Termites Be Gone: Proven Techniques for Successful Termite Control In Spring
Most people around the Gulf Coast have had to deal with termites at some point, or they know someone who has. This pest thrives in warm, humid weather, and Spring, Texas, offers the perfect conditions for termites to be active year-round. Termites are bad news for any homeowner, but the good news is they are preventable pests. The more you learn about termite control, the better you’ll be able to protect your home.
Three kinds of termites infest homes in Spring: drywood, subterranean, and Formosan and each can cause considerable damage over time, although some work much faster than others. Termites live in large colonies with overlapping generations. A mature colony can contain anywhere from a couple of thousand to hundreds of thousands of workers that eat away at the wood in a house, bit by bit.
Termites can be quietly working behind the walls of a home, without the homeowner being aware of them, for years. These silent destroyers can cause extensive destruction before an untrained eye can see any obvious evidence of termite damage. The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is especially true regarding this pest.
This guide will review everything you need to know to achieve successful termite pest control in Spring. To start, we’ll explain why you aren’t very likely to see actual termites when they are active in your home and provide tips on some signs you can watch for to help identify termite activity.
Another essential aspect of termite control is understanding what factors attract termites and why they infest homes. Careful vigilance around your property can help you to notice potential termite attractants and repair or replace them before they catch the attention of these hungry pests.
Early detection of termites can help prevent severe damage from occurring, so we’ll review the signs that mean it is time to call in the pros. We’ll also provide some helpful tips to ensure you stay termite-free in the future. So come along with us, and learn how to keep your home safe from these destructive pests with the pros at Modern Pest Control.
You’re Not Likely To See A Termite: How To Identify Signs Of Activity
Termites are sneaky little insects, and it can be challenging to tell they are infesting your house until it is too late. We recommend annual termite inspections to help ensure you catch a termite problem before it becomes too severe. Learning more about their behavior and some extra vigilance can also help you spot signs of their activity.
Once termites have made their way into the structural wood of your home, you aren’t likely to see any more evidence until significant damage occurs. There are, however, a few early warning signs of termites that you can keep an eye out for, which we will briefly explain and then elaborate on below:
- Flying termites around your property
- Shed wings near windows or doors
- Termites in rotting wood or stumps in the yard
- Termite damage on exterior wooden structures
- Mud tubes on the exterior of the house
When a colony matures, it releases winged reproductive termites to start new colonies. These swarms typically occur in the spring when the weather warms, often after a rainy day. You may have heard about swarms on the news this year when people saw large numbers swarming around their yards.
If you have seen swarming termites around the yard, there is a good chance you have termites in your home or very close by. You may also notice discarded wings or dead termites near windows because light attracts these swarming insects.
Inspecting your yard for any signs of activity periodically is a good idea. If you have rotting wood or an old stump, break off a piece and check for termites that resemble white ants. Areas of your property where wood and soil meet, such as decking or children’s play sets, may also show signs of termite activity, with the wood showing carve marks that are rough to the touch.
Mud tubes are often the only exterior clue for termites inside the house. These tubes consist of digested wood and mud, and subterranean and Formosan termites use them for protection as they travel between their nest and food source (the wood in your house). These tubes are about the width of a pencil, and you might see them along the house’s foundation or exterior walls.
These signs can be tough to catch for homeowners, and people often disregard them or attribute them to other causes. Termites usually only swarm for one day in the spring and may be mistaken for flying ants, and people sometimes wrongly assume damage to the wood outside is due to weather or age.
Now that you know the early signs, it is time to review the evidence that will eventually appear in a house with termites. Because termites eat wood from the inside out, these signs can take months or even years to appear. If you notice any of the following signs of termites in your home, it is time to take action and call in the pros:
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped with the handle of a screwdriver
- Soft wood that you can easily probe with a knife
- Bubbling or uneven paint
- Darkening or blistering wood
- Small round holes in wood or drywall
- Termite frass (feces) below holes
If you notice any signs of active termites, contact us today at Modern Pest Control. Our pest management professionals can perform an inspection and develop a plan to eliminate this pest and prevent further damage.
Understanding The Termite Threat: Why Termites Infest Homes
A termite infestation in your home typically begins while they search for food and water, and if they find what they are looking for, they won’t leave anytime soon. Certain conditions around your yard and home can make it more likely termites will notice your property and start looking for a way inside. Here are some of the factors that may attract them and invite them to stay:
- Areas where wood and soil meet
- Moisture issues
- Firewood or mulch close to the house
- Standing water near the structure
- Water damaged wood
- Cracks and crevices in the structure
Drywood termites on your property, as their name suggests, infest dry hardwood, including picture frames, railings, or the dry wood in attic framings, and they live in the wood they infest, making them hard to spot. These termites can also unknowingly be brought into your home when they infest secondhand or antique furniture or picture frames.
Formosan and subterranean termites nest underground and travel to your house through their mud tubes to eat soft or water-damaged wood. These two species do the most damage, especially Formosan, known to be the most voracious termites that can cause structural damage in as little as six months.
Termites will eat anything containing cellulose, the main component of plant cell walls, including wood, paper, and cotton. These ravenous eaters work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, never resting or hibernating as they chew through the wood in your house. All while the queen termite is constantly reproducing and growing the colony.
Annual termite inspections include the added benefit of having a trained eye to notice areas that may attract these insects to your property. If you haven’t had an inspection in a while, or suspect you may have an infestation, contact us at Modern Pest Control. Our pest management professionals can help protect your property from these destructive pests.
Professional Termite Extermination: Know When To Call In The Experts
So, when is it time to call in the pros? Our answer is, at the very first signs of termites.
We would like to tell you there is a simple way to treat this pest, but unfortunately, termites are never a pest to take a DIY approach with. There are over-the-counter termiticides sold, but they will only treat the termites you can see, and as you now know, you won’t see termites once they infest the wood in your house.
These insects are challenging to eliminate, and treatment methods depend on the severity of the infestation and the species you have. Additionally, while you may only see evidence of termites in one part of the house, they can be much more spread out, including in places that are inaccessible and difficult for homeowners to inspect.
Properly treating an infestation is a complex procedure that isn’t possible without professional tools and expertise. Termite infestations can compromise the structural integrity of your home, and the longer it goes on, the more expensive the problems will be to repair. So it is best to call in the pros as soon as you notice any signs or evidence of damage.
If you see any swarming termites on your property, set up an inspection as soon as possible. These winged insects might be the only sign you will see before they enter and start eating their way through your house. Even if you aren’t sure what type of pest was flying around, with a chance of termites, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The safest way to protect your home is to work with a professional company that offers termite control near you before a problem arises. Termites are preventable pests, and the pros know how to keep them from gaining access to your house. Regular termite inspections ensure we find your infestation early before irreparable damage occurs.
Contact us at Modern Pest Control to learn more about our termite control services and how we can help keep your home safe from these pests. If you suspect you already have an infestation, not to worry, we can help with that too. Reach out today to schedule an inspection or with any questions you have.
Stay Termite-Free: Helpful Tips To Prevent Reinfestation
After eliminating your infestation, our pros can review their findings and offer suggestions specific to your property to help you avoid attracting termites again. You can also take some simple steps to help ensure they won’t return. Here are some termite prevention tips to start with:
- Use gutters and downspouts to divert water away from your home’s foundation.
- Repair any leaking faucets, pipes, or air conditioning units.
- Properly ventilate attics, basements, and crawl spaces or install a dehumidifier.
- Store firewood at least 20 feet away from the house.
- Eliminate any areas where wood and soil touch.
- Consider replacing mulch with crushed stone.
- Seal any cracks and crevices in the foundation and exterior walls of your house.
Repairing or replacing any of these factors can reduce the chances that termites will make their way into your home, but they aren’t foolproof. The climate in Spring, Texas, will always attract these pests, and even a tiny crack in the foundation can provide an entrance. The best way to prevent reinfestation is to work with the pros at Modern Pest Control to safeguard your home and property.
Whether you are dealing with a current infestation, looking to prevent reinfestation, or want to protect your property proactively, we have a solution that will work for you. One of the most efficient and simple ways to stop termites is to have us install Sentricon termite bait stations on your property.
Sentricon bait stations are a simple and effective way to get rid of termites and prevent reinfestation. This bait attracts termites on their way to your house, and they bring it back to the nest, which results in eliminating the colony, including the queen. After your termites are gone, Senticron continues monitoring for termite activity and protecting your home.
If you are ready to eliminate these pests and keep them out for good, it is time to call Modern Pest Control. Reach out today to schedule an inspection or to learn more about how our termite elimination and prevention services can safeguard your home from these destructive pests.