Get professional pest control tips now from Goldies Pest Control. Effective termite control is crucial to protecting your property from these destructive pests. Proper termite control is highly needed to safeguard your property from such a disastrous pest. Get deep insight into how to identify different kinds of termites and their behavior and learn how to control them effectively. Awareness is the best way to prevent termites from invading and to have a healthy living environment.
Identification of Your Termite Infestation
Termites are social insects that live in colonies and feed on cellulose found in wood and other plant materials. Their ability to remain concealed while causing extensive damage makes them particularly troublesome.
Common Kinds of Termites Found in Columbia, MO
There are a high number of termite species that usually infest homes and property in Columbia, MO. Every species acts differently and builds nests in specific ways, making the strategy for control different:
- Subterranean Termites are the most common and also the most destructive species. They nest in the soil and make mud tubes that allow them to access food above ground.
- Drywood Termites are less common but as destructive as the nesting subterranean ones. They attack dry wood and do not connect with the soil, so any wooden furniture, framing or trim, or hardwood floors will be at risk.
- Dampwood Termites: Dampwood termites normally prefer moist wood and are usually found in decaying wood and areas with high humidity.
Identification and Behavior
Effective termite control commences with the right identification. Knowing the species you are dealing with helps one understand the behavior and a specification approach to irradicate them.
Subterranean Termites
- Identification: Small, cream to dark brown termites. Soldiers have large heads and mandibles. Winged reproductive, or swarmers, of two pairs of wings of equal length.
- Behavior: These termites form colonies in soil and construct mud tubes to reach aboveground wood. They prefer contact with moisture and can cause serious damage to buildings.
Drywood Termites
- Identification: Larger than subterranean termites. Cream colored with soldiers that have large mandibles. Winged reproductives of two pairs of wings with distinct veins.
- Behavior: They infest dry wood and do not require soil contact. Next to the infested wood, they make small, dry pellets of feces.
Dampwood Termites
- Identification: Larger termites. They are light to dark brown, and their soldiers have large mandibles. Winged reproductives with well-formed, long, translucent wings.
- Behavior: This type of termite infests moist, decaying wood. It prefers areas of high humidity and does not construct mud tubes.
Preventing Infestations
Prevent infestation by making a home less attractive to termites and eliminating their food and water sources.
Remove Moisture
- Fix Leaks: Promptly fix leaking pipes, faucets, and roof leaks to eliminate their moisture sources, which attract termites.
- Improve Ventilation: Assure that crawl spaces, attics, and basements have good ventilation to decrease humidity.
- Maintain Gutters: Clean and maintain gutters and downspouts to prevent water from accumulating near the home's foundation.
Remove Wood to Soil Contact
- Maintain Clearance: The gap between the soil and wooden parts of the building should be well established, such that no wood is in contact with the soil.
- Proper Wood Storage: Keep firewood, lumber, and other wooden-related materials at least 20 feet away from your house and off the ground. Keep wood storage areas dry.
- Landscape Inspection: Avoid planting trees and shrubs too close to your house, and avoid the use of wood mulch around your home’s foundation.
Inspection
- Professional Inspection: Schedule regular termite inspections with a professional pest control service. Early detection and identification of termites are critical.
- DIY Inspection: Regularly inspect your home for the following signs of a termite infestation: mud tubes, discarded wings, and termite damage to wood.
Termite Control Methods
If all preventive measures fail to control termite infestation, there are different termite-controlling methods to get free from the termites.
DIY Termite Control
- Baiting System: Set out termite bait to kill the termites surrounding and protecting your house. As the termite foragers infect the bait, they return it to the colony.
- Liquid Termiticides: Terminate the termites by applying liquid termiticides to the soil around the foundation. The chemical will be left in the soil for termites to enter and take the chemical back to the rest of the colony.
- Natural Control: One natural way to control termites is to use nematodes, which are natural parasites that kill termites.
Professional Termite Control
If the termite infestation is severe or persistent, contact a professional pest control service in Columbia, MO. Professionals have the knowledge and tools to manage or eliminate termite colonies effectively.
- Inspection: Thorough inspection to identify species, extent of infestation, and likely entrance points.
- Treatment customized plans: Termite treatment plans developed rely on the termite species and the extent of the infestation.
- Installing bait stations, such as Trelona, around your property can effectively eliminate termite colonies. These stations attract termites and distribute a slow-acting insecticide that eradicates the colony.
- Follow-up visits: Ongoing follow-up is essential to ensure that the termite problem is under control, and no recurrence is experienced.
Why Choose Goldies Pest Control of Columbia, MO
When experiencing a termite infestation, it’s always important to make an informed decision about the best pest control services. Goldies Pest Control offers professional services that guarantee your home will be termite-free.
Experienced Personnel
At Goldies Pest Control, we have over a decade of experience in termite infestation management and identification. Our trained personnel understand the behavior of the different species of termites and, therefore, better management tactics.
Safety and Effectiveness
We use professional-grade products and techniques that are safe in homes with children as well as pests. Our approach is to make the treatment method as effective as possible with minimal risks to your family and the environment.
Long-Term Solutions
At Goldies Pest Control, we aim to provide a solution to the problem at hand, addressing the source of the infestation. We seek to ensure prevention in the long term, which, according to the terms, means you shall have peace of mind.
Contact Us
If you have a termite problem, don’t wait. It can become far worse tomorrow than it is today. Allow Goldies Pest Control to provide you with professional termite control services. Log on to our website at www.goldiespest.com or give us a call at (573) 484-8881 to establish an inspection and start your journey to a pest-free home.
Conclusion
Evidently, the problem of infestation of termites is likely to cause serious structural damage and discomfort to most homes Columbia, MO. You can protect your home from these destructive pests by understanding common termite species, their behavior, and effective prevention and control methods. Implementing good sanitation practices, elimination of moisture, and regular inspections are key steps to preventing infestations. For severe cases, professional pest control services from Goldies Pest Control have the expertise and solutions for a pest-free home.
Don’t let termites take over your home. Always be proactive and engage with Goldies Pest Control’s termite control expert for healthy and comfortable living.
