Five Things You Need to Know about Termite Season

The spring season is upon us, and that means one thing in the pest world: it’s termite time. Termites can be active year-round, but in the springtime, they swarm and mate, and they can quickly become a big problem in or around your home. There are several things a homeowner should keep in mind about termites this time of year, and we’ve highlighted five areas to be aware of below.

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The Southeast has Three Common Termite Species

In our region, the three most common types of termites are dry wood termites, eastern subterranean termites, and Formosan termites. Drywood termites are larger in size, don’t need moisture from the soil to survive, and usually live inside the wood they are feeding on. Eastern subterranean termites are the most destructive and common termites in North America, they thrive in humid conditions, and they build mud tubes to protect themselves from the open air when they're looking for food. Formosan termites are also subterranean and highly aggressive, but they’re also able to build colonies away from a moisture source. If you suspect you have any of these species in your home, contact Thomson Brothers for a remediation estimate.

Termites are Extremely Damaging

Termites damage over 600,000 homes each year in the U.S., and it’s estimated that homeowners spend over $5 billion on termite damage each year. Termites also create over $30 million worth of damage to crops and other exterior man-made structures annually. An aggressive swarm of Formosan termites in favorable warm and humid conditions can create extensive damage to a home in as little as six months. Needless to say, a termite infestation is a situation that should be taken very seriously and dealt with very quickly.

Termite Prevention

Termite Damage Can be Tricky to Identify

What does termite damage look like? Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between termite damage and wood rot, but some key differences are:

• Rotten wood is generally spongy and stringy and breaks off in cube-like patterns.
• Termite damaged wood may appear normal on the outside, but has tunnels and chewed-through galleries on the inside.

Even with these small differences, it can still be difficult to determine what type of wood damage you may be dealing with, and generally, termite damage isn’t detected at all until a home is fully infested. It’s best to have a professional come to assess what issues you may have and determine the next course of action for repair.

Termite Control is a Professional Job

Can you do termite control yourself? You can certainly try. It might be tempting to attempt to handle a termite problem on your own, but only a professional pest control company can ensure your problem is fully taken care of—permanently. At Thompson Brothers, our team is trained to use the best termite treatments to completely eradicate a termite infestation, or to stop an infestation from occurring in the first place.

Termite Remediation Costs Vary Greatly

A common question homeowners ask is: how much does a termite treatment cost? Unfortunately, there’s no “magic number” to answer this question until a pest control professional assesses your home’s specific situation. Whether you’re looking for a preventative treatment or a complete infestation remediation, Thomson Brothers offers a free estimate to help you understand what steps you need to take to keep your home safe from a termite invasion.

Don’t let termites put a damper on the season; let Thompson Brothers take care of your pest problems so you can enjoy a termite-free and worry-free spring!

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