It is always better to prevent a problem before it occurs, rather than having to solve it later. This is especially true when it comes to pest control. When I called in a local pest control company to deal with an infestation of termites, I asked them to give me all of their best advice about how to prevent pest problems. The contractors gave me lots of useful info about the steps I can take to deter a range of different pests from setting up home in my property. I hope you find the articles I have published here useful.
Knowledge is one of your primary weapons when defending your home against termites. Two of the major threats to your home are drywood termites and subterranean termites. Both of these termite types pose a threat to your home and its wooden components. If you can tell these two species apart, you can better protect your home against them.
If you aren't sure how drywood termites differ from subterranean termites, read on. This article will cover the major differences between drywood and subterranean termites.
1. Fecal pellets
Drywood termites leave fecal pellets behind wherever they infest wood. As they eat wood, drywood termites create kick holes, which they use to dispose of built-up fecal matter inside their nests. Subterranean termites don't dispose of fecal matter like drywood termites do.
If you suspect that a piece of wood is infested, check underneath the wood. If you see tiny sand-like pellets, you have drywood termites.
2. Mud tubes
Subterranean termites don't leave fecal pellets, but they do leave mud tubes behind. Subterranean termites create mud tubes from wood, dirt and saliva. They use these mud tubes to travel between their nest, which is underground, and wood sources. Drywood termites nest in the wood they infest, so they have no need to use mud tubes to travel.
3. Moisture availability
Drywood termites don't need a nearby moisture source when they infest a piece of wood. They get enough moisture from the wood that they consume. Subterranean termites need lots of moisture when they leave their nest to infest wood.
4. Point of attack
Drywood termites fly to the wood they infest, and then they invade the wood via cracks or holes. This means a drywood infestation can start anywhere in your home, including the roof or attic. Subterranean termites most often attack the lower sections of homes, such as crawlspaces, flooring and siding, since subterranean termites originate in the soil.
5. Type of wood
Subterranean termites need moist wood or wood that is in contact with the soil. This type of wood is softer and rich in moisture. Drywood termites will attack furniture indoors, window frames, doors and the wooden supports of a roof. You may even find drywood termites infesting a single, isolated piece of wood.
6. Speed of damage
Subterranean termites cause more damage than drywood termites because their nests are much larger than those of drywood termites. A drywood termite nest may only contain a few hundred termites, whereas a typical subterranean termite colony may contain at least a few thousand termites.
If you can identify the type of termite attacking your home, then you can better decide how best to attack the problem. The best thing to do is to call a termite control specialist to treat your home quickly and thoroughly.
For more information, reach out to a termite treatment service near you.