Termites are one of the worst pests a homeowner can face. They are often referred to as the “silent destroyers” of the pest world because of their ability to remain undetected while causing massive damage to your home. Every year, termites cause more than 5 billion dollars of property damage in the United States. To avoid becoming part of this statistic, it’s important that you know how to identify and prevent these pests. In this article, we’ll give you all the essential information about one of the most common termite species in the Bay Area – drywood termites.
We’ll discuss the dangers of having them in your home, some practical steps to deter them, and how a professional pest control company can help you remove them. Bay Pest Solution, Inc have been the go-to experts on pest control in the Bay Area for years, and we’ll help you make a plan to rid your home of these destructive insects.
What Are Drywood Termites?
First, let’s take a look at what drywood termites are and how to identify them. There are many different kinds of termites found throughout the United States, but the drywood termite is more common in warmer regions like the Bay Area. These insects get their name from the fact that they tend to live in dry, hard wood. Unlike other termite species, they don’t make nests underground, and they don’t need as much moisture to survive. There are three distinct types of drywood termites, also called castes. Each caste performs a vital function for the continued growth and health of the colony.
These castes are workers, soldiers, and reproductives, also called swarmers. Workers are the ones responsible for maintaining the colony and consuming the wood that serves as the colony’s nourishment. Soldiers defend the workers and reproductives and keep the colony safe. Reproductives are tasked with producing new termites as well as new colonies when the original colony starts to become too large. Reproductives are sometimes called swarmers because of their tendency to swarm when mating. Seeing a swarm of flying termites around your house or yard is one of the most common signs of termites. In the next section, we’ll inform you about how drywood termites cause damage to your home.
How Drywood Termites Destroy Homes From The Inside Out
Drywood termites make their way into Bay Area homes unnoticed, such as using tree branches to access the roof or finding cracks in the siding or foundation. Once they’re inside, they will target hard wood, such as that found in many roofs, support beams, furniture, and even picture frames or wallpaper. You may not know that you have a drywood termite swarm in your house for quite some time after they invade, which makes them yet more dangerous. By the time you notice their presence, you may already have a serious issue. Most drywood termite infestations go unnoticed for months or even years. In that time, these insects can easily cause a great deal of damage to any home. If the damage is structural, this could even make your home unsafe or require major repairs. Termite damage isn’t usually covered in homeowner’s insurance policies either, so you could be left to pay for the damages on your own.
What Bay Area Homeowners Can Do To Prevent Drywood Termites
Now that you know more about how dangerous drywood termites can be, you may be wondering, “How do I get rid of termites in my home?” While removing termites is next to impossible for most homeowners, there are some things that you can do to keep them away and ensure that your risk of an infestation is minimized.
Here are a few steps you can take to deter termites in the Bay Area from your home:
- Search the outside of your home for any cracks or gaps and seal them up.
- Don’t bring secondhand furniture into your home.
- Trim shrubs and tree branches that grow too close to the house.
- Schedule a regular professional termite inspection at least once every three to five years.
Following the steps above will help you keep yourself and your family safe from the threat of drywood termites. If you do find yourself with an infestation on your hands, you can always call a Bay Area termite control professional.
Don’t Leave Your Bay Area Home At Risk For Termites
If you need help with termite removal in the Bay Area, just contact Bay Pest Solution, Inc. We’re a reliable business with over 40 years of industry experience. Our service technicians focus on making sure our customers are always satisfied, and we’ll work with you to ensure that the problem is taken care of every time. Contact Bay Pest today to get started and to learn more about our residential and commercial pest control services in The Bay Area.