Termites cause about $5 billion per year in damages to homes and businesses throughout North America. Many homeowners may be surprised that their homeowners' insurance does not cover termite damage. The best way to get rid of termites and prevent termite damage is through a proactive termite protection program such as protection by My Pest Pros using a Sentricon termite system. Read more about what do termites look like and the signs that you have a termite infestation.
What Do Termites Look Like?
Termites are small, soft-bodied insects that can be brown, black, or white in color. They are about the size of a pencil eraser and have a flattened body. Termite workers, the ones who do the damage, have no wings and are not very good flyers. They rely on their antennae to sense their environment and communicate with other termites. Termite swarmers do have wings and are often seen on warm days in the late spring and summer.
Termites are social insects, living in colonies that may be located underground or above ground. The type of termites in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. are subterranean, meaning they live in the ground.
A termite colony is mostly focused on survival for the first few years. So if you are seeing termite swarmers, that means the colony is at least five years old. At this point, the colony is large enough to focus on growth and the reproductive alates will swarm to form new colonies. Swarming termites is one of the most common signs a homeowner will see that they have a termite problem in or around their home.
A termite colony can range from 500 to as many as 20,000 workers and contain three caste types: reproductive (alates), workers, and soldiers. Termites are most active during the warmer months of the year, but they can be active in winter if the temperatures are mild.
Are Termites Dangerous?
Termites are not dangerous to people, but they can do a lot of damage to your home. Termites eat wood and other cellulose-containing materials such as paper and cardboard. If you have termites in your home, they can quickly destroy the wooden framing, flooring, walls, and ceilings. Many homeowners think their brick homes are safe from termites, but all homes have wood framing, flooring, drywall, and other materials that are attractive to termites.
What Are The Signs of a Termite Infestation?
The most common signs of a termite infestation are the presence of swarmers, mud tubes on the outside of your home, and damage to wood. If you see any of these signs, it is important to call a professional pest control company like My Pest Pros right away.
How Do I Get Rid of Termites?
The best way to get rid of termites is through a proactive termite protection program such as the Sentricon system from My Pest Pros. Our Sentricon system protects your home by using bait stations a cellulose treated material that termites prefer over wood. Termites love Sentricon, but when termites eat the bait, they spread it to the rest of the colony. The product slowly kills off colonies over a period of time, so there is no need to worry about your home being treated with harsh chemicals during treatment.
Are you concerned about termites? My Pest Pros can help protect your home and family against termites and other general pests. Call us today at 703-665-4455 or visit us online to learn more about termite protection.