Is Termite Control Necessary During the Fall?

Although the presence of mosquitoes and wasps may slowly begin to diminish throughout the autumnal season, many other pests can become a real threat in their place. Among them is a destructive pest that can potentially continue damaging your home year-round – the termite. At Emtec Pest Control, we are often asked by our customers whether termite control is necessary during the fall and winter months. To help shed some light on the situation, we have compiled a guide to help you understand what to expect and if the service is necessary. 

Unfortunately, the easy answer to whether termite control is necessary during the fall is a resounding yes. While termite activity may slow due to dropping temperatures, termites that are already inside of a climate-controlled home will experience little to no change in their current behaviors. This creates an optimal environment for termites to continue to expand their colonies and have a reliable food source 24/7. Simply put, without the proper protection and preventative methods in place, any home in Oklahoma is still at risk of termite damage no matter what season it may be. 

Termite Behaviors in Fall 

Every species of termite is active during fall and winter and their behaviors likely will change very little depending on where their nest site may be. However, colonies may be less visible than they previously were as they begin to burrow deeper into the ground to find warmer temperatures in the soil. In many cases, this could mean that the nest could be up to 30 feet deep where the soil temperature does not drop below 50°F; however, that perceived change in nesting habits does not mean your home is safe from continued damages. 

All homes have the basic needs of termites by creating stable temperatures and allowing optimal water or food sources. This means that worker termites will happily continue their assault on a home during colder months like fall and winter; although, it is unlikely that you will see them because of their covert gathering methods inside of your walls. In addition to these colony members, swarming termites are actively preparing for the arrival of spring to begin seeking new partners and forming new colonies that could further impact the safety and integrity of your home without intervention. 

Fight Back Against Fall Pests 

Whether you are finding signs of termites around your home or other creepy crawlies are starting to become more of a problem during the fall, the team at Emtec Pest Control is here to help. Schedule your FREE, no-obligation, pest inspection for your home or business today to learn what is possible. 

Speak with a Knowledgeable Technician 

Do Termites Swarm During the Fall? 

In most cases, termite swarmers are only active during the spring and summer months; however, the timing in which this behavior begins ultimately depends on how mature the termite colony is and the climate or weather patterns at the current time. For termites to being swarming several key conditions must be met. Although it is possible for termite swarmers to leave their nesting sites during the fall months and large colonies may split into multiple new colonies during a process called “budding”. 

During swarming periods, mature termite alates will fly to new locations to mate, shed their wings and form new termite colonies. Termites can continue maturing year round and do not always reach this level during the spring or summer. With this in mind, it is important to ensure that you remain vigilant in stopping termite activity whenever it may be seen or focusing on prevention methods to protect your property or home year-round from the impending threat and damages that termites are capable of causing. 

Termite Control and Prevention During Fall 

To protect your home from termites during the fall months, it is important to work with a qualified pest control professional for termite inspections or the installation of bait or monitoring systems. Emtec Pest Control has found great success for many high-risk locations using the Sentricon® System with Always Active™ Technology. As a termite baiting system, systems are placed around the home to begin providing protection or termite elimination immediately. Using a special bait that is up to 10 times more attractive to termites than wood, the Sentricon® System was designed to draw in termites from nearby areas that they may be feeding.  

Once termites ingest the bait, the active ingredient noviflumuron is then transported to the rest of the colony, including the queen, where it begins to wipe out their populations. This important feeding characteristic is leveraged by not killing the worker termites immediately and instead ensures that the treated bait is dispersed throughout the entire colony for the best results. As the colony dies, the reproductive queen will also die with it, ensuring that no more termites are left to continue to damage your home. 

Once the existing termite colonies have been eliminated, the Sentricon® System continues to work as a detection device with untreated bait. Once new termites are observed inside of these bait centers, the noviflumuron can be reintroduced quickly to expedite the process and ensure colonies of termites are eliminated before they have a chance to infest a home’s structure or seek out new food sources. The Certified Sentricon® Specialists at Emtec Pest Control can continue monitoring your bait stations in case those pesky termites ever return. 

When to Call a Professional 

It can often be hard for homeowners to know they have a termite problem unless extensive damage has already occurred. As a leading provider of termite control services in Tulsa and OKC for over 40 years, we can help not only determine if termites are present, but we can also eliminate them with guaranteed termite control services. Do not wait until it is too late. Contact the experts at Emtec Pest Control Today!