Subterranean termites cause millions of dollars in destruction to homes each year, these creatures usually live in underground colonies consisting of up to a million termites but may also come out to forage for food. They usually reach the surface by building elaborate tunnels popularly referred as mud tubes. The creatures can invade a home through concrete cracks and crevices, therefore slab houses are also not 100% safe from infestation.
Tips for identifying termites in your home
- Look for small winged or un-winged insects with varying shades of color brown. The insects usually measure between one eighth and a full inch in length, it depends on the season of year and area you are living.
- There are different types of this insect. Solider termites usually have elongated brown heads and perceptible mandibles, while reproductive insects are dark brown to blue in color. Moreover, supplementary procreative termites are often light-brown while worker termites are creamy in texture and wingless.
The female supplementary pests can only reproduce when in their specific colonies; they help in steadily boosting population within the termite colony. These insects are considered the most destructive once they enter the house since they feed on wooden materials. Subterranean termites are named after the elaborate, underground interconnected tunnels which they create.
How to kill swarmer termites
Statistics show that termites cause more destruction to homes each year than other types of vermin combined, their timber-eating habits and rapid reproduction tendencies can cause massive damage to both buildings and soft trees. Swarmer termites refer to young insects looking for new homes away from their original nests.
While some pests are quite easy to control, more may appear unless the homeowner takes active measures to eradicate the entire colony once and for all. Some people ask Do Termites Fly? Yes they do at some point in their life-cycle while growing. However, this ability is temporary and only stays for a few weeks. Below are some practical tips on how to exterminate the insects:
- Spray the swarmer insects with enough pesticide to kill them all. Chances are high that they would be travelling in large groups before later pairing off and flying to their specific new homes.
- Locate the parent colony to exterminate the whole termite population including larva and new hatchings. The best places to look for these insects are in wood piles, hollow trees, basements and household eaves.
- Place termite baits at distinct spots in the ground around the main property, this helps in trapping termites that may have left their original course and are out scouting for food. To catch them off-guard, place small chunks of timber into the bait and gently ‘rig’ them using some slow-acting pesticide. Subterranean termites which enter into the trap-boxes to feed on wood would consequently carry the poisonous pesticide on their antennae and legs, carrying it back to their colony where it would eliminate all the inhabitants. This technique is very effective when one finds it difficult to locate the nest itself. Controlling insect infestation can save you money that could have otherwise been used for repairs.
Understanding The Subterranean Termites And How To Deal With Them
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