Your home's wood may not seem tasty, but it is a delicacy for some insects. Of all the wood-eating bugs around the world, termites are by far the hungriest and most problematic. If you are looking for a way to protect your Long Island home's wood against a termite invasion, you are in the right place. Here are some things to consider about these destructive insects and a guaranteed solution to get and keep them out of your Long Island home for good.
What A Subterranean Termite Looks Like
There are a few different kinds of termites that live in America. The most common types of termites in Long Island are subterranean termites. These pests consume water-damaged, rotting, or otherwise softened wood. All termite colonies consist of a caste system of workers, soldiers, and reproductive kings and queens. A worker subterranean termite is ? of an inch long, creamy white, and has a long, oval-shaped body. Soldiers look the same but have larger heads. Finally, kings and queens are a bit larger in general and are sometimes born with wings. Winged reproductives are called swarmers and only keep their wings long enough to fly out and find new areas to build nests. If a swarmer or any other termite spends more than an hour above the ground, it will dry out and die.
How Termites Can Silently Destroy Your Home
Termites cost homeowners in America somewhere around five billion dollars each year. A good portion of this cost equates to termite damage repair costs. One thing that makes termites so destructive is the way they damage homes. Unlike carpenter ants that destroy wood and then venture out into the open, you'll rarely see subterranean termites as they eat away at your wood 24/7. These pests never sleep, making termites the most destructive pests on Long Island.
How To Remove Factors That Attract Termites To Your Home
Aside from home pest control, in order to stop a termite problem from occurring inside your Long Island home, it is wise to put in place some preventative measures, which mainly involve sealing entry points and addressing moisture problems. Here are some tips and tricks our experts recommend you use to accomplish these goals.
- Examine your home's exterior foundation for gaps, holes, and cracks. Seal these entry points with a caulking gun and some high-quality silicone caulk.
- Repair any damage to your window and door screens.
- Clean out your gutters once a year and make sure they are in good repair.
- Eliminate sources of water buildup in and around your home.
- Use a dehumidifier indoors, especially in humid rooms like basements and laundry rooms.
- Remove sticks, leaves, cardboard, newspaper, fallen trees, dead stumps, and other wood or wood-based items from your property.
Professional Termites Control Is The Best Way To Protect Your House
If you are looking to protect your home from different kinds of termites, we would like to offer our help. At Ultimate Pest Control, we deal with termites using an advanced bait system. This system attracts termites with tasty treats, and worker termites don't know that these tasty treats are poisonous and will eliminate their entire colony. We trust this system over other popular methods because it doesn't just eradicate current termite problems; it passively eliminates any future termites that might want to cause your property harm. With over 40 years of experience and a passion for serving our community, you can be sure we are your best choice for the job at hand.
Contact Ultimate Pest Control today to learn more about termite control in Long Island and schedule your home for a detailed termite inspection.
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