Bad news: your house is a feast just waiting to be devoured. Termites are responsible for damaging nearly 600,000 homes in the U.S. every year, and frustratingly, many homeowners don’t realize they have a termite infestation until it’s too late. The average cost of repairing your home from termite damage is over $3,000.
While some pests are dangerous because of the disease or harmful venom they carry, termites are dangerous because of the sheer destruction they can inflict on your New Jersey property. If you believe that your New Jersey home has termites, here’s what you need to know.
What To Know About Termites
While there are thousands of termite species around the world, most share traits in common. Generally, termites measure between ¼ inch to ½ inch in length and have soft bodies with a light brown or white coloration.
Like ants, termites live in large colonies with a queen, workers, soldiers, and other designated social roles. Colonies are formed when a breeding pair of swarming winged termites mates. The successful swarming termites will lose their wings and go on to become the king and queen of their new colony. A termite queen will lay up to 30,000 eggs per day, which will develop into nymphs, then larvae, and eventually, adults.
Termites in the U.S. can be separated into three groups based on their preferred habitat. Subterranean termites build colonies underground and feed on dead plants, trees, and other cellulose-rich organic material on the surface. Dampwood termites rely on moist sources of wood like rotting logs to build their colonies. And finally, drywood termites thrive in (you guessed it) dry environments with lots of wood — like your home.
Is It Bad To Live In A House With Termites?
Unlike many other common household pests, termites don’t pose a risk of transmitting disease to humans. In fact, termites are known to be some of the most hygienic creatures around and spend time meticulously cleaning themselves. But although termites might be free of deadly viruses and bacteria, they can still cause an allergic reaction.
Termites produce a lot of waste when they infest your home. They shed their skin, leave droppings, and create dust as they eat their way through your property. Microscopic particles from termites can fill the air in your home, irritating the eyes and skin, causing sneezing, and in inducing asthma attacks in severe cases.
Termites can wreak havoc on your home for months without you noticing but sudden allergies could be a warning sign that you have an infestation.
Signs Of Termite Infestation
How do you know if you have termites? There are some telltale warning signs that you should look out for:
Seeing swarming winged insects on your property could be the first warning sign of a potential termite infestation. Termite colonies begin with a pair of winged termites. If you don’t actually see the swarm, the presence of discarded insect wings on your property could indicate a termite colony has recently been established.
Visible structural damage to your home is important to recognize. You could see termite damage in the form of bubbling paint resembling water damage, sagging drywall, or drywall speckled with pinpoint holes. Wooden structures in your home may sound hollow when tapped or could be visibly crumbling away.
Mud tubes on the exterior of your property are evidence of subterranean termites. These tubes are used to connect underground termite colonies to their food source and can typically be found along the foundation of your property.
Preventing Termites
Thankfully, there are a few things you can do to prevent a termite infestation from developing on your property:
Seal openings around pipes and fixtures that lead into your home, such as gas and water lines. Other pests like cockroaches can also enter through these openings.
Eliminate excess moisture and fix any leaking pipes, as well as areas where water accumulates on your roof or along your foundation.
Use cellulose-free mulch and keep organic cellulose-rich material like wood away from your property.
If you see signs of termite infestation in your home, don’t wait; get the professional support you need with Amco Pest Solutions. We will provide a free inspection for both the interior and exterior areas of your property and work with you to develop the best treatment plan possible. Our expert technicians will eliminate any existing termites and prevent new colonies from destroying your home in the future.
Get in touch with us today and solve your termite troubles once and for all.