Termites. No one wants to believe they could be eating their way through your home, but all too often, this is the horrifying reality for thousands of unsuspecting homeowners. In fact, Termites cause $5 billion worth of damage each year in the U.S., according to the National Pest Management Association.
Termites make no sound, can chew and eat 24 hours a day and can do thousands of dollars of damage before the first sign of their infestation becomes apparent. Oftentimes mistaken for flying ants, termites in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area often are the subterranean type – those that come from underground – and are extremely hard to detect unless you are a pest control professional or know exactly what signs to look for.
Of course, it’s always best to put preventative treatments in place by way of a professional pest control service like Genie Pest Control. If you haven’t invested in preventive treatment and think you may have a problem, here are few of the tell-tale signs that your home may have a termite issue:
#1: Swarmers
These are the young female, winged termites that run reconnaissance for the colony. They swarm and fly especially during springtime when seasonal damage from weather is most prevalent. Once the swarming team finds a good target, the rest of the colony is usually not far behind.
#2: Visible Wood Damage
Termites eat wood from the inside out, so if you have rotting wood around your home or see visibly hollow wood, sometimes with visible trails where the termites have eaten their way through, you’d best contact a professional to investigate further.
#3: Discarded Wings
These are the discarded wings from the swarmers that visited earlier. If you find evidence of insect wings around windows or other openings (swarmers are attracted to light), you might have a termite problem.
#4: Frass
It is as gross as it sounds. Wood-chewing termites leave pellet-shaped droppings behind as evidence they’ve been there.
#5: Mud Tubes
Subterranean termites, the most destructive type and the kind most commonly found in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area often build mud tubes to provide moisture as they travel along their destructive path. Look for mud tubes along your home’s foundation and call Genie Pest Control at the first evidence of this tell-tale sign that you indeed have a termite problem.
The best course of action is to stop termites before they get a chance to start their destructive path inside your home. Genie Pest Control can perform an initial examination of your home and property and suggest the best options. If you already have termites, we’ll want to stop them before they can do further damage. If you are termite-free now, it is most important that you keep it that way.
Call Genie Pest Control if you have concerns about termites in and around your home.
Catching a termite problem early can save you thousands of dollars in potential destruction. Preventing termites in the first place is what we do best. Call today at (712) 325-0808 or (402) 346-7810 to discuss our exterminator services.
