Nashville, Murfreesboro, Knoxville and Chattanooga TN
Termites represent a hidden threat to your home. You could have a colony that contains several thousand termites in your home and still not see them. But they’re there, devouring the materials that make up your home: wood, carpet, insulation, and even sheetrock. Termites do billions of dollars in property damage every year, but if they infiltrate your home during the summer, you may face a greater threat. Read on to learn why a summer infestation of termites can be more dangerous for your home.
Termites are more active during warm weather
Unlike many other varieties of insects that hibernate, termites stay active year-round, but their swarms reach peak activity during the summer when temperatures are their highest, typically between July and September. Termites are most active during any rainy weather in these months and on warm summer nights. A well-developed termite colony can reach a population of more than 300,000 insects during this time.
Another consequence of this time of peak activity is that termites swarm more, forming new colonies. Remember two other traits of this species: they reproduce at a rapid rate and can forage up to an acre away from their colony.
So, why is this such a concern? Termites do not begin to swarm until their current colony reaches capacity. And, because termites swarm most during the summer, if you already have an existing infestation, there’s a good chance these swarmers will just form another colony in or underneath your home. Imagine multiple termite colonies, all of them consuming the materials in your home, reproducing rapidly, reaching capacity, and then swarming to form yet more colonies.
It’s a troublesome thought.
Know the warning signs of a termite infestation
As mentioned earlier, by the time you start seeing termites crawling around your home or nearby, it’s likely your property has already been infested and suffered damage.
This is why it’s helpful to recognize some of the signs that termites are on or near your property.
Look out for the following:
- Discarded termite wings
- Mud tubes in your crawlspace or located on the exterior walls or foundation of your home
- Termite droppings, also known as frass, which has the appearance of sawdust
- Visible damage to the wood in your home
- Warping or buckling in your walls, ceilings, or floors
- Bubbling or peeling paint
The best way to know if your home is dealing with termites or not is to schedule a termite inspection with an experienced pest control professional. Quality termite control is not cheap,