Few pests carry the potential for damaging your house as termites. The damage they inflict on private residences and businesses costs billions yearly, just in the United States.
Termites do not bite or carry infectious diseases, but their insatiable hunger for cellulose drives them toward structural parts of modern houses and causes an immense amount of very costly damage. Add to that the fact that most insurance policies do not insure against termite damage, and it's plain to see why termites are easily one of the most hated and feared pests in Georgia.
Let's take a quick look at what signs of termite infestation you should watch for, a few termite prevention tips, the best strategy for termite removal, and how to find quality pest control in Savannah and the surrounding areas.
The Life Cycle Of Termites
A homeowner is likely to run into the following four types of termites in Savannah:
- Drywood termites
- Dampwood termites
- Formosan termites
- Subterranean termites
All termites start their existence as an egg. Queen termites can lay up to 30,000 eggs a day. Once a termite hatches, it becomes a nymph and proceeds to grow, eventually finding its place in the termite social system.
Termites, like bees or ants, have a very strict social structure which in general consists of:
- Workers
- Soldiers
- Reproductives
- Queen herself
The queen controls the colony using pheromones and decides on its size. If the colony outpaces her ability to lay additional eggs, the queen uses her pheromone signals to allow the development of additional secondary queens
How Termites Silently Destroy Your Home
Termites in Savannah might not have an imposing size, but their unstoppable appetite compensates for that tenfold. Termites eat 24/7, chewing through anything and everything containing cellulose. If you live in a modern, stick-frame house, virtually everything that provides any structural support is made of wood and on the termite menu.
A big problem with a termite infestation is that they usually approach the house from underground, don't make noise, and don't leave any visual signs of an infestation until the damage to the house frame is substantial.
Factors That Attract Termites To Your Home
Termites head to your home with a singular desire in their tiny minds — cellulose. Termites see our homes as one big all-you-can-eat buffet.
Following these easy tips will make your abode less attractive to these dangerous pests and might prevent an infestation altogether:
- Replace structural wood that comes in contact with the ground or foundation with specially treated lumber. Unfortunately, it's unlikely you can remove wood from your home without destroying it, but using treated lumber and spraying green wood with an anti-termite spray will help.
- Remove any firewood or stored lumber stored close to your home.
- Ensure there are no sources of moisture in the basement or crawl space; termites prefer warm, dark, and moist places.
- Keep the soil next to your house as dry as possible by taking care of any water leaks.
- Properly ventilate your crawl space.
If your prevention efforts fail and you now face a termite infestation, it's time to get in touch with a Savannah termite control professional!
The Best Way To Get Rid Of Termites And Keep Them Away
An experienced termite control technician can spot signs of the infestation and develop a plan to rid your house of these voracious invaders ensuring no further damage to your Savannah home.
If your house has termites, call Prestige Pest Control today to get started on our effective services and to learn more about our home pest control services in Savannah.