Termites are many homeowners' worst nightmare. These wood-destroying pests can lead to severe damage over time, and what's worse is that they can also be hard to detect until the problem is already serious.
Learning the reasons why you should partner with professionals for termite inspections and treatments could save you a ton of money down the road. For protection from termites and other kinds of pest control in San Diego, turn to Green Flash Pest Control.
About The Termite Caste SystemÂ
One of the key parts of termite identification is knowing how colonies form and what kinds of termites comprise these populations. First off, termite alates, or queens, typically start their colonies outdoors and close to sources of wood. Once they find a suitable spot, the alates shed their wings and begin producing new colony members, including the workers and soldiers that do all the other work.
This caste system is why it can be so difficult to truly eliminate termites. Even if you manage to kill off hundreds of workers and soldiers, you won't actually be addressing the source of the problem unless you know where to look. This is why it's better to turn straight to the professionals to properly identify and address the full scope of a termite infestation.
Know The Warning Signs Of Termite Damage
If you had a termite problem, you'd know it, right? Well, don't be too sure. You've probably seen pictures of termite-damaged homes or roofs and thought the damage must have been obvious, but the truth is that termite damage can be subtle for weeks, months, or even years.
Termites don't bore straight through wooden materials. Instead, they stop just shy of the surface and spread out their damage over a larger area. This causes faint changes to the wooden items or materials you can see until eventually the structures cannot hold their weight anymore.
That's why you need to be on the lookout for these telltale signs of termites in a home:
- Warped Wood: As termites hollow out wood, the surface buckles and bends. Noticing bulging or sagging wall or ceiling panels can be an early sign of termite damage.
- Doors & Windows: This warping effect also impacts doors and windows, which may struggle to open and close easily.
- Tunnels & Tubes: Termite colonies can build networks of tunnels called mud tubes on the exteriors of homes that allow them to access the plentiful wood sources inside. While these can sometimes be noticeable to the untrained eye, it's always best to turn to experts to check your yard.
For assistance spotting and preventing these early warning signs from forming, contact Green Flash Pest Control today.
Reasons And Factors For Termite Infestations
As pests that eat wood fibers, termites are naturally drawn to our homes because they are built with the materials their ravenous colonies feed on. Often, termite infestations start out feeding on trees, firewood, or other sources of food they find in our yards or surrounding environments. As the colony grows, termites will look for new food sources and target our homes.
Since they can bore through wooden materials and tunnel up from below ground, termites also have a number of ways they can get in without you realizing it. From there, they spread throughout your walls and storage areas, like attics and crawl spaces.
This quick and often undetectable spread is why you need to seek proper termite control from experts. Before termites can take hold in your San Diego home, turn to Green Flash Pest Control.
Professional Termite Control Offers Lasting Protection For Your Home
Hopefully, we've demonstrated by now why professional inspections and termite treatments are so important for your home's protection. At Green Flash Pest Control, we offer effective and streamlined services for subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. We also provide screenings for attics and other areas to completely prevent termite invasions.
For complete and guaranteed protection against termites in San Diego, contact Green Flash Pest Control today.