Termites are small but can be very destructive. In fact, it is their small size that allows them to be so destructive. These tiny creatures live off of a diet that consists primarily of wood. And they will often crawl inside the wooden object they are consuming, making them difficult to detect.
If you think there may be termites around your home, Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions is here to help. We are a locally-owned company that has been providing pest control in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties for over 12 years, and we know the signs to look for when determining if a home has a termite infestation. Here is a look at what you should do if termites have invaded your property.
When Is Termite Season In Humboldt And Del Norte Counties?
Subterranean termites, drywood termites, and dampwood termites are three types of termites commonly found in this part of California. All types of termites live in large colonies with a caste system that usually includes the reproductives, the workers, and the soldier termites. During the winter months, most termites will stay inside their nest. However, once the weather starts to warm up, the reproductive termites will use their wings to fly away, find a mate, and begin a new colony. Because the flying termites tend to swarm around certain areas looking for a mate, this time of year is called the "swarming season."
For subterranean termites, the swarming season usually starts in early spring and will last until the fall. However, dampwood termites and drywood termites don't usually begin to swarm until the summer months. You will likely see these two types of termites swarming from August until late October or early November.
When reproductive termites find a mate, they discard their wings and start their own nest. If you see these flying termites or find small discarded wings around your home, contact a termite removal specialist.
What Attracts Termites To Certain Homes?
Most termites are attracted to moist areas. While the subterranean termite requires the most moisture, all termites need adequate water to survive—many termites like yards with a lot of standing water or moist soil around the home.
Termites are also attracted to wood. They eat materials that are high in cellulose, which is usually wood. As their name suggests, drywood termites like to eat wood that doesn't contain a lot of moisture. They like to eat untreated oak, pecan, and maple wood. Subterranean and dampwood termites like untreated wood with a lot of moisture and prefer to consume wet and rotting wood. If you have these types of wooden materials around your home, you should have a professional apply termite treatments to your property regularly to ensure termites don't invade.
Important Termite Prevention Steps Every Homeowner Needs To Know
If you want to keep termites away from your home, you should try these tips:
- Remove standing water around your home
- Make sure that your gutters are operating properly
- Don't use mulch around your home
Termites are attracted to wood that makes contact with the ground. Another Humboldt and Del Norte Counties termite control tip you can try is to ensure that all of your wooden structures are elevated off the ground so there is no wood-to-ground contact.
What To Do If You Think Your Home Has Termite Activity
If you see mud tubes around your home or small holes in the wooden structures, you should have your home inspected for termites. At Accurate Termite & Pest Solutions, our local technicians provide comprehensive termite control in northern California. Give us a call today to schedule your professional termite inspection and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in Humboldt and Del Norte Counties.