Yuma Pest Blog
It’s no fun living near pesky neighbors. But what if you’re living with pesky termites? Termites can cause thousands of dollars in damage to your home. Learn how to determine if you have a termite problem, and what you can do to solve it.
What Are Termites?
Before contacting a pest control company, it is important to know what kind of pest issue you have. Termites can be identified by their straight antennae, four uniform wings and box-like waists. They are typically colorless and are about one centimeter in length. Termites are always in colonies, which may contain about 3 million termites. However, there have been colonies found containing over 70 million!
Do You Have A Termite Problem?
Termites are tiny and are often hard to notice. They are constantly working to create tunnels and nests. These pests can also consume a lot of wood at once – up to two pounds a day! The more they consume, the more damage is done to your home. This is why it is important to look for signs of termites. Here are four signs of which you should be aware:
- Look for wings scattered around your property. This is a sign that you may have a colony of termites nesting under your home.
- Check for weakened or softened wood. Termites not only enjoy eating through the wood in your home, but they have to in order to survive!
- Check for cracked or chipped paint. This is another sign that termites have been tunneling underground, as structures will sag or buckle.
- Look for mud tubes and droppings. Termites always leave behind traces of mud and droppings as they are tunneling underground and into your home.
How Often Should You Inspect for Termites?
Because termites are undetectable, it may take years to actually see damage. It is wise to do a self-inspection of your home once every six months. If you detect a termite problem, you should immediately contact a professional pest control company. In order to prevent any future issues, it is highly suggested that if your home is built before 1980, it is professionally inspected once a year. Homes that are built after 1980 should be professionally inspected once every two years.
Don’t get stuck with thousands of dollars of termite damage! Contact Yuma Pest for a free estimate today.