Termites are one of the most destructive pests in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the surrounding areas. While some other pests, such as rodents, can destroy property, termites are even more destructive as they chew through wood 24/7. They are also extremely invasive and hard to identify and remove which means they can do a lot of damage to wooden structures over time.
What Is Termite Season?
The term termite season is one that can be a bit misleading. While some pests are only a problem during one “season” or time of the year, termites are a pest that can cause problems year-round.
Termite season is just the time period, from spring to fall, when termites reproduce. This is when the termite swarmers, or the termites responsible for reproduction, leave the colony to create new ones.
Termite colonies have a caste system where different termites play different roles. The termite workers and soldiers look a lot different than the termite swarmers because of these different responsibilities. Termite swarmers resemble winged ants and are dark brown to black. The termite workers and soldiers are more of a cream color and don’t have wings.
The other important thing to note about termite swarmers is that they are the kind of termite you’re most likely to see. The other termites usually stay out of sight in hard-to-see places like inside walls and flooring, but termite swarmers will leave during termite seasons making them easier to see.
Identifying A Termite Infestation
Because termites are so difficult to notice at first, they can cause a lot of damage before you even realize they are inside your home. This can lead to destruction that costs thousands of dollars to repair.
Termite swarmers are often the first sign of an infestation, but it’s much worse if you find them inside your home. If you notice termite swarmers outside around your propriety, there’s a chance they haven’t entered your home yet. In these cases, you likely have time to prevent an infestation from getting started.
On the other hand, if you find termite swarmers inside, you are likely dealing with an infestation already.
Termite Prevention Tips
If you notice termite swarmers outside, you can follow a few steps to prevent them from coming inside including:
- Removing tree stumps and wood debris from your yard.
- Storing firewood at least 30 feet away from the exterior of your house.
- Keeping gutters cleaned.
- Removing any water damaged wood from the inside of the building.
Along with these steps, you can also follow general termite prevention steps such as installing a barrier between the soil and the foundation and filling cracks and holes in the walls and foundation.
But, overall, the best termite prevention step is to get professional assistance from pest control experts.
How To Get Total Termite Control
Because of their invasive nature, termites are one of the most difficult pests to prevent and remove. It’s rarely effective to try to handle termite control on your own. The safest and most effective way to handle termites is to contact the experts at Pest Pro Pest Control.
To learn more about our residential and commercial termite control options, contact us today by phone or online. We even offer free inspections, so don’t hesitate to reach out at the first sign of a termite problem.