We all need a vacation every once in a while. They may be few and far between, but we need a break now and again. Wouldn’t it be nice if the insect world was the same way? There are indeed plenty of bugs that are seasonal and take the winter off, but not all of them do. Unfortunately, those that work year-round are often the most destructive. Termites cause over $5 billion in damage to homes in the United States every single year. Termites are so damaging, in part, because they don’t take a break. Instead, they wreak havoc in every season.
Spring Termite Activity
Spring is typically when termite swarms appear. A termite swarm occurs when the reproductive members of a colony come above ground to find a mate and start a new colony. The reproductive termites have wings that drop off once they’ve found a mate. If you find a bunch of discarded wings in or near your home, you have reason to worry. It means that there is a termite colony somewhere nearby, possibly already in your home, and your house is in danger.
Summer Termite Activity
Termites are active indoors and outdoors during the summer months. They need moisture to survive, so you won’t likely see them above ground. Instead, you might notice mud tubes along the side of your house. Termites build these tubes to travel from place to place when they can’t do so underground. Mud tubes protect them from the heat and from drying out. If you see mud tubes near your home, you may have termites inside.
Fall Termite Activity
Termites remain active through fall just as they do in summer. They are attracted to homes with water-damaged wood. They feed on dry wood, too, so a termite infestation is still possible in your home even if it has no rotten wood.
Winter Termite Activity
Termites that live outdoors settle deep underground in the winter months. Although they don’t hibernate, their activity decreases greatly when it’s cold. If your home is currently termite-free, it’s very unlikely that they will enter your house during this season. However, if they’re already in your house, they can and do work every single day, all year long. Your home’s temperature-controlled climate provides the perfect environment in which termites thrive.
Eventually, what begins as a small termite problem grows into a large one. As the termite population increases and satellite colonies are formed, more damage is done. With thousands of termites working day and night, you can imagine the kind of damage they do to your home.
How To Prevent Termites
Because termites are active all year long, it is important to take preventative action against them all year long, too. Aiken Pest Control offers termite control with year-round monitoring and elimination through the use of the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This system uses baiting stations to eliminate colonies and it works constantly to detect and eliminate future termite threats.
Don’t allow termites to feast on your home this winter. Send them on a permanent vacation with the help of Aiken Pest Control!