April Showers Bring May Flowers & Termites
April showers bring May flowers, but those showers also help to produce something no one likes to see in their homes … Termites! So how do April showers produce termites? They don’t actually produce termites, but termites will swarm this time of year when environmental conditions are optimal, and rainfall is an important element in that scenario.
Termites are a part of life here in Southeast Texas. Friendswood has several different types of termites that we deal with, and some are more destructive than others.
Common types of termites found in Southeast Texas include:
- Eastern subterranean termites
- Formosan termite
- Drywood termites
Understanding Termites & Their Habitats
Most everyone knows OF termites, but over the years, I have been surprised at the different things people have said ABOUT termites and how to control them. Most of what I hear about termite control is completely incorrect, and with the incredible damage that termites will do to your home or business, having the correct information about termite control can save you thousands of dollars in repairs!
Termites Are Subterranean
First of all, termites exist underground … most of the time. Termite colonies are constantly cruising around in the soil, looking for food for their colony. They primarily eat wood, so this is why our homes are so appealing to them.
In our area, we may have anywhere from 2 to 12 separate termite colonies per acre foraging for food. Depending on the type of termite, there can be anywhere from 250,000 to over 5 million termites in each colony. That’s a lot of termites!
Why Termites Swarm
When a termite colony matures (and when environmental conditions are optimal), around 15% of the colony will grow wings, “swarm” out looking to pair up with a termite from a different colony, and then head back underground to start the cycle all over again. It is usually during this time of swarming that most customers will notice that they may have a termite issue.
The two most common signs of swarming termites are:
- Discarded wings: Near windows, doors, and other home entry points.
- Seeing swarmers: Flying termite swarmers (or alates) are seen around or in your home.
In our area, termite swarm season is March/April for Eastern Subterranean termites and May/June for Formosan termites.
Signs You Have Termites
So how do you know if your home has termites? Seeing termite swarmers this time of year doesn’t automatically mean that your home has termites (it might), but it does mean that your home is sitting on or very close to a mature termite colony.
Termites typically will get into your home from mud tubes they build coming up from the soil as well as from cracks in your foundation. A thorough inspection can look for common signs of termites and also what we call “conducive conditions” that can attract termites to your home.
A professional termite inspection should always include an inspection of the attic as well as the perimeter of your home.
Options for Termite Control Treatment
There are typically two options for termite treatment: liquid and bait. For liquid treatments, a company will dig a small trench around the perimeter of your home and pour 2-4 gallons of termiticide into the ground for every 10 feet of trench. Typically, you will need between 30 and 50+ gallons of termiticide in an average home to treat it correctly.
Liquid treatments worked well for us when we were dealing primarily with Eastern Subterranean termites (our native termites).
With the arrival of Formosan termites in our area, we found that using Sentricon bait stations is far more effective in eliminating termite colonies and protecting your home. Workers find the bait stations and then distribute the bait throughout the colony, and within 90 days, the colony is eliminated.
Proactive Termite Prevention Measures
You don’t have to wait to treat your home until you have termites to protect it. Many of our customers install the Sentricon Termite Bait Stations around their homes to eliminate the costly repairs that termites cause.
In our area, it’s not a question of if you are going to have an issue with termites; it’s more a question of when.
Reach out to us at Preventive Pest Control, and we will set you up with a free termite inspection* on your home and let you know how you can protect it from these dirt demons!
For more information, call our office at (713) 955-7405 or find some AWESOME termite videos on our YouTube channel at Preventive Pest Control Houston East.
*Free termite inspection is not valid for real estate purposes
Jeremy Logsdon, Owner