Winter should be coming to an end shortly and we are all praying for warmer weather. But with the warmer weather comes spring pests. Once the warm weather starts to stick around, several household pests will unquestionably spring into action. During this time of year, pest problems may be the furthest from your mind but there are quite a few things to be aware of. Termites, for one, can be a threat to your home that you can’t ignore. Termites can and will damage buildings of all ages. They can enter a home through openings as small as 1/64″ where they will begin to eat away at the wood structure. If an infestation is left unattended to the effects to your home can be significant, requiring expensive fixes that are not covered by insurance.
The most common type of termite found in New England is the Subterranean Termite. These termites live underground where they reproduce by the thousands. If they are present underneath your home they will tunnel through any solid wood, severely affecting the underground structure of your home. A mature colony can contain up to 5 million termite workers and go unnoticed for many years. The easiest way to spot a termite infestation is a mud tunnel between the soil and wood at the base of your home.
A termite colony consists of a few different elements that all work together and can cause major problems. A King and Queen are at the heart of every colony. The Queen’s responsibility is to reproduce, which she does by laying thousands of eggs every year. Workers keep the colony in top shape, making any necessary repairs to the tunneling as well as forage for food to bring to the rest of the colony. Swarmers are winged termites that attempt to leave and start a new colony. The last type of termites are soldiers whose prime responsibility is to defend the colony.
If you suspect that you may have a termite infestation, there are a few things that you can look for to confirm:
- Small holes in any wood in the structure
- Sagging doors or floors
- Mud tunnels between soil and base of your home
- Small wings found in any cracks
If you find any of these signs, don’t hesitate to call NW Pest. We will be happy to provide a full home inspection. If it is confirmed that you do in fact have a termite infestation. NW Pest can work with you on a plan to ensure your home will not be further damaged. Call NW Pest to schedule a home inspection today.