Termites can be sneaky creatures, often hiding where they are challenging to find. At the same time, they can cause immense damage within a home if left untreated. Therefore, it is imperative to know the signs and risks of a termite-infested home. Here you will find everything you need to know about beating termite infestations.
Oklahoma residents are indeed at risk of termite issues. Although not all homes have equal susceptibility to termites, many can still be at risk. If your home has wood that touches the earth, makes up a substantial portion of your basement construction, or touches the ground in another way, you may want to check for termites.
Nests can be difficult to identify until they grow larger, at which time they are also likely to have caused quite a bit of destruction. For this reason, it is essential to know what types of termites exist, how to identify them, how to rectify problems that they may have caused, and how to prevent them.
What Are the Most Common Termites in Oklahoma?
Although there are many types of termites throughout the world, we are primarily concerned with those that live in North America. The Eastern Subterranean Termite might be the most well-known termite species – particularly in Oklahoma! These termites are usually ⅛ of an inch long in size and often pale with thick shells and signature large, orange heads. The soldiers of this species will protect the colony and fight alongside carpenter ants. For this reason, they may be even more visible than other termite species.
The Subterranean type of termite loves wood that can easily be dug into. If you have moisture damage or rot, Subterranean termites will love residing there. These termites stay underground to locate food and hollow out the wood where it is susceptible. In turn, this creates a weakness in the wood that renders it useless.
Another type of termite is the Formosan termite. Although these termites have not yet been discovered in Oklahoma, they have been identified near the Texas border. These bugs could eventually spread, causing concern for additional damage.
What are Termite Swarms?
In colonies with a high amount of growth, termites have been known to swarm (or fly) to create new, nearby colonies. Each new colony has a new queen and can be an easily recognizable sign of larger termite colonies nearby.
Termite swarms usually happen once a year. With the Subterranean species, one can expect to see swarming occur after spring has begun. The earth is often wet from rain during these times, providing an ideal environment for termites to do their swarming. Summer is also a potential time of year for the swarm to occur.
Most colonies do swarm simultaneously and may even mingle with other termite colonies, searching out the most viable queens and kings for the new colonies. Once you see a swarm, it is easy to identify the termites, but too late to prevent them.
How Can Termites Be Caught Early?
Termites can be particularly problematic due to the difficulty of noticing them early. Small termite nests can exist for years without the people of the home noticing that something is off. Specific methods can be used, however, to head off potential problems.
One approach is looking for termite eggs. These pods are translucent orange, brown, or white and appear gel-like. Some may even compare them visually to caviar. They can often be found amongst damaged wood sections, often hidden, and are an excellent identifier that you may be near an active colony.
If you find eggs, do not hesitate to call professional help! Another clue is if you see wood that is buckling or swollen. This can often be a clue to indicate active termites and would also be the ideal time to call in professional help.
Subterranean termites are generally found underground and could potentially build mud tubes in exceptionally moist areas. This allows them to move around dense objects and infest a shallower area. If you see column-like lines in basements, crawlspaces, or other areas underneath the house, you may be looking at a severe infestation of termites.
These tunnels, eggs, buckled wood, or active termite sightings are all warning signs of a termite infestation that should be taken very seriously. If you see any of these signs, reach out to a reputable termite control company like Emtec Pest Control. These companies can track the termite locations, build traps, and rectify your termite issues.
At Emtec Pest Control, we are committed to safe and responsible pest control. We understand that your family’s safety is your number one priority, so we make it our priority, too.
If you have any other questions about any of these pests or pest control for your home or business, contact your Oklahoma pest control experts at Emtec Pest Control by calling us or by filling out our online contact form.