Termites are beneficial creatures when they aren’t chewing their way through area homes. Out in nature, these bugs are responsible for breaking down fallen trees, dead stumps, and other cellulose-based plants that might otherwise take decades to decompose fully. Problems arise, however, when termites start trying to break down structural wood around our properties. One species of termites that regularly harm buildings in Queen Creek are drywood termites. If you have never taken a moment to consider the harmful nature of these pests, here are some things you should know, including some popular strategies to keep them off your property.
How Destructive Are Drywood Termites?
Drywood termites are one of the most destructive species in our area. These invasive pests regularly tunnel into structures of dried wood to build their nests and gather cellulose. Drywood termites are most likely to invade untreated lumber. If your home’s siding, support beams, and other structural wood are weathered from years of wind and dry weather, it is more susceptible to an invasion from these hungry pests.
Drywood Termite Swarmers
Once or twice a year, termite colonies produce what are called swarmers. These winged, reproductive members are sent out to search for new areas to build new nests. If you start to notice what seems to be light-colored ants with wings that extend past their hind sections around your living areas, your home may be under attack. Another way to identify swarmers is by their wings. After finding a place to settle, they will shed their wings on window sills and other surfaces around homes.
Frass
Drywood termites extract moisture from wood and store as much of it in their bodies as possible. One result of this is that their fecal droppings are more like sawdust than pellets. If your home has an active infestation of drywood termites, you might start to notice piles of frass (sawdust) along your floorboards or clinging to walls near the tiny entrance and exit holes.
Why Drywood Termites Are Hard To Spot
One serious problem with drywood termites is how difficult they are to identify. Unlike other pests that openly crawl or fly through homes, drywood termites stay deep inside the wood they infest. If you are not paying attention, the first time you will notice these pests is after they have caused extensive damage to your home’s structure.
How To Keep Drywood Termites Out Of Your Home
There are many strategies people use to keep drywood termites out of their homes. Some work, others rarely prove effective. To help you out today, here are some prevention tips our experts recommend you try.
- Store firewood and untreated lumber at least 30 feet from your home’s exterior.
- Clean up sticks, leaf piles, cardboard, newspapers, dead trees, and stumps from your yard.
- Use a caulking gun to fill in holes, gaps, and cracks in your home’s exterior foundation.
- Make sure your window/door screens are working properly.
- Repair damage to your home’s exterior.
One Guaranteed Option To Deter Drywood Termites
Because drywood termites are so destructive and difficult to identify, you must spare no expense in keeping these pests out of your home. The good news with this is that not all professional termite control plans are pricey. At Canopy Pest Control, we offer high-quality termite control services at affordable rates. If you want peace of mind that your property will not be eaten by these destructive pests, get our team involved.
Contact us today to learn more about our detailed termite control options and schedule your Queek Creek property for a thorough inspection.