Termite Control

Termite problems were much easier to deal with in the past than they are today. Termite control experts knew that the termite species they dealt with was indigenous to Tennessee, and they would have easily predictable behaviors.

In recent decades, termites colonies have been able to "migrate" to new areas by hitchhiking on wood and materials brought through interstate and international commerce, on trucks and through shipping.

This means that the problem is only getting worse. In fact, $30 billion dollars in damages each year caused by termite-related problems! To stop this problem before your termite damage gets worse, call Dayton's Pest Control today.

Termites are nasty, sneaky little creatures. They are experts at finding ways to the wood in your home, and they never sleep. Popular Mechanics reports that a termite can work its way through nearly any form of construction, including concrete slabs.

They're able and willing to feed on a variety of materials in the home, including wood, paper, books, drywall, leather, cellulose insulation, cardboard and even animal fur!

The main entryways for termites, according to Professional Builder Magazine, are construction joints, pipe penetrations and bath traps, but they've also been known to enter the home by crawling up the siding from outside the home. Because of this, it's important to always keep the slab viewable from the outside by leaving 6-8 inches exposed at the bottom for inspections and to help discourage infestation.

Inspecting for Termites

At one time, the most common way to detect termites within a home was to look for the swarming of winged termites in a TN home. However, with a shifting, changing global climate, termites now commonly reproduce by budding instead of swarming, with new colonies being formed by breaking away a number of termites from the original colony to start their own. As entomologist Mike Deutsch was quoted in PR Newswire, "As horrifying and scary as termite swarms are, they were a great indicator that a home was infested. Now homeowners won't know if they have termites until the piano falls into the basement".

Termites are a more serious threat to a home than ever, now that they've begun to enter without swarming. However, a professional still has several telltale signs that will help indicate a termite infestation, such as areas of wood that have been hollowed out, or mud tubes extending across foundation walls, support piers, floor joists and sill plates.

If you find swarming termites in your home, be sure to save a few to show to the pest inspector, then vacuum the rest. Swarming termites cannot damage or eat wood, but they can start new colonies.