If ever there were a pest whose reputation precedes it, it’s the termite. After all, termites cause nearly five billion dollars’ worth of damage per year in the United States. With numbers like that, there’s no wonder why Terre Haute property owners want to know everything they can about these destructive pests. If you want to protect your Terre Haute property from termites, you need to know some preventative measures as well as the surefire solutions that you can count on to keep your home safe from these wood-eating pests.
What Are Subterranean Termites?
Subterranean termites are termites that, as their name might suggest, live underground. This as opposed to the drywood termites that live within wood. Subterranean termites are small ant-like insects that are typically yellow, brown, or black in color. They feed on the organic material that makes up wood. Although they will eat almost any wood, they prefer water-damaged or decaying wood as it is easier for them to eat. These termites can often be found around fallen trees.
Subterranean termites live in colonies that are made up of three separate castes. These are workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The workers gather food for the colony while the soldiers protect it. The reproductives, which include the queen, are winged termites that are tasked with setting out to create new colonies at certain times of the year. This process is what’s known as a termite swarm.
Why Are Subterranean Termites So Destructive?
One of the biggest reasons that termites in Terre Haute are so destructive is that many people do not know their home is infested until it’s too late. That’s because subterranean termites rarely make their presence known as they travel straight from the soil where they live to the wood that they are eating. In fact, unless there is a termite swarm, you will most likely never spot an actual termite in your home. Additionally, once they get inside, there’s an abundance of wood for them to eat. Unfortunately for you, that means an abundance of costly damage. Subterranean termites can eat structural wood, flooring, siding, decks, and even furniture. It is important to be proactive in preventing termites before they ever get to the inside.
Subterranean Termite Prevention Tips
Given that subterranean termites like to travel from the earth to the wood that they eat, limiting wood-to-soil contact goes a long way in keeping them out of your home. With that in mind, some preventative subterranean termite measures you ought to be taking include:
- Replacing or removing any water-damaged or rotting wood inside of your home
- Using dehumidifiers to address any moisture issues in your home
- Fixing any leaky pipes that could lead to wood damage
- Keeping gutters free of debris to prevent flooding
- Filling in any cracks in your home’s foundation
- Placing a gravel or cement barrier between the soil and any wood around your home, such as deck posts or siding
How To Protect Your Property From Subterranean Termites?
While you can and should take the preventative measures at your disposal, the best method for termite control is partnering with the professionals here at Action Pest Control. Here at Action Pest Control, we offer a five-step termite control system that you can count on to keep your property safe from these destructive pests. This includes a comprehensive inspection of the property, termite treatment with Termidor, a three-month termite elimination inspection, an annual termite inspection, and a money-back guarantee and damage warranty. Better yet, for qualifying structures, Action Pest Control can even provide a lifetime warranty. So, don’t let termites destroy your home. Call Action Pest Control today!