What Suffolk County Property Owners Should Know About Termite Season
April 15, 2022 - Termites
Termites are a dangerous pest for Suffolk County property owners. They are among the most destructive insects you can get in your home, and an untreated termite infestation can cost you thousands of dollars. It might even render your house unlivable without significant repairs. Termites’ destructiveness isn’t the only major problem with these pests. There’s also a high likelihood of having a termite infestation for months or even years without ever knowing it. That’s why it’s vital to contact Suffolk County pest control professionals to set up annual termite inspections before you wind up with a costly and destructive problem.
What Is Termite Season?
Termites are active all year round, so Suffolk County homeowners might be surprised to learn there is such a thing as “termite season.” This term doesn’t refer to termite activity but termite breeding season. Termites send out winged reproductive adults called alates. These alates’ job is to pair off and become the king and queen of a new termite colony to propagate the parent nest. These alates swarm by the thousands throughout the breeding season, typically during the warmer months, especially in the spring and early summer. Termite swarms are not something to ignore. They’re a significant sign of termites inside your house.
What To Know If You Spot Flying Termites On Your Property
Termite colonies don’t send out swarming alates until they’re mature and established. Furthermore, alates do not travel far from the parent nest before performing their mating flight, shedding their wings, and crawling into an ideal spot to form their nests. That means two things when you spot a termite swarm on your property. It means you have a mature colony nearby, likely inside your house because alates will not have traveled far before swarming. Two, it means your current termite problem is about to get a whole lot worse because of all the alates preparing to nest in your home. So if you see a swarm or signs of a swarm – like piles of shed wings – you need to take action right away.
Four Eco-Friendly And Effective Termite Prevention Tips
Termite control begins with termite prevention. You always need to have a preventative annual termite inspection, but there are plenty of things you can do in the meantime to reduce your chances of coming up positive for termites during said inspection:
Reduce wood-to-ground contact. This could mean storing firewood off the ground and away from your house. It could also mean trimming back branches and ensuring mulch is not touching your foundation. No wood should be brushing your home and the ground simultaneously, whatever measures you must take.
Seal off entry points. Inspect your home and seal all cracks and holes you find with an airtight sealant like silicone caulk. Termites are tiny, so no hole is too small.
Take care of moisture problems. That might mean using dehumidifiers to reduce condensation inside your home. It also means taking care of roof leaks and soil drainage issues.
Make sure wood components in your home are hard and dry. Termites like to infest wood softened by rot or water damage. Such things as rotted decks or aging railing are termite homing beacons.
Remember that none of these measures is a substitute for your annual termite inspection. But they can help you ensure your inspection comes up negative every time.
The Best Termite Control For Long Island
Termite removal is not typically possible for homeowners working on their own. The good news is you don’t have to do that. At A&M Quality Pest Control, our termite removal services are effective, safe, and tailored to fit your needs and budget. So if you spot signs of termites on your property, don’t hesitate – contact us immediately to prevent potentially massive damage to your home.