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There are 3 main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Every kind of termite colony includes workers (who eat your home ), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new places to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its great to know how to identify them, Wilson states.
Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings although 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 sheer wings. These workers also resemble maggots.
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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed wood and often end up in attics, floor boards and window frames.
Dampwood termites like decaying wood or wood that's loaded with moisture. They often attack wood that's 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 throughout cracks in the caulk. Be sure to check around windows frequently and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and burrow into the wood. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.
Be mindful of maintaining your exterior paint. As an instance, when you hammer up Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .
Subterranean termites often seep into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, many houses have increased foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes up to the floor, often along articles. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson sayssand tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin air to connect with the bottom of the home. .
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So what can you do if you find a termite in your home when you see one drop wing or one termite flying , it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you see a group of wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.
Termites are actually simple to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not readily available to the public. Most home stores sell termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.
In case you've got an infestation that is great site isolated to one part of your home, say the door trim, you can substitute 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 have to be cut away from the home at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of dirt and the home, in addition to around the entire home. It acts as a shield that the termites cant break through.
Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes approximately four to six hours.
Homes that 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 consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes create termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails professional and experienced expert in the pockets year-round or fill the holes when you eliminate the nails. .
Quickly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your raised home to maintain that area dry. Subterranean termites love wetness.