A Complete Guide To Termite Control And Prevention In Western Massachusetts

Are termites a problem in Western Massachusetts? You might not think so, considering the brutal winters we sometimes have in New England. But the termites in our area are not bothered by winter weather. They live underground. While air temperatures can fluctuate quite a bit, ground temperatures are much slower to change. They can live below the frost line and make it through winter with no problem. That is why every Western Massachusetts property owner should know the important facts about termites in our area, such as how termite problems begin, how to detect a problem, and what to do when you find active termites.

Join us today as we touch on these important facts, and stay with us to the end for some prevention tips. As always, we're here if you need us. Your American Pest Solutions team can answer your questions or schedule a service visit. We offer cutting-edge termite control in Western Massachusetts, and you'll find your pest solutions right here.

How A Termite Infestation Starts

Have you ever wondered how termites come into your yard, what they look for on your property, or why they often invade your home? Understanding how subterranean termites spread is helpful if you're hoping to protect your Western Massachusetts property from these destructive little insects. Let's break it down.

Swarmers:

Troubles may start when winged male and female reproductives fly onto your property. Most people call them swarmers because they gather into a swarm to mate with each other. After they swarm, they break into couples and find locations to create nests.

Nests:

Not all termite couples are successful. Some perish on roads or dry places without ever digging into the ground. Some fail after going underground. But the few that succeed can create thriving nests that send out worker termites.

Workers:

A termite nest will create as many workers as it can, as fast as it can. The speed at which the colony grows is dependent on the availability of food. Food sources, such as a pile of dead branches, a few logs, or some old scrap wood will not only inspire colony growth but may lead a colony to create a satellite colony, which is another way termite infestations start.

Satellite Colonies:

Termite workers can travel the length of a football field in their search for food. If they find a plentiful food source on your property, wingless reproductives may travel through the tunnels to create a colony underground without ever going aboveground. At first, a satellite colony will share resources with the first nest, but after a while, it can break off and become its own nest. All of this happens right under your feet.

One of the food sources termites eat is the wood inside man-made structures. The last thing you need is for termites to create a colony right next to your home and start munching on it. You may be able to prevent damage if you know how to detect termites.

Signs Of Termite Damage To Look For Around The House

When worker termites move about in your yard, it is hard to tell. They spend all of their time underneath the soil. But, when they cause damage, you may see it. You might also detect termites in the areas where damage is occurring. Here's how to find termites on your property:

• Does your home have a crawl space? If so, crawl into that space with a flashlight and look for deteriorating wood or splintering beams.
• Do you have a back deck? If so, crawl under your deck and look for wood damage. You can also check around the posts that support your deck. If you detect damage near the soil, dig out around your posts to see if there's any greater damage below the surface.
• Do you have firewood? If so, you may see damage to the structure supporting your firewood or termites crawling underneath any wood you pick up off the ground. Termite workers look a lot like pale ants.
• Do you have a wood fence? If so, you can inspect the wood that touches the soil and search for damage or the presence of worker and soldier termites in the soil.
• Do you have landscaping that runs along the exterior of your home? If so, you might see termite damage between your vegetation and your foundation wall, as this is a humid and protected space where termites might come out of hiding.

When searching for termites, there are a few things to keep in mind. Termite workers dry out easily and do not like coming out of their tunnels in areas with low humidity. They're also intolerant of light and will not want to come out, even in the light of the moon.

Now that you know how termites spread and what signs you can find in your yard, it is time to shift gears. Let's look at termite control. We'll start with the best way to get rid of termites: Professional termite solutions.

How Professionals Get Rid Of Termites

All professionals use professional-grade termite control solutions, but there are some differences. Some companies only use termiticides to stop infestations and keep termites out. Some companies only use termite bait stations. At American Pest Solutions, we believe it is best to choose a company that offers both.

Termiticides are effective for quickly eliminating termite activity in structures. When termites go in and out, they pass right through the treated soil and pick up the material. As they return to the colony, they groom each other and spread the material. The result of exposure is colony elimination.

Termite bait systems can also eliminate colonies. The termite workers find the bait and share it with the colony by way of a fluid exchange. The result of exposure to the bait is colony elimination. But it takes longer for bait to address an infestation. It is much better as a means of monitoring termite activity.

If you want to address a termite problem and your property is in Western Massachusetts, contact American Pest Solutions for an inspection. We offer both liquid treatments and bait solutions. We'll help you figure out which will work best for you.

The Key To Preventing Future Termite Troubles

Once the termites are gone, what is the next step? How do you prevent future termite troubles? The methods used for preventing future infestations are the same as what you'll use to prevent a termite problem in the first place.

There are ways you can guard your property from the munching mouths of termites. It has to do with controlling the conditions we covered prior:

• When you pick up sticks from your yard, keep them off the ground by throwing them into a bin or setting them on a mat or structure.
• Remove all wood debris, such as logs, stumps, and wood scraps.
• Replace wood ornaments and borders in your landscaping.
• Replace wood fences or structural skits with another material, such as vinyl.
• Pick up stacked cardboard, paper, or clothing that sits on the ground.
• Clear out any areas of your gutter that have debris collected. What this does is prevent the oversaturation of wood and soil. Soaked wood can rot and attract termites. Wet soil can attract worker termites because they need moisture for hydration.
• Trim plants, remove weeds, cut grass, and take other steps to maintain vegetation. Doing this will reduce humidity, deter wood rot, and help keep termites away.
• Keep watch for signs of termites, such as the appearance of swarmers or exposed termite workers.
• Routinely check spider webs for swarmer wings. These wings are white and shaped like half a heart stretched vertically; you might think of it as a teardrop shape. All the wings you find will be the same size if they are, in fact, termite wings.
• Check for any changes to the wood around your house.

Removing termite food, addressing moisture issues, and detecting termites early on are the ways to guard against extensive termite damage if you don't have professional termite control. But how can a professional help? If you got a termite treatment, you're already on your way to preventing termite damage. If your professional installed a liquid treatment, all you need to do to protect your property is to get annual inspections and termite treatment upkeep. Doing so will keep your warranty (and active protection) in place. Ongoing maintenance will protect your property if you have a bait system installed. Routine checks from a technician will ensure that things are working as they should.

Are you in Western Massachusetts? Take control of termite problems with proactive termite control and prevention. Connect with your American Pest Solutions team to learn about our professional termite control services. We use the most trusted products available in the industry, applied or installed by certified termite control professionals. There is no better way to keep termites out. Get started by heading over to our Contact Us page or calling us. We're here to help.