites from winged-flying ants
These two insects swarm at the same time of the year, making it hard for many people to tell them apart.
Flying ants, also called carpenter ants have an elbowed antenna, a pinched or constricted waist that clearly shows the different body segments. The front wings are longer than hind wings. Their wings’ length is almost equal to the body length.
On the other hand, the flying termites have a straight antenna, a thick, broad waist that makes it hard to differentiate body segments. Their forewings and hind wings are the same sizes. Their wings are almost double body length.
Most effective treatment
Termite can be treated either with baits, liquids, or using things like terminix ga. The liquid treatment provides a long-lasting barrier that prevents termites from infesting the building. Those that have attacked the house also die because they can no longer go for more moisture.
The bait consists of cellulose-based pellets that are mixed with a lethal substance that acts slowly. The baits are placed in strategic places such as a mud tube. As termites feed on the bait, they transport the bait to their nest mates in the colony. Soon, they start dying. Gradually, they decrease in number.
