What are subterranean termites?
Subterranean termites are the most damaging termite species in the US, causing billions of dollars in damage each year. This is because they build their colonies underground, which allows them to deploy many more workers to a piece of wood that they are consuming. They are also very stealthy, and they often go undetected until a lot of damage has been caused to the home.
How do you identify a subterranean termite infestation?
It can be hard to tell when a piece of wood has been infested. Termites will avoid the edges of the wood, and stick to the core, so until a lot of damage has been caused, the wood will not show any outward signs. However, there are a few other symptoms that you can keep an eye out for. One of them is the mud tube. Because termites die when they come into contact with the open air, they need to use mud tubes to travel above ground. These mud tubes will be built on the foundation of the home, or over any material that is in contact with the ground and a piece of wood. The second symptom to look for is the presence of swarmers indoors. Swarmers are flying termites that are used to start new colonies. If the swarmers are indoors, odds are that they originated from a colony inside the home.
Can subterranean termite infestations be prevented?
There are few conventional methods that can be used to prevent subterranean termite infestations. To start, it’s important to make sure that there are no moisture or humidity issues in the home. High humidity levels will affect wood, making it softer and more appealing to termites. Infestations may also reach the home after termites have infested wood somewhere on the property. The termites will be heavily drawn to fire wood that is unprotected from the weather, and mulch, so these need to be placed far enough away from the home.
You also have professional prevention methods such as chemical barriers, physical barriers and baiting systems. Conveniently, these are also the methods used to remove an infestation, so if you need to install them to deal with an infestation, your home will also be protected from future infestations.
How are subterranean termite infestations removed?
If you have a subterranean termite infestation, you will need the help of a pro to get rid of it, because the treatments can be difficult to install, and the process may require specialized tools. The methods used will include the chemical barriers and baiting systems mentioned previously.
If you have any other questions regarding this termite species, or if you suspect that you have an infestation in your home, contact us today and we will help you out.
