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What You Should Know About Termites In Wisconsin
10/24/13
Termites are a social insect that live in very large underground colonies; they build mud tunnels just underneath the surface of the ground that they use to travel from their nest to their food source in. Their main food source is cellulose debris that is found in dead and rotting organic material like leaf litter, soil, animal feces and wood. They are particularly drawn to wood that has had previous water damage, making many properties and homes attractive. While termites generally feed outdoors, they often make their way into homes through cracks in foundations and once inside they will get behind walls, under floorboards and behind ceilings and begin to feed on your home’s structural wood. Termites are a particularly dangerous pest not only because they affect the structure of your home and stay hidden as they work, but also because they continuously work; twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, they never stop causing damage to your home.
Being aware of what the signs of termite damage are can allow you to get help from a Wisconsin pest control company sooner rather than later. Signs of termites and termite damage include:
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Presence of mud tunnels running towards your home.
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If there is a mature termite colony on your property you could see a termite swarm; after the swarm you will notice piles of discarded wings.
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Wood inside your home from the outside may appear blistered, splintered, or weakened.
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There may be traces of mud on the exterior of wooden structure in your home from where the termites have tried to repair holes that they have accidently made.
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You may see that doorways, floors and ceilings in your home start to appear warped.
Termites can often be confused with ants, especially the reproductive members (swarmers) that are winged. It is very important as a homeowner to understand the difference between flying ants and flying termites since termites are so destructive and immediate control measures need to be taken if they are in your home. Some differences between ants and termites include:
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The waist area of an ant is pinched, while a termite’s waist is not.
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Termite bodies are divided into two parts and flying ant bodies are divided into three parts.
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Termites and ants both have 2 sets of wings. The termites’ wings are all the same length, while the ant’s front wings are longer than their back wings.
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Termite antennae is straight and beaded, flying ant antennae is bent and continuous.
If you are unsure what type of insect is invading your home, contact a professional to identify ants vs termites in your home.
If you think that termites are on your property you should immediately get help from a professional pest control company that has experience with termite treatment and control. While some pest problems may be able to be eliminated with DIY treatments, termites are not one of those pests. Eliminating an entire termite colony is a difficult process that requires extensive knowledge and expert control solutions. If you need help with pest control in Milwaukee, Appleton, Eau Claire or surrounding Wisconsin communities, contact Wil-KIl Pest Control today!