Imagine that you have a contractor that is available to work on your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; just think of how much could get done around your home! Now, imagine that the contractor is actually a colony of termites. If you are thinking, “What a nightmare that would be,” you are right! Termites are pests who are actively foraging year-round working 24 hours a day, every day, remodeling (damaging) your Louisville home to suit their needs, not yours. Termites are a damaging pest that require year-round pest control services to get rid of them and to keep them from coming back!
Termites live in large colonies and have members divided into different castes to make their colony run as efficiently as possible. Termites are rarely seen out and about, but the ability to identify each member of the colony is important in order to understand these dangerous and damaging pests.
Workers
Workers are the most plentiful members of the colony but are rarely seen. They are blind, wingless, soft-bodied and cream in color. Their job is to basically take care of the colonies’ needs. They build and maintain the nest and tunnels, forage for food (cellulose), and help take care of other colony members.
Soldiers
Soldiers look very similar to workers, except they have elongated heads and strong jaws that they use to defend their colony against perceived threats.
Queen And King
There is usually one termite queen and termite king per colony. Their sole purpose is to reproduce. The queen can live up to 30 years and is capable of laying thousands of eggs each year. That's a lot of termites!
Winged Reproductives
These members are the most likely to be seen by homeowners; reproductives are winged and will swarm from the colony, lose their wings (which can typically be found in piles under windows and doors), mate, and find a location to start a new colony.
Despite the members of the colony being difficult to spot, they do leave behind some signs that can indicate a termite infestation. They will create mud tubes that are about the width of a pencil to travel from their nest to their food source. You may notice paint on your walls becoming blistered or splintered, walls that sound “hollow” when you tap on them, sagging door frames and ceilings, and of course you may witness a termite swarm. Any of these signs are a huge indicator that termites are in or near your home.
Now that you know a bit more about who is infesting your home and the signs of their presence, how do you get rid of these persistent year-round pests? The best way is with help from a professional pest management provider! The only way to completely and safely get rid of termites from your home or property is with the expertise of a trained termite exterminator.
At Action Pest Control our highly trained termite exterminators will get rid of termites with our Five-Step Termite Control System. This treatment system includes a comprehensive inspection, and, if necessary, treatment with Termidor®, a safe and effective product that works through both contact and ingestion. Our technicians will then follow-up with a 3 month termite elimination inspection and annual termite inspections to make sure that your property stays termite free. Our termite control services also include our money back guarantee and damage warranty!
For more information about termites in Louisville, KY, New Albany, IN, and surrounding areas, contact Action Pest Control to learn about our exceptional termite control services, Call us today!