If you suspect you may have a termite problem in your San Diego home, you need to know what you're up against. You must learn about the life cycle of termites, why they're infesting your home, how to identify and remove things that attract termites, and the easiest way to get rid of them for good. Sneak peek: The easiest way to get rid of termites is to call a San Diego pest control like Green Flash Pest Control.
The Life Cycle Of Common Termites
To know if you have a termite infestation in San Diego, you need to know how to identify termites. There are four types of termites in the San Diego area: damp wood termites, drywood termites, fungus termites, and subterranean termites. The drywood and subterranean termites are the most common, and subterranean termite causes more damage than any other species.
Members of a termite colony have three jobs: working, reproducing, and guarding the colony. Each job is innate to the termite from its birth. Workers build and maintain tunnels and source food. There is a king and queen of each colony, who mate for life. There are also winged termites that reproduce. Soldiers defend the colony.
At first, mating queens can only lay 100 eggs a day. As she ages, she's capable of producing more and more eggs. Eventually, she can lay thousands of eggs every day. If your infestation goes unnoticed, you may have to look into tenting your house for termites in San Diego.
Why Termites Infest And Destroy Wooden Structures
Termites eat cellulose, a fiber found in plants and plant byproducts. They've evolved to the point where they essentially specialize in eating wood. It's their favorite meal. Unfortunately, as they eat, they leave behind holes in the wood as they build their colony and feed.
A small colony of only 60,000 workers will go through an ounce of wood in about five days. At that rate, they can go through a two-by-four piece of wood – the kind of wood used as wall studs and floor joists in your home in as little as six months. Over time, they'll eat enough to cause sufficient structural damage. Termites cause more than $5 billion in property damage annually – worse still, the damage is often not covered under homeowner's insurance. That's why it's crucial that you know how to get rid of termites.
How To Identify And Remove Factors That Attract Termites
Subterranean termites move through dirt to stay hydrated, so wherever the wood parts of your home are touching the ground, they're at risk. Using gravel as a barrier between the dirt and the wood can make it harder for termites to access your home. If you use wood mulch in your flower beds, make sure it isn't touching your home.
Some termites are more attracted to wet or moisture-damaged wood. You can discourage these termites by using air conditioning or dehumidifiers in poorly ventilated areas such as attics, basements, and crawl spaces.
Knowing how to keep termites in San Diego away doesn't guarantee that you'll never get termites. About 600,000 homes in the U.S. are ravaged by termites every year.
The Stress-Free Way To Total Termite Protection For Your Home
Stop worrying about the termites in your San Diego home by calling Green Flash Pest Control. We have 25 combined years of experience in the pest control industry. We know how to get rid of termites for you, and we even offer termite repair services. All of our pest professionals are licensed and highly trained. Let us get pests gone in a flash – contact us today for your free inspection and to learn more about our termite control services in San Diego.