What time of the year are termites likely to infest your home?
Given the damage caused by termites every year, many home and business owners start to wonder when termites are most active. After all, some insects and other pests are seasonal, whereas some are a concern all year round.
To help you prevent a termite infestation, let’s take a look at when termite swarming season occurs, how you can avoid problems, and the importance of contacting a professional if you spot any warning signs.
What’s the Big Deal with Termites?
While it’s true that termites don’t carry disease or are likely to contaminate your food, they’re a big concern to homeowners because they ingest wood. Left unchecked, every type of termite can cause extensive damage to your property. This often results in thousands of dollars in repair costs. The two primary species of termites that you need to worry about in Florida are subterranean termites and drywood termites. Both are equally as destructive.
When Are Termites Most Active?
Termites are most active when it’s warm outside, which means that you’re more likely to see them during the spring and summer months. Even if you don’t see one during the warmer seasons, there’s a much higher chance that you’ll hear them inside your walls or other pieces of wood. Even though these are the times when termites swarm the most, their lifecycle makes them at least somewhat active all year round.
Should You Worry During Winter?
Although termites are most active when it’s warm outside, this doesn’t mean that you should let down your guard once the weather turns cold. Even during the winter months, termites can continue to devour your wooden structures, albeit at a slower pace. They will also continue to breed and reproduce during the colder months of the year, so it’s important that you always keep an eye – and ear – out for them.
How to Prevent Termites All Year Round
The best way to deal with termites, regardless of the season, is to avoid an infestation in the first place.
Here are some quick termite prevention tips that you should always keep in mind:
Eliminate Water Sources
Like other pests, termites require a water source for sustenance. You can make your home less attractive by removing puddles of water and keeping water structures and other sources away from the edge of your home.
Reduce Potential Food Sources
You obviously can’t simply uproot your house and move it somewhere else, but this doesn’t mean that reducing termite swarm food sources isn’t possible. Move any piles of wood away from the structure of your home, keep vegetation trimmed, and remove any dead tree trunks or branches.
Look for Warning Signs
During all months of the year, you want to watch out for signs of a termite infestation. Hollow-sounding wood, chewing noises in wood, discarded wings, frass (feces that look like sawdust), and mud tubes are all evidence of an impending termite colony.
Call Experts Right Away
There are times when even the most observant homeowner may miss certain signs of a termite infestation until it’s already become a problem. No matter how many termites you think are on your property, it’s important that you call an expert for proper termite control right away.
Contact ProHealth for More Help When Termites Are Most Active
Despite when termites are most active, it’s always important that you take care of an infestation immediately. ProHealth Pest Control can eliminate these wood-eating creatures and then help you prevent future infestations. If you have any questions about our pest control services or would like to set up an appointment for an inspection, reach out by calling (727) 308-2543 today for a fast termite inspection and service consultation.