Termites have caused us so much trouble financially, physically, and mentally. They do not look like much, being so tiny and inconspicuous. But their looks are very deceiving, they are not called “Silent Destroyers” for nothing. They cause huge structural damage to homes and office buildings. Each year, termites cause $2 Billion of damages to homes and office buildings, plus billions more in costs in trying to exterminate them. We can say that termites also eat up what is inside your wallets.
Termites can cause huge economic damages in many other ways. The price of a house for sale, for example, can be brought down with the presence of termites. It is always a good practice for the buyer to have the house inspected by a pest expert in Greenville SC and have it certified as termite-free.
What Are Termites?
Long before mankind has started roaming the earth, termites were already munching away on wood. There are around 2,000 species of them all over the world, and 40 are in the United States. For something so small, they measure just about ¼ to ½ inches in length, they cause so much trouble. They have straight bodies and short antennae. Their colors can be from light to brown.
Of those 2,000 species of termites worldwide, 40 are in the United States. Here are the most common termites that attack houses and buildings in America:
Subterranean Termites - These are members of Rhinotermitidae. They are so-called because their nests usually contact the soil. This type of termites causes the most damage to our homes. The billions of dollars in damages to structures? They caused it. They can actually eat wood with their sharp teeth. They also eat books, paper, and other cellulose-based material. They also damage structures faster than any other termites. They live in moist dark places, and are so hard to detect in your homes because when they feed on the structural wood, they eat the middle part and leaving the outer casing. Before you find out about it, it might be too late.
Formosan Termites - Formosan termites are very aggressive termites. They measure about 1/2 inches long. They are quick to the draw, so to speak because they damage structures faster than any other termites since they multiply quickly. Formosan termites’ nests contain millions of such termites. They have taken their talents in destroying structures in places like the Southern United States, California, and Hawaii, where they caused millions of dollars in damages.
Drywood Termites- These live in smaller colonies. These termites do not like too much moisture. They are 1/4 to 3/8 inches long. They infest your attic wood. Drywood termites produce dry fecal pellets which could be found near their nests. Similar to most termites, they eat wood from inside out, leaving only the outside shell. But in contrast to other termites, they do not need moisture.
Dampwood Termites - Dampwood termites prefer high moisture, which is very different from dry wood termites. They are much larger than the subterranean termites. They are attracted to wood that is damaged by water. They also infest fallen lumber, logs, and tree branches that are on the ground.
Signs Of Infestation
If you see even just a single winged termite inside your house, it is a sign that there are many more in your house and that damages may have been done. You may find them around windows and doors. Please check on exposed wood in your house. Try knocking on the wood, if it sounds hollow when tapped, you may have termites behind it. Check for mud tubes that might extend over foundation walls, wooden beams, and support piers.
Termites eat dead wood and plants. They also eat mulch, stumps, and roots. Other things they eat are carpets, cardboard, fabric, and animal feces.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
Now that it is clear that termites will not do any good to your homes and instead just damage them, it is time to know how to get rid of them. The first step in doing so is that you should make sure that the insects you see in your house are indeed termites and not ants. If you see the above-mentioned signs in your homes, then you do have termites. Here are a few tips on how to treat for termites in your home:
- As l have said, look for signs of infestation. Holes on woodwork, hollow parts of the foundation, and sagging floors are serious signs of termite infestation. Tap on exposed wood. You may see actual termites too.
- Remove the termites’ food source. Remove wood piles and keep them away from the house’s foundation. As much as possible, do not build wooden structures near the foundation. Get rid of debris near the house and minimize plant materials.
- A cardboard trap can be effective because cardboard contains cellulose which is what termites feed on. Put a cardboard trap near a termite infested area. The termites will be attracted to it, allowing you to catch them and burn them off. Use this in combination with other methods.
- You should also eliminate moisture problems by repairing leaking faucets, water pipes, and air conditioning units. Keep gutters clean, get rid of stagnant water on the roof.
- Try using beneficial nematodes. These are the small worm that are the natural enemies of termites. They kill termites by burrowing into them and using their carcass as a place to spawn. Nematodes are available for purchase in a local garden supply store.
Secure A Certification That The House You Will Buy Is Termite-Free
One of the dreams of many Americans is to buy their own house. People work hard as soon as they enter the workforce, with the goal of living in their own homes where they can happily raise a family. It sure beats having to rent an apartment.
It is your right as a consumer to check for a Wood Damaging Insect Report before buying a house. If you are looking to buy a used house, practice due diligence. Remember that not all homeowners who want to sell their homes are not willing to disclose everything about their homes, especially if it endangers their chances of selling their property. Especially if it is infested with termites because definitely, you would look to somewhere else that is not infested.
On the other hand, if you are the homeowner wishing to sell your house, you can get an expert to inspect it and acquire a Wood Destroying Insect Report. The law requires all pest control companies to be licensed by the state. The best pest control expert in Greenville, Go-Forth Pest Control Company, is licensed by the state to produce such report for you. They have highly skilled and well-trained technicians who can do the job for you.
Go-Forth Home Services Is The Best In Pest Control
The fact is, termites are very hard to control once an infestation has begun. If termites are too overwhelming, call in the best pest experts in Greenville SC, Go-Forth Home Services.
Go-Forth Home Services is a family owned business that has excellent experience in controlling and exterminating pests. Pests like termites, ants, roaches, mice, bed bugs, moths, weevils, spiders, and wasps prove no match to their expertise. They have been doing this for more than 50 years now.
Go-Forth has a team of highly skilled and well-trained professionals who utilize only the latest and most advanced technology in the business. They also employ family friendly and pet-friendly methods of extermination, so you are assured of your family’s safety.
For more inquiries, or to set an appointment, just dial (877) 274-1475. Our friendly operators are standing by.
About Greenville
Greenville County is the largest county in South Carolina in terms of the number of residents with 470,000 residents, 61,000 of them are right in Greenville City. Located in the northwest corner of South Carolina and halfway between Atlanta and Charlotte, it has attracted newcomers and tourists throughout the United States. Of course, Greenville also enjoys great weather all your round, making it one of its attractions
Greenville is also starting to be recognized by media outlets throughout the United States as not only a great tourist destination but as a place to start and raise a family. The National Geographic named Greenville as one of “The Best Cities in the United States”. Trip Advisor called it one of the “Top 10 Traveler’s Destinations On The Rise in 2018”. People Magazine called it “The Next Big Small Town”. It is the”# 3 Top Small City in the United States”, says Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. And the recognition just keeps coming for this great city. It is the”# 3 Top Small City in the United States”, says Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards. CNN Money said it is one of the “Top 10 Growing Cities in The United States”. Bloomberg named it the “Third Strongest Job Market in The Country”.