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In Hollywood, Florida, there may be threats to your home that you are unaware of. The threat comes from termites and often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. Keep reading to learn more about how to get rid of termites in your home. 

South Florida appears to be ground zero for the spread of termites in homes. Since they rarely bite, they are not a major danger to people or animals. Instead, they pose a danger to residential properties all over the region.

Wood is the preferred food of termites. Termites can be a major issue for homeowners and business owners alike, despite the fact that damaged wood may seem minor at first.

In the United States, termites attribute about $5 billion in annual damages. Eighty percent of the damage caused by termites comes from subterranean species. Some species of termite can consume 3 pounds of wood per day.

What can you do to prevent such a threat from destroying your home? What methods do you use to eliminate a termite colony?

The first step in eliminating a termite problem is spotting the telltale signs of an infestation. Second, you should get rid of the termites. The third stage, preventing their return, will be an ongoing one. Homeowners in Hollywood, Florida, can take action right now to ensure their properties’ safety.

Read on to learn about the different methods for preventing termites and treating them if you find any in your home.

Signs Of Termite Infestation

Termites favor wooden and paper materials. Since they feed on wood, an infestation poses a serious threat to the integrity of your home’s structure. Any structure made of wood is in jeopardy. If you see even one of these, termites have already invaded your home.

Symptoms of infestation include:

Where Do Termites Hide?

Basically, if there is wood, there will be termites. A large percentage of their dwellings are made of wood. Subterranean termites can be found in a number of places around the home, including but not limited to the attic.

Look for mud tunnels and other signs of termites in home in these spots.

A bright source of light can be used to lure away a swarm of insects. It’s common to see them in close proximity to windows and other sources of illumination.

When Do Termites Swarm?

In Florida, termites tend to swarm all year long. Spring and summer are their busiest seasons. Swarms of termites are an all too common occurrence in Florida, which has more termite species than any other state. If you keep a close eye out for termites in home, you can stop them before they do any real damage.

What Do Termites Look Like?

3 Common Types Of Termites

Multiple species of termites exist. Identifying characteristics and indicators are unique to each.

Subterranean Termites

Termites that live underground typically invade buildings through foundation cracks. Soil is essential for the insects’ survival. They coat themselves in mud to keep themselves from drying out. Consequently, they create mud tubes as they travel from one food source to another. Their abandoned wings and mud tubes are other telltale signs of their presence. Cracks in the foundation or pipes provide easy access for subterranean termites.

Termite colonies in the ground can house as many as a million individuals. They can cause significant damage even to newer homes made of concrete blocks. They are more effective than their drywood counterparts in causing damage quickly.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites make their home in the wood they consume. Frass, or feces, are often used as a means of identification. Dry wood is digested and the frass is expelled away from the animal. The smallest pieces of frass are smaller than rice. It accumulates in heaps on floors, window sills, and behind couches. When drywood termites invade a home, it’s usually because a piece of infested furniture was brought inside.

A drywood termite colony can take up to five years to reach maturity. Termites with wings may appear after this time. Their presence indicates that they have been wreaking unnoticed structural damage to your home for at least three years, hidden within the wood.

Dampwood Termites

Though they are the largest of the termite species, dampwood termites cause the least damage to homes because they spend most of their time outside in damp or rotten wood. Homes are typically made out of tree trunks, fence posts, or logs. However, they can still cause damage to your home if they get into any exposed, wet wood.

Getting Rid Of Termites

The discovery of termite damage could feel catastrophic, but it’s actually not. The termites need to be exterminated immediately. Getting in touch with a pest control service, such as On Demand Pest Control, to help you eliminate an infestation as soon as possible can give you back the upper hand.

Pest control services may use any one of several methods, including:

Preventing Termites

Termite infestations can be avoided if you take the time to identify the insects early on. Indeed, it represents the very first means of effective termite management. Maintaining a regular schedule of property inspections can be crucial. Termites can be found anywhere, so it’s important to look in places like light fixtures, attics, and crawl spaces.

Controlling and preventing termites as soon as possible after an infestation has been discovered is essential to minimizing further damage to your home, particularly if it has recently been treated. Both DIY and professional pest control services focus on prevention.

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Get Help from On Demand Pest Control 

On Demand Pest Control is a locally owned and operated company in South Florida and provides pest control and prevention solutions for both residential and commercial properties in the area. Our Florida certified expert technicians provide safe and effective termite treatments and prevention throughout Southeast and Southwest Florida. 

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