You would never eat your home’s wood, not even if you were starving. Humans are not built to digest and draw nutrients from processed beams, boards, and plywood, but do you know who can gain nutrients from these things? Termites. These pests love to munch on dead trees, stumps, sticks, cardboard, plywood, and many other materials found in and around your home. Take some time today to learn more about termite infestations and discover options for pest control in Oklahoma City to combat these pests on your property. Prompt services are also available at Brandley Pest Control if you suspect your home has an existing termite problem. Give us a call to learn more.
About The Termite Caste System
Termites live in colonies that are supported by members of a caste system. These members include workers, soldiers, reproductives, and reproductive swarmers. Workers do most of the heavy lifting in the colony and are responsible for gathering cellulose (the main component found in wood), digging tunnels, and serving their queen in any way they can. Soldiers work hard to defend the colony against insect threats like ants. Reproductives live up to their name with the way they reproduce. Queens assign roles to newly hatched eggs. Finally, reproductive swarmers fly away from colonies during "swarming season" to establish new nests nearby.
One thing you need to know about termite colonies is that they do not mind sharing their food. As nests mature, they send out swarmers to start new colonies. These new colonies might work together to munch on your home’s wood, increasing the rate at which damage is done. This is not good for your equity and can quickly lead to a hefty repair bill.
A Termite Infestation Can Go Unnoticed For Some Time
One thing that makes termites unique is the way they infest homes. They do not crawl over countertops like ants, buzz around like flies--or make their presence known in any other obvious way. Termites instead chew tunnels directly into structural wood and stay hidden behind wallpaper, plaster, and floorboards. It typically takes several months to a couple of years before noticeable damage starts to show. This damage may include moisture spots on floors, walls, and ceilings, bubbling or peeling paint/wallpaper, hard-to-open doors and windows, overly squeaky floorboards, and sagging floors/ceilings. By the time these signs of termites show up, the damage is already severe and requires thousands of dollars of repair work to fix. To spot these pests early, schedule your home for regular termite inspections. We are masters of termite identification at Brandley Pest Control if you need help.
Is It Possible To Naturally Prevent Termite Infestations?
Termites are much more difficult to eliminate than they are to prevent. Assuming your home does not have a current problem with these pests, there are methods you can use to try to keep them out. Here are a few termite prevention tips to try first.
- Repair and replace water-damaged wood inside your home.
- Remove sticks, leaves, cardboard, fallen trees, and other termite snacks from your property.
- Fix leaky piping and repair damaged or clogged gutters around your home.
- Use a dehumidifier inside your home and wipe up moisture spills as they occur.
Although helpful, these tips are not guaranteed to keep termites out of your home. They are only a small patch for a much bigger problem. If you want more detailed protection, consider investing in professional termite control with our team.
The Best Thing To Do If You Spot Signs Of Termite Damage
We wish that you never find termite damage inside your home. If you do spot signs of these pests, however, we are here to help. Our team at Brandley Pest Control works hard to provide pest protection for members of our community. This involves thorough inspections and short/long-term treatments to combat these pests. All you have to do is let our team know you need assistance. We will pay you a visit, assess the condition of your property, identify any existing termite threats, and recommend some options to get and keep these pests away. With all of our services, we make sure that our clients are well informed and know that we will do everything in our power to protect them from pest problems.
Contact Brandley Pest Control today to learn how we can help you combat different types of termites on your Oklahoma City property and make an appointment for services.