Termites Be Gone: Proven Techniques for Successful Termite Control In Terre Haute

Do you have questions about termites in Terre Haute? Do you wonder how they enter your yard, how they get into your home, and how to stop them? We have good news. We're going to break down termite control into an easy-to-understand format. We'll look at why it's hard to see termites and what you need to know to catch these little pests red-handed. We'll explain how termites sneak into your yard and why they start nibbling on the wood of your home. Most of all, we'll tell you how to effectively arrest termite activity. But we're not going to stop there. We're also going to look at termite prevention. The tips below can help prevent reinfestation or prevent an infestation before it starts. Are you ready to learn everything you need to know about termite pest control in Terre Haute? Great. Let's get started!

You're Not Likely To See A Termite: How To Identify Signs Of Activity

Let's start by considering the problem. Why are termites in Terre Haute so hard to detect? There are a few simple factors to consider. They have to do with termite identification, termite behavior patterns, and a misunderstanding of how difficult warning signs are to catch. 

Why It Is Hard To Identify A Termite: You may not realize it when you uncover termites on your property. One big reason is that termites are smaller than you may realize. If you see a termite swarmer (a termite with wings), you may think it's just one of many flying insects that land on you when you are in your yard. Even if you know that swarmers are black with white wings that are rounded at the tips, you may brush it away without considering these visual characteristics because of their meager size. A swarmer is only about ? of an inch long—that's with the wing length included. Worker termites are small too. A worker termite is only about ? of an inch. If you pick up a stick, you may not even see the tiny worker termites underneath it. If you do see them, you may think they're some other kind of bugs, like fat ants or maggots.

Why It Is Hard To See Termite Warning Signs: There is one behavior pattern that causes termites to stay hidden, and that will also cause them to leave warning signs in hidden places. Worker termites avoid the light. Their dislike for the light causes them to stay hidden underground or within the food source they're consuming. If they come out into the open, it is only in areas that are shielded from the sun and moon. For this reason, they'll create warning signs that are just out of view.

Why It Is Easy To Miss Swarmers: A helpful warning sign is the appearance of winged termites on your property. These termites, called swarmers, are quite noticeable when grouped together because they have white wings that are strongly contrasted against their black bodies. But termites don't swarm for long. They quickly mate and tunnel into the ground to establish their nests. The whole process will usually take less than an hour. So, if you take in an afternoon matinee, a swarm can appear and disappear while you're away from home.

When you go looking for termites in your yard, you need to look closely to identify workers and swarmers. You need to look in the hidden places where warning signs may appear. You need to look for the warning sign left behind by swarmers rather than the swarmers themselves, namely the wings they shed during the mating process. You'll have to dig into the ground or cut into stumps, logs, or dying trees. As for a termite-infested tree, you may consider the symptoms. Frequently shed branches and unhealthy bark are indicators that the tree is under attack. If termites are to blame, you may find termite workers on the dead branches when you pick them up.