One of the most destructive insects out there are termites and this has made termite control a necessary and major part of protecting your home or other structures. You probably did not realize it, but there are many different types of termites. In fact, there are approximately 45 different types of termites in the U.S. alone. These pests have extremely voracious appetites and once they make a home in or around your home, they are very difficult to get rid of.
Some of the most common types of termites are Subterranean, Formosan, Drywood, and Dampwood. Although, these insects are very small and alone do not look like much of a threat, they organize into colonies that number anywhere from 60 thousand to 1 million. In addition, it does not take long for a large colony to materialize. A queen can lay thousands of eggs each year producing a mature colony within 3 to 5 years. One of the biggest issues that homeowners face is even knowing they have a problem and need termite control. These pests with their big appetites for the wood in your home are quiet and typically you won’t realize you have a problem until you have a mature colony and begin to notice signs of the termite invasion.
Some of the things you might look for that tell you there is a serious termite issue are crumbling wood, sagging drywall, a hollow sound when knocking or tapping on wood, mud tubes that are climbing up the foundation of your home, and tiny pin-sized holes in your drywall. If you notice any of these signs, it is probably time to have an inspection by a reputable termite control company, like this termite control Orange County option.
One of the first things a termite control company will try to identify is what type of infestation you have. For example, one of the most destructive species is the Subterranean termite that live typically in the ground and build mud tubes to gain access to the wood in your home aka their food source. This species is capable of forming colonies that number 1 to 2 million termites. Similar to the Subterranean species, the Formosan termites build mud nests inside the walls of your home and are very difficult to control once they have colonized. As their name suggests, the Drywood species typically creates their nests in dry wood such as roof and wooden wall supports as well as dead and dried out wood that might be laying around your home.
So what then can be done to keep your structure safe from these hungry, destructive pests? Termite control comes in a number of different forms and like anything else being proactive is often the best way to protect yourself. Using a physical barrier such as a steel mesh or has proven to be effective in termite control. In addition, you can take preventative measures to make your home an undesirable location for termites to settle down such as proper grading and drainage, removal of any dead wood laying around, and caulking cracks that appear in your foundation.
