Termites

Every year, the United States suffers billions of dollars of property damage at the expense of termites. The best way to avoid this trend of spending a large amount of money on home repairs is to invest in termite prevention and learn how to identify an infestation early. Call a pest control professional as soon as possible if you notice any signs of a termite infestation or want to get your property checked as a precaution.

In the event of an infestation, Pest Authority of the Golden Isles will conduct an initial inspection of your Brunswick or St. Mary’s, Georgia home. Once we have determined the severity of your situation, we will then design a termite control and prevention plan that is specific to your property. Our highly-trained and experienced technicians will work to eliminate the current infestation and go through the measures to prevent infestations from ever occurring again. We use both liquid termiticide and bait solutions in our curative and preventative treatments. Our expert termite control services come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so there’s no need to worry about the effectiveness of our treatments. It is our responsibility to protect your home and family from termite infestations, and we will work hard until the infestation is gone — along with the possibility of ever having one again.

Signs of a Termite Infestation:

  • Damaged wood. Most termite damage is hidden below the surface, but sometimes visible signs can be found in the wood like blistering and holes. Wood that’s infested with termites will be soft, easy to pierce, and will sound hollow when tapped.
  • Shelter tubes. Termites build shelter tubes — sometimes called mud tubes — out of dirt, particles of wood, and their own saliva so they can move around without being exposed to open air, where they would dehydrate and die. Shelter tubes can be found in your crawl space, attic, floor joists, and foundation walls.
  • Flying swarmers. Flying swarmers are termites that locate places for their colonies to settle, and then reproduce. These winged insects can be seen emerging from soil and wood, and their discarded wings can be found on the floor or around windows and doors.

Termite Prevention Tips:

  • Have a pest control expert perform a comprehensive inspection annually.
  • Get rid of all excess cellulose material sitting in or around your home, including wood, cardboard, and sawdust.
  • Dispose of any dead wood from your property. Store any firewood you keep as far from your home’s foundation as possible.
  • Avoid using wood siding or wood shingles.
  • Cut down any excess moisture in your home, including leaky plumbing and air conditioning units, pooling in your basement or crawl space, and clogged or broken gutters.
  • Seal cracks and crevices in and around your home.

Types of Termites:

  1. Subterranean termites

Subterranean termites are the most common termites found in the United States. They move around in tunnels because they will die if exposed to open air. Because of this, untreated wood and moist wood that’s touching the soil is what attracts them the most. Since these termites are subterranean, it’s unlikely you will find visible signs of their presence or damage, but infested wood will be soft and hollow-sounding when tapped.

  • Drywood termites

Drywood termites tend to live in damp, humid climates and will cause the wood they infest to visibly blister. Other visible signs of their presence include piles of wood pellets or powder near their burrows and piles of droppings that can be mistaken for coffee grounds or sawdust.

  1. Dampwood termites

As the name suggests, dampwood termites are attracted to wood that already contains moisture damage. Because of this, it can be hard to detect the termite damage to the wood since it’s not as visible or distinguishable.

Facts about Termites:

  • Termites can be found in every state in the U.S. except Alaska.
  • When they enter a new home, swarming termites will shed their wings.
  • A single subterranean termite colony can contain over a million workers that can consume over 100 pounds of wood in a year.
  • Termites eat 24 hours a day.
  • Evidence shows that termites date back at least 120 million years.
  • Although spring and summer are the most active times of year for termites, they can continue to reproduce throughout fall and into early winter.