Description:
When it comes to termites, the first thing that comes to mind is damage. Did you know that in the United States, termites cause an estimated 30 billion dollars in damages each year? If your home gets infested, you will be spending an average of $3,000 in repairs. There are about 45 different species of termite in America. Some, like drywood termites are tiny, others are larger. There are some termites, like the subterranean termite that is responsible for the majority of the damage to homes and buildings. Sometimes people confuse termites with ants. Most termites have a white body with a darker colored head. Unfortunately, you will rarely see a termite; the best way to identify them is through their signs of destruction.
Biology:
Termites eat wood. They are able to digest cellulose because of specialized microorganisms that live inside of their gut. Away from your home and out in nature, termites are very beneficial. They are one of the few species that is able to break down wood to help it decompose. They lose their beneficial status when they invade a home. There are a lot of things in your home made of wood, and termites are capable of eating all of it.
Drywood termites are small and cause damage over a long period of time. Their colony can reach 4,500 individual termites. Subterranean termites cause a lot more damage in a short period of time. Their colonies can house 1 million termites. Formosan termites, another species of subterranean termite, can have a colony size of 2 million. With all of those mouths to feed, it is easy to understand why they are so destructive. If you have an infestation of termites, they are chewing away at the wood in your home 24 hours a day, every day of the week.
Habitat:
Subterranean termites live in the soil. One of their identifying characteristics is their mud tubes. Subterranean termite bodies are susceptible to drying out. In order to protect themselves from the wind and the sun, they build special mud tubes. These mud tubes are built to make a pathway from the soil to the food source. Sometimes the problem goes unnoticed, because the termites build their mud tubes along the foundation in your crawl space. Drywood termites spent their time inside of the wood. You usually get drywood termites in your from furniture brought inside. One of the biggest culprits is antique furniture.
If you have termites infesting your home, don’t wait, every moment the termites are causing more structural damage to your home. In order to get the termite protection your home needs, call Pointe Pest Control. When it comes to termite eradication, we are your professional answer to any infestation. If your home doesn’t have termites and you want to keep it that way, our technicians can you protect your home.