Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
No matter where you live, termites start their swarming season whenever the outside temperature starts consistently reaching or exceeding 70 degrees. Living in a moderate climate like Nashville, you understand this can occur quite early in the year. This is why now is the time to prepare to protect your home or business before swarming season begins. Your pest control professionals in Middle Tennessee explore this topic in greater detail, today on the blog.
What happens when termites swarm?
Swarming season is the period of time when winged termites leave their colony in search of a mate and a place to establish a new colony. These winged termites, called swarmers, tend to be most active on warm, damp days, usually right after a rain has fallen. Swarmers tend to shed their wings after completing a flight, and these discarded wings are some of the most obvious evidence that swarming termites may have found their way onto your property. If you notice discarded insect wings anywhere on your property, you should contact a professional pest control company right away.
Take steps now to make your property less attractive to swarmers
Like any other organism, termites need food to survive. Swarmers are likely to set up a new colony near a potential food source. This can be anything made of wood or cellulose: lumber, firewood or newspaper, just to name a few examples. One of the most significant steps you can take to deter swarmers from your property is to remove any decayed wood such as lumber or old firewood or move any products that contain wood and cellulose away from the foundations of any buildings. Wood mulch also can be a food source for termites, so make sure any mulch is placed at least 6 inches away from the foundation of any structures.
Some other steps to deter swarming termites include:
- Reduce moisture in your crawlspace: Termites love to colonize in dark, warm places. Your crawlspace can be a highly attractive spot, especially if there is excess moisture. Ameri Care Services offers crawlspace waterproofing services.
- Dry up any areas of standing water: A dripping sink or a leaking pipe may not look like it is generating much excess water, but even the smallest area of standing water may look like an inviting swimming pool to termites. Any source of moisture can provide a welcoming environment to termites. Have those leaking plumbing fixtures serviced. Divert excess water outside your home from the foundation by ensuring that gutters and downspouts function as they should. Position your sprinklers to spray away from foundations. Even a bird bath could prove as an inviting space for swarming termites.
- Clean up the property: Heavy, overgrown shrubs or brush can provide both food and water to termites. In the winter, when the growth of these plants is still dormant, this can be an ideal time to clean them up and cut them back. Clearing out any overgrown grass, bushes or shrubbery now can lower your risk of a termite infestation of these spaces while also improving the curb appeal of your property.
Contact an experienced, professional pest control company
Pest control technicians have the knowledge and training to identify signs of a termite infestation that would otherwise go unnoticed by a layman. The team at Ameri Care Services has decades of combined experience dealing with termites, as well as a host of other pests. Give us a call at (615) 893-7111 or contact us online to have one of our courteous, well-trained technicians come perform an evaluation at your property.