Termites can cause severe damage to both the structure and aesthetic of your home or business because their main food source is wood. Termites can cause hundred, even thousands of dollars in damage in a short amount of time by penetrating plaster and metal siding, subterranean damage which most often is mistaken for water damage, and drywood damage that can go undetected until the infestation grows out of control. The costs associated with getting rid of termites and repairing the damage can greatly increase the longer these pests are allowed to develop their incognito pathways and colonies. Here in Texas, termite activity ramps up in springtime. As the weather warms up, termite populations begin to surge and these pests begin to search for new structures to invade. There are two main species of termites that plague our Lone Star State, the subterranean termite and the drywood termite. To protect your home or business from termites, first learn about these pests, their behaviors, steps for prevention, and contact Stellar Pest & Wildlife should an infestation occur.

A worker termite can live on average from one to two years; however, a queen termites lifespan is considerable larger, living between 30 to 50 years. During that time, the typical queen termite can lay as many as 1000 eggs per day, although in some species of termite that number can reach up to 40,000 per day. in her lifetime. The development of an egg to adult can take months, but with the sheer volume of eggs being laid at a time a massive infestation is inevitable if not treated promptly. If you see signs of termites in or around your home or business, it’s best to take action right away.

Even though bed bugs are extremely small, the easiest way to identify them is to know what they look like and their behaviors. If you notice the following characteristics of insects found around your home or any of the following signs, contact a licensed pest control professional to determine the extent of the problem and provide a recommendation for the best course of action.

Termites commonly get into your home or business through wood-to-ground contact. Any wood component, once in contact with the ground can be a point of access for termites this can include door or window frames, joists, posts, steps, wood siding or paneling. Termites are resilient pests always in the pursuit of food and dont always enter your house through wood that contacts the ground. Subterranean termites can come in through cracks in the foundation, in bricks or the mortar joining them. Drywood termites however tend to enter through cracks in the wood components of your structure such as siding. Once inside they dig a space for a nest and form a seal that keeps them inside the space. At this point, termites begin laying eggs to begin a colony. Over two or three years, the colony can get big enough to cause serious and costly damage, causing hundreds even thousands of dollars to repair.

To prevent termites, it’s easiest to first take steps during the building process to shield your home or business. Every year, a termite inspection should be performed to identify if any colonies have developed. In turn we recommend that, alter the surrounding area of your home or property to become less favorable to them, removing all wood that lies along the foundation of your home or business, removing anything termites find appealing to eat such as cardboard, paper, mulch, or any plant-based product can reduce your chances of an infestation. Also by keeping plants and mulch away from the edges of your home will also help deter these pests from entering your premise. The best way to exterminate termites and to assure that you are safe from future infestation control is to use advanced termite treatment.