Here in Lakewood, there’s no shortage of pests that homeowners need to worry about. However, of all those pests, not many are as destructive as Subterranean termites. Subterranean termites are a species of termite that, as their name might suggest, live underground (as opposed to drywood termites which live inside of wood). Subterranean termites are the most common termites in the country. Unfortunately, this also makes them the most destructive. That’s because termites feed on cellulose found in wood. As such, they can cause all sorts of damage and destruction to our property should they invade. Therefore, if you want to keep your Lakewood property safe from destructive subterranean termites, you need to know the effective preventative steps you can take.
What Do Subterranean Termites Look Like?
Subterranean termites are small ant-like insects that are typically pale yellow, brown, or black in color. They live in colonies that are made up of three different castes. These castes include workers, soldiers, and reproductives. Each caste has its own responsibility within the colony. Workers gather food for the colony. Soldiers protect the colony from the threats. Reproductives or winged termites set out to create new colonies at certain times of the year in a process known as a termite swarm.
As previously stated, subterranean termites live underground. From these underground nests, the workers set out to find wood for food. Although they prefer moisture-damaged or decaying wood, they can and will eat almost any wood they come into contact with. Subterranean termites rarely, if ever, expose themselves, tending to remain within their underground nests or inside of the wood that they are eating. The one exception to this is when the swarmers leave the colony to go create new ones. You are not likely to ever spot a termite in your home even if it is infested.
How Much Damage Can Termites Cause?
Since termite infestations often go unnoticed, termites can cause all sorts of property damage to a home. They can destroy structural wood, siding, decks and porches, flooring, baseboards, furniture, and wooden antiques. In the United States alone, termites are responsible for over five-billion-dollars’ worth of damage each year. It is important for you to take all the preventative measures that you can. Otherwise, you could end up paying for costly repair bills.
How Can You Keep Termites Away From Your Property?
The best methods for keeping termites away from homes include addressing moisture issues within the home and sealing off potential entry points. To best achieve these, you should:
- Remover or replace any water-damaged or decaying wood.
- Fix any leaky pipes or fixtures.
- Prevent flooding by keeping gutters free of debris and clogs.
- Use dehumidifiers to keep moisture levels low throughout your home, especially in poorly ventilated areas.
- Fill in any cracks in your home’s foundation.
- Limit wood-to-soil contact around your home by creating gravel or cement barriers between the soil and any wooden structures such as deck posts or siding.
- Keep woodpiles away from your home’s exterior.
What Is The Most Effective Form Of Termite Protection?
Being proactive about termite prevention is key to keeping your property safe from these destructive pests. Therefore, while you should take every preventative measure that you can, you should also consider ongoing termite treatments from the professionals here at Bugaboo Pest Control. Nothing keeps your home safe quite like professional assistance which is why we here at Bugaboo Pest Control offer quality pest control that you can trust. Furthermore, if your home is already infested with termites, our certified technicians are fully equipped to effectively eliminate them before they can cause any more damage. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Give us a call today.
