When Are Termites Active Around New England Homes?

In our Connecticut and Massachusetts service areas, the termites we battle are eastern subterranean termites, which can be active all year long under the right conditions. It is important to understand what these conditions are if you want to protect your equity from these wood-eating insects.

Warmth

Eastern subterranean termites live underground, when they're not eating tunnels through wood sources above ground. And, you may not know this, but the temperature of the ground changes a whole lot slower than the temperature of the air. When we get cold snaps above ground, those termites don't even know it. It is only when the cold is constant that termites take notice. So a cold September day isn't going to bother termites. They won't usually get cold enough to slow down until January or February. They're able to stay active in temperatures above 50 degrees.

When we get a lot of snow, the snow can act as insulation and prevent the cold from getting deep enough to slow termites down. If termites are positioned underneath a home, they can tunnel straight up and into the home through cracks in the foundation or by entering right into a dirt-floored cellar. If you have a cellar, check it routinely for shelter tubes. Subterranean termites create tubes up hard surfaces, like concrete, to get to wood and feed on it. These shelter tubes might be in a location that is visible or they may be inside wall voids or concrete piers.

Availability of Food

Termites primarily feed on wood. If your home has wood in it (which is probably does) then it contains a food source that is interesting to termites. But not all wood is equally interesting to subterranean termites. They prefer wood that is soft or rotting. For this reason, a home with water damage can be much more susceptible to termite damage. And water-damaged wood in a cellar that has moisture or water in it is common. Is your cellar damp? Strongly consider drying it out and sealing it from the moisture. This will protect your wood from rot and make it less inviting to termites and other wood-destroying pests.

If subterranean termites are warm enough to be active but unable to find food, they'll slow down for lack of energy. When they find an available food source that can be reached, even in the dead of winter when there is snow on the ground, they'll have the energy they need to continue their destructive activities.  

No Termite Control in Place

The biggest reason termites are able to be active all year long inside our New England homes is the absence of termite control. When there is no termite protection in place, there is nothing to prevent these wood-destroying insects from eating you out of house and home. Literally. Professional termite control does two things in order to prevent termites from eating your equity.

Monitors for activity: Bait stations can monitor your home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That is good news—since termites are simple organisms that never sleep. When those termites take the bait, not only will your technician know about it, but the bait begins to immediately address the problem. Within the Advance® Termite Bait System we use, there is an active ingredient. This substance is shared from termite to termite and begins the work of eliminating the colony that sent those termites as soon as the bait stations are compromised.

Creates a barrier around your home: When you have liquid termiticide applied around your home, it acts like a defense shield, only better. When termites pass through the treated soil, they pick up the product and share it from termite to termite through the process of grooming. Just like our Advance® Termite Bait System, Termicide immediately beings to eliminate attacking colonies.

If you'd like to learn more about termite control, we'd be happy to answer your questions. If you need assistance with getting this essential protection in place for your home, we're here to help. American Pest Solutions is a leader in pest control. We'll make sure you get the right solution to fit your specific needs and budget.