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There are three main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every kind of termite colony includes workers (who eat your house), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new areas to colonize). Though you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson states.
Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have absolute, tan wings but there are colour variations. Workers are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.
Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These employees also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed timber and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites such as decaying wood or wood that is loaded with moisture. They often attack wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in areas with high rainfall or humidity.
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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your house through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the home. Make sure you check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers shed their wings and burrow into the timber. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. For instance, when you hammer Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind small holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot houses have increased foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes around the floor, often along articles. But even in the absence of articles, Wilson states sand tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin air to connect with the bottom of the house. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your house If you see one drop wing or one termite flying , it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you see a group of shed wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are actually easy to kill,'' Wilson states, however you need a termiticide to do it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home shops promote termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as effective.
In case you have an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, say the door trimming, you can replace the trimming, Wilson says. But in case you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.
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Subterranean termites must get cut away from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of dirt and the home, as well as around the entire house. It acts as a shield the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which can be injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the timber and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes which are exceptionally infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your home, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the residence is gassed with pesticide that will kill each of the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the type of infestation.
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Apply a good, quality coat of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then yank them down. Even the tiny holes see it here make termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the holes year-round or fill the holes when you remove the nails. .
Quickly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your raised home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.