Right now, termites were swarming in homes around Long Island. We’re receiving many calls for our free inspection and home protection services. In the pest control industry, this week is “Termite Awareness Week”.
10 Interesting Facts About Termites
- Swarms of the winged termites may appear in infested homes during late winter or early spring. Sometimes, a homeowner will just notice discarded wings.
- Termites only need a tiny opening about 1/16″ to sneak into your home.
- Termites create mud tubes to move from place to place. These mud tubes are about the width of a pencil. Mud tubes act like a protected runway from the earth to the wood termites feed on.
- There are 3 basic differences between ants and termites: antennae, waist and wings. Termites have straight antennae, a broad waist and two sets of wings of equal length. Ants have bent antennae and a pinched waist, and their sets of wings are different lengths.
- Are you covered by your homeowners policy for termites? Most homeowners are not!
- On Long Island, most termite infestations occur in the basement or cellar areas. Termites like areas with high moisture.
- Termite damage costs homeowners an estimated $5 billion per year.
- Termites never stop! It can be wood stumps, fallen trees or your home. A piece of termite damaged wood is pictured above.
- Termites can burrow into woodpiles and then right into your house.
- How much damage? It’s possible for 60,000 termites can consume 5 grams or 1/5 ounce of wood per day.
A professional pest control inspection is your best route for determining if you have termites.
