Dense in protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals, termites are a nutrient-packed food. Not only can they keep the hungry fed, but they also help decompose dead plants and prevent soil erosion through secretions they emit while breaking down cellulose. Helping to return organic matter into good, usable soil is an important role for our ecosystem, but your house isn’t dead and doesn’t need help decaying, so termites are not welcome in your rafters. Continue reading to learn about termites found in Modesto, how to identify an infestation, and how do-it-yourself termite control can’t do the job.
What Color Are Termites?
In Northern California, we have both of the common types of termites, which means you need to be able to identify both. Subterranean termites are so named because they spend most of their time underground. A termite colony will have a caste system with different types of termites that perform different functions.
Alates, also called swarmers, have dark brown or black bodies with translucent wings. Workers and soldiers are cream-colored and smaller. Soldiers are a creamy white color but have brown heads. These termites make mud tubes to travel around on the surface.
Drywood termites do not have a worker caste, instead, younger termites serve as the workers. They form smaller termite colonies of around 2,500 members compared to the 60,000 of a subterranean termite colony. Creamy white to light brown in appearance, the drywood termite can grow to be an inch long, is narrow and oval-shaped, and swarm on sunny days.
How Do You Know If You Have Termites?
Termites can be sneaky pests. They do most of their work inside the wood, where they are hard to see. Oftentimes, this means that homes are being slowly eaten over a span of years or decades before owners realize there is a problem. However, the determined can find signs of termites before too much damage is done.
Looking for signs of termites is hard for the average person, but if you want to go hunting, these are the things to look out for:
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Buckling or splintering wood
- Small holes in drywall or wood siding with shed wings nearby
- Shed wings on windows or near doors
- Feces that look like sawdust or wood pellets
- Mud tubes on exterior walls near the soil
- “Galleries” on the wood that look like long rivets
- Peeling paint, loose tiles, discolored drywall
Do-It-Yourself Termite Control
Finding out you have a termite problem can be discouraging, but unfortunately, there are no home remedies for termites. The best DIY termite treatment is prevention and having a pest control professional visit your home regularly to check for signs. DIY termite treatment may take many forms, but poison is usually the first line of defense. Those looking for home remedies for termites might use borax, flooding, or vinegar, but none of these methods will make a dent in the potentially thousands of termites hiding in obscure corners of your home.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
Don’t waste time and money on ineffective treatments. Instead, call Insect IQ at the first sign of a termite problem. The best termite control company in Modesto is family-owned and operated, which means that your priorities and ours are aligned. The safety of your family and your property is our first priority. At Insect IQ, we will keep coming back until you’re completely satisfied that the pests are gone. With termites, this is especially important. For the best termite control company in Modesto, Call Insect IQ today to request your inspection and start your home’s pest control plan.