WHY TERMITE SEASON ISN’T OVER IN MORRIS COUNTY

For most people, buying a home is the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Just as you wouldn’t purchase a new phone then leave it out in the middle of your driveway exposed to the elements and passing vehicle tires, you also wouldn’t leave your home, a much bigger investment, vulnerable to all the potential dangers that nature can bring!

One of those dangers that Morris County residents face is the danger of a termite infestation.

Perhaps you’ve never seen any termites in or around your home so you think you’re in the clear. Unfortunately, this is not necessarily the case. While many other pests leave clear signs of their presence, termites are one of the sneakiest insects around, rarely showing any signs that they have invaded your home until it’s too late and the damage to your home has become extensive.

Why You Might Not See Termites

As their name indicates, subterranean termites live primarily underground. The vast majority of these termites will never show themselves above ground. Termites employ a three-tiered caste system made up of workers, soldiers, and reproductives which are also referred to as swarmers.

Worker termites are in charge of building and fixing nests, creating tunnels, and gathering food for the colony.

The soldiers are in charge of defending the colony.

Reproductives are the only termites in the colony with wings and are also the only termites you’re likely to see as they’re the only ones who will typically come to the surface. However, they only emerge from their underground colonies during certain times of the year. Since these are the termites you are most likely to see, we want to provide you with a quick description: these swarmers are often confused with flying ants due to their similar appearance. They are the largest termites in the colony and at about ½ an inch in length, range in color from dark brown to black, and have two pairs of wings that are equal in length. These termites will shed their wings once they find a mate and find a location to establish their new colony.

What Damage Do Termites Cause?

While you are blissfully unaware of their presence, termites can cause major damages to your home. They love to feed on wood that has previously been damaged by water and can lead to devastating and expensive structural damage to your home. It is estimated that termites cause over 5 billion dollars in damages to homes in the United States each year. Clearly, termites are not a pest you want invading your home!

Signs You May Have Termites

As we previously stated, oftentimes the only sign of termites appear after they have already caused extensive damages to your home. The reproductive termites typically emerge from the ground in the spring after it rains to find a mate and create their own colonies. If you see hundreds of these winged termites on the ground around your property, that is a sure sign that you have a problem!

While swarms usually occur in the spring, they can also happen anytime the weather is warm and the temperatures reach above 70 degrees, so you may see these swarms throughout the summer as well. Termites can also survive the cold winter months, so just because the temperatures drop doesn’t mean your termite problem will go away!

How to Prevent Termites

Obviously, preventing termites from gaining access to your home before they have a chance to invade is the best line of defense against these wood-destroying pests.

Since termites are drawn to water-damaged wood, it’s important to keep your home and property as moisture-free as possible.

• Ensure that your home and lawn have proper drainage.
• Fix water leaks inside and outside your home immediately.
• Clean gutters regularly.
• Keep wood piles dry and at least 20 feet from your home.
• Maintain your yard and clean up fallen trees and debris, including leaves.
• Check for cracks and holes in your foundation and exterior walls frequently and seal any that you find.

To ensure your peace of mind, call the professionals at Viking Pest Control! We are trained to spot the signs of a termite infestation that most people miss!

Termites are extremely destructive pests and should not be messed around with. If you suspect that you already have a termite problem, call Viking Pest Control right away! The experts at Viking offer the best termite elimination services available and have the knowledge and experience needed to take care of the problem both quickly and effectively! Contact us at 800-618-2847 in New Jersey for more information about our termite control options!

New Jersey residents can reach out to Viking Pest Control for a free estimate by going here. Our pest control professionals are ready to answer all of your pest and termite control needs, just give us a call at 800-618-2847 today!