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Termite colonies, as the name suggests, are homes for termites. They are structured and organized and shelter termites who work together to find food and grow their colonies. You can find them in large numbers in Florida, especially in your home’s garden.
Termites are an important part of the ecosystem and have a huge role to play. However, that does not mean they should be welcome in your property. Termites, even though useful for nature, can destroy homes and furniture and cause thousands of dollars of losses.
This is why it becomes crucial to locate termite colonies and eradicate them before they can start causing damage. If you suspect you have termites, visit avatapest.com to check out their professional pest control services. Meanwhile, read this blog to know what termite colonies are and the steps to find to them near your house.
What are termite colonies?
Termites, just like ants and wasps, are social creatures and prefer to move together in groups. One of their characteristics is that they make a termite colony live together in large groups. These can grow very large in size. The subterranean termites found in Florida, in particular, can create colonies that house more than hundreds of thousands of these bugs at a time.
You would be surprised to know that researchers have found a 4000-year-old termite colony that is as big as the size of Great Britain. Therefore, these creatures are not something you should take lightly. They can grow from 10 to 10000 before you know it.
Steps to find a termite colony in or near your property
The best way to eradicate termite colonies is to be aware of their existence. Most homeowners who end up with structural damage in their homes have no idea about termites. It is important to know the signs when they are near and the steps to locate them.
Look for swarmers.
When termites leave one colony to find or make a new one, they do so by flying from one place to another. These fliers are known as termite swarmers. Therefore, if you even see a couple of them flying around near your property, it is highly likely that there is a colony nearby.
In Florida, termite swarming season typically occurs in the spring and early summer, usually from March to June. Make sure to keep an eye out for these winged termites during this specific timeline. Call for professional pest control if required.
Inspect your house and garden for mud tubes.
This is one of the very initial steps in finding termite colonies. Termites form these mud tubes between the space where their colony is located and the food source. They are made of soil, wood particles, and termite saliva. They are usually found in crawl space areas or basements, exterior walls of houses, and foundation walls.
Check for damaged wood.
Termites are infamous for damaging wood. They can eat your expensive wooden coffee table from the inside out and only leave a thin layer of paint for you. If your area is known to have termites, regularly check your furniture by tapping them with your finger. If they make a hollow sound or the material crumbles, there may be a termite infestation.
Know what termite droppings look like.
Termites are hygienic creatures. They do not keep their droppings inside their colonies and conduct a clean-up as part of their maintenance. Termite droppings are commonly called frass and are an obvious sign of an infestation.
However, Subterranean termites do not throw their droppings. They use it to build their nest/colony. So, if you find frass near your property, it is probably a drywood or dampwood infestation.
Do you have a termite infestation?
Living with termites can be a nightmare. Simply knowing that there are wood-eating bugs around the house can stop you from getting a good night’s sleep. Hire a professional termite control team today!
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