What Norfolk Property Owners Ought To Know About Termite Swarmers
3/15/2021
You may not think much about termites until you see a swarm of them flying around in your bathroom. The presence of a termite swarm in your home means a termite colony is nearby – probably somewhere in your home.
If you notice termite swarmers either in your house or in your yard, the best course of action is to contact a pest control company like PESTOUT. Professional treatment is the only way to eradicate termites from your home.
But first, let’s learn more about termite swarmers so you can understand why swarms indicate you likely have a problem within the walls of your Norfolk home.
What Are Termite Swarmers?
Most of the time, termites remain hidden underground, or in the case of Formosan termites, inside aboveground carton nests. They build mud tunnels between the colony’s nest and wood or cellulose products, which are their only food source. Worker and soldier termites stay in or near the nest. The workers' role is providing food for the colony, soldiers protect the queen.
In the spring, a special type of termite leaves the nest for the sole purpose of reproducing. Called alates, these reproductive termites have wings. They fly until they find a suitable mate and a spot to build a new nest.
If the existing nest is located within your home, you may see a termite swarm indoors. If it’s not, you might notice termite swarms outdoors. But since they are searching for a new place to call home, it’s important not to ignore them.
Termite Prevention In Norfolk
When selecting new nesting sites, termites look for readily available food sources. That’s why it’s vital to make your property unattractive real estate to termites. Homes built on concrete slabs are especially vulnerable to termite infestations in Norfolk since the tiny bugs can crawl in through a small crack in the foundation. Homes with rotting wood are also inviting environments for termites.
To prevent termites in Norfolk, follow these tips.
1. Reduce Food Sources
- Prevent the wooden parts of decks, gates, fences, and other exterior structures from coming into contact with the soil.
- Move brush piles, lumber, stacked wood, and other wood materials or away from your home or off your property entirely.
- Eliminate rotting trees, stumps, logs, and brush.
- Never bury wood on your property.
2. Eliminate Moisture
- Remove blockages from gutters and/or make repairs so water drains appropriately.
- Make sure irrigation systems don’t leak and try to run sprinklers in the morning so the sun will dry excess water throughout the day.
- Cut excess vegetation so air can dry topsoil after watering or precipitation.
- Eliminate standing water.
- Fix leaky spigots, hoses, and pipes.
3. Reduce Entry Points
- Repair torn window screens, holes in window frames, and broken window panes.
- Fix damaged weatherstripping, door sweeps, and holes or gaps in door frames.
- Patch cracks in the home’s foundation.
- Seal gaps around pipes and wires that penetrate your foundation walls.
Termite Control In Norfolk
If you see a termite swarm on your property, your first call should be to PESTOUT. If the termites have already established a colony, we can eradicate the nest, allowing you to make necessary repairs to your home. If there’s not evidence of an existing colony, we will take measures to prevent one from being established in your home.
Call PESTOUT today for expert termite control in Norfolk. We will respond quickly to inspect your property, apply treatments, and monitor your property so it stays termite-free!
