Every area has its own special pests. Here in New England, we have a special kind of termite called the Eastern Subterranean Termite. This is the most common variety of termite responsible for eating and damaging our homes, buildings and property here in our area.
Termite Prevention 101
In order to protect your home or business from termites, you need to understand a few things about this pesky New England pest. For example, termites create new colonies by swarming, which means that some of the insects from one colony grow wings and “swarm” to areas close by. If a flying termite is found in the home, a new termite infestation is at the beginning stages. Dead termites often found in windowsills can also be an indicator. Swarming termites lose their wings after finding a new residence, so wings and wing parts may be seen if no live insects are found.
Additionally, these common termites swarm in the spring. Termite swarmers are often mistaken for swarming ants. Termites live socially and dwell in colonies below the ground. Their colonies can be numerous (up to thousands to hundreds of thousands). The average colony has around 60,000 and can eat up to 1/5 ounce of wood each day. Colonies can and frequently do infest multiple wood structures. At that rate, it would take about three months to consume a 2 x 4 piece of wood. It may sound insignificant, but remember that some colonies are larger!
Termite Control 101
If left untreated, termites can literally eat up the equity in your home. According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damages each year, which is even more than fire and flooding combined. Termites destruction knows no bounds because any home can be vulnerable regardless of its construction type.
Another concerning thing is that many homeowners’ insurance plans won’t cover the damage. Not having termite protection can lead to problems when selling a home, since many lending institutions require a termite bond before lending money to home buyers.
Finally, it is important to remember that termites are destructive to anything wood. As a result, any termite infestation can become severe when left untreated. So, if you are seeing termites, or any signs of damage, you need to call a termite control professional. Call us 24/7 toll free at 1-866-802-7378 (7378). We’re family owned and operated and are here to help!
