Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Termites in the Fall? You bet.

Hey everyone! Hope this post finds you well! We just can't believe summer is coming to an end! We're sad to see it go - but fall always brings new and exciting activities like football and of course, it's back to school! Autumn also brings some new pests...along with some not so new ones that you might least expect this time of year...

This time of year, many people call when they see mud tubes or even damage on wood areas of their homes and are shocked to find that there is a termite colony slowly eating away at their homes. We're here to tell you that termites are not just a spring pest.
The average termite colony, depending on the part of the part of the country and species, can be well over a million. That's a lot of bugs! In nature, termites do a great job breaking down wood as they feed on cellulose. It is nature's recycling program. However, we don't want them to be recycling the wood that our homes are made of!
Termites can work year round - 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The spring "swarmers" that you might see don't attack your house. They are winged reproductives whose job it is to start new colonies. Instead, the real damage is cause by "workers" or soft bodies white termites which can't fly.
Termites account for over five billion dollars per year in damage, so if you live in the termite belt, any area below the most northern parts of the United States plus some parts of Canada, your home or business can be susceptible to a termite attack.
If you suspect termite activity or even if you just see them your mulch outside your home, we can inspect to see if there is an infestation of the structure. It is also smart to have a periodic inspection to head off infestations before they cause serious damage. Today's termite technologies are very effective and cause minimal disruption to you and your family's activities.