Termites are silent, deadly pests. It's often difficult or nearly impossible to detect an infestation of termites in your home, and once you've discovered that you have them, they may have already done irreparable damage. In fact, more than five billion dollars worth of property damage can be blamed on termites in just the United States every single year.
Pest control in Greensboro is already difficult with all the pests you can see, much less the ones that you don't. That's why, if you find yourself dealing with a termite infestation, the best course of action is to call a professional pest control service like Otho's Pest Management.
It's Unlikely That You'd Actually Ever See A Termite
Unless you are looking for them, you aren't likely to find termites in your house. It is important, however, that you learn about some of the signs of termites on your property, as well as common types of termites you might deal with in the Greensboro area.
Two kinds of termites native to this area are the subterranean termite and the Formosan termite. Formosan termites are sometimes mistaken for flying ants, but looking at their waists is the best way to tell the two apart. Termites have wide waists while flying ants have thin ones. Termites also have straighter antennae than flying ants.
There are a number of common warning signs that can tip you off that one of these two types of termites are on your property. These include:
Mud tubes along your exterior walls, which termites use to travel above ground
Darkening wood or bubbling paint
Discarded wings around doors and windowsills left behind by termite swarmers
Formosan and subterranean termites can often be mistaken for each other, so proper termite identification is very important.
Why Termites Infest And Destroy Wooden Structures
So what is it that attracts termites to your home in the first place? Subterranean and Formosan termites both depend on having enough moisture to survive, and areas of your house with standing water or high moisture content are the perfect places to hide.
Once they are inside your home, these termites will consume wood at a rapid pace. A Formosan termite colony of relatively normal size can consume over an ounce of wood a day. At this pace, such a colony is capable of causing irreparable damage to important structural parts of a house in as little as six months. Expedient termite prevention and removal in Greensboro is key to dealing with the threat of these pests.
Do-It-Yourself Termite Control Is A Waste Of Time And Money
With all the problems termites can cause, it can be tempting to look to supposedly easy remedies you can do alone. Unfortunately, do-it-yourself termite control methods are generally a waste of your time and money.
Methods such as tea tree oil or other essential oils, while they may have some beneficial effect, are unlikely to get rid of a termite swarm in your house. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to prevent termites:
Seal any cracks in the exterior of your home.
Divert water away from the foundation and make sure all your gutters and downspouts work properly.
Mitigate humidity in attics, basements, and other places where termites might hide.
Store all firewood and lumber at least 20 feet away from your house, and keep the wooden portions of your home and other structures in your yard from direct contact with the ground.
Keep an eye on any vegetation growing close to your home.
While these steps may help decrease your chances of a termite infestation, they're not foolproof. Should you find yourself with a termite problem, the best thing to do is contact a professional pest control service for help.
Contact The Professionals For Quality Effective Termite Control
If you're facing a termite infestation in your Greensboro home, contact our team at Otho's Pest Management. We are a family-owned-and-operated company established in 1977. We bring over 45 years of experience and offer free estimates to our valued customers. Our pest control technicians are well-trained and provide top-notch customer service at a fair price. Contact Otho's Pest Management to resolve your termite problems and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services Greensboro.