There are three main termite species that may infest your home – subterranean termites, drywood termites and dampwood termites. Of the three, dampwood termites are the most relatively tame. This is because they need wood that is very high in moisture to start an infestation, and that type of wood is usually found in the home when there is a leak or an excessive source of moisture nearby. Still, these termites should not be underestimated, because they can spread to wood with regular moisture content and cause a lot of damage to the home.

Identifying dampwood termite infestations

Dampwood termites leave very few outward signs of an infestation, because they will build their colonies inside of the wood that they eat. However, you can look for signs of water damage in the wood of the building, and if you spot it, you have to remove the damaged wood and replace it. This damage can often occur near leaky pipes and gutters. Dampwood termites will also build exit holes in the wood, through which they will throw out frass (the waste of the colony). Frass resembles wood shavings, so if you start to see wood shavings in random locations in your home, you may have an infestation.

Control methods and prevention

In terms of prevention, the best thing that you can do is make sure that you have no moisture issues in your home. If you keep your home free of these issues, and you make sure that no damp wood is too close to your home, then you are good to go. Be extra careful with firewood and mulch, because they can be sources of an initial infestation which then spreads to the home.

In terms of control, you will need the help of a pro to get rid of a dampwood termite infestation. If the infestation is small, the pro will use a localized treatment to deal with the termites, which is basically an application of termiticide over the area that covers the colony. Alternatively, if the infestation is widespread, fumigation will have to be used. This is a much more extensive process that will require the home to be tented and a gaseous termiticide released inside it. You will also have to vacate the home during the procedure. If you would like to find out more about these termites, or if you suspect that you have an infestation, contact us today.

We all think the prime termite season is when we see termites appear in swarms. However, termites have no specific season and cause damage at any time of the year, regardless of the weather.

That said, termites may double in numbers in a specific season. The time of spring or early summer (April to May) is known as the swarming time of termites. It is the best time for this pest to announce its arrival in your house or your workplace. And to stay protected, you must be completely aware of every fact about termites and methods to prevent as well as to get rid of them.

Moreover, the swarming season for different termite species takes place in different months. While it is winter for all termites, the subterranean termites swarm during spring and summer, and the drywood termites swarm during the late summer months. 

Different Species:

Having termites of any type can be a nightmare for anyone but there are some types of termites which you will pray that they never come in front of you otherwise it might be possible that they make you pay in billions. The two main types of termites are dry wood termites and subterranean termites.

They both are dangerous for your pocket and property in their ways.

• Drywood termites: These are different from subterranean termites because they live inside the wooden structure they infest and do not make their colony in the ground.
• Subterranean termites: Unlike Drywood termites, they build their colonies inside the ground and travel to the place of their food or the place they infest, and then go back to their colony. They are mainly responsible for doing the structural damage.

How do termites enter houses?

They are sly critters and can sneak in through various access points such as:

• Vents
• Steps
• Ramps
• Downpipes
• Utility Boxes
• Cracked mortar
• Porches/alfresco areas

Signs of Infestation

• Cracks or holes in wooden structures.
• Mud tubes on the exterior of wooden structures or homes.
• Swarms on or near wooden structures.
• Blisters in wood flooring
• Termite droppings

How to Prevent?

We do know that accidents can happen at any time but prevention is better than cure! Here are a few ways through which you can stop termites.

• Fix all the plumbing and leaking taps, and pipes.
• Keep your vents free from blockages to keep the humidity low, and making the environment less hospitable to termites
• Avoid wood or wood surfaces from coming in direct contact with soil. 
• Remove the plants from your surroundings that are in bad health as they can invite the termites to be their guests,
• Make sure your drainage system is in good shape and always check regularly that your entire property vulnerable to termites is moisture-free.

Wrapping Up

If you notice any of the above-mentioned signs even after taking all the preventive measures ten please contact an expert to control the situation.