Termite Control 101: An Identification And Control Guide For Birmingham Properties

Whether you are a prospective homeowner, an investor, or someone looking to navigate the dynamic real estate market of Birmingham, this article is for you. You'll find it a go-to resource for outsmarting termites and guarding your real estate investments. We'll cover all of the basics: how to catch the subtle warning signs of termite activity, how termite damage escalates over time, how to proactively prevent termite damage, and what certified termite control professionals use for long-term termite damage prevention. If you'd like to speak with a professional regarding your termite questions or to learn about termite pest control in Birmingham, at any time. Your Havard Pest Control service team is happy to assist you.

You're Not Likely To See A Termite: How To Identify Signs Of Activity

The primary issue with termites in Birmingham is that they are elusive pests. It is hard to find signs of termites in your yard. The best way to learn how to detect them is to consider why they're hard to detect.

Worker termites dry out easily. It is one reason they don't crawl around on the ground, or on the wood of your property. They stay hidden in their tunnels, protected by mud lining they make with soil and saliva. If you want to find worker termites, you may have to cut into some wood to expose them. For example, you may cut a chunk off a stump, saw a log in half, or dig around the base of a dying tree. If you see tiny pale-colored insects, you've likely found termites.

Worker termites create structures out of soil and saliva called shelter tubes. These are above-ground tunnels. The workers stay inside the protection these tunnels offer and rarely come out, even while constructing the tunnels. Look for tunnels on your foundation walls. They may look like wiggly mud lines that are about the width of a pencil.

Worker termites live in utter darkness. They avoid all light. So you shouldn't expect to see shelter tubes out in the open. You'll find them on surfaces that are shielded from the sun and moon. If you have a crawl space under a structure, it is the best place to search for mud tubes.

Workers have a preference for natural wood debris, such as branches that fall from trees. If your property has dead branches lying on the ground, you have an opportunity to look for worker termites. You may discover them when you expose the dark, moist hiding places these insects will crawl around in as they feed on the branch.

Workers are not the only termites in a colony. There is one kind of termite that you may easily detect if you recognize it. The termites we are referring to are swarmers. They are the winged termites that leave the nest to mate with each other and create new nests. Termite swarmers are attracted to light and have no trouble flying around in the dry air. But it is possible to miss these termites.

Here are a few reasons why:

• Swarmers are only ⅜ of an inch long. You may see one by itself and think nothing of it. To catch a termite swarmer, you need to consider its black and white or dark orange and white coloration and the rounded tips of its wings.
• Swarmers are easily recognized when gathered in a swarm. All of the white wings really stand out. But termite swarms last a short time. In less than an hour, the termites mate with each other, shed their wings, and disappear into the ground.
• Swarmers only appear after a termite nest has had years to mature, and swarmers typically swarm in the spring. You won't see them until termites have had a chance to damage your property, and you only have a short window to detect them.

If you know what termite workers and swarmers look like, and some of the places you're likely to find them, you may detect active termites on your property. The easiest way to detect termites is by using termite bait stations or to have a licensed professional use equipment and expertise to check for termite activity annually.