You just found out that you have a termite infestation and the first thing that pops into your mind is “Is my house safe or is it going to fall down?” The truth is that while it is highly unlikely that your house will fall down, termites are destructive and can cause thousands of dollars in property damage to your home. Why do termites infect structures to begin with? The knowledgably professionals at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control understand termites and their behavior patterns and have provided the following information to help you have a better understanding of termites and how destructive they can be to your home or other property.
How Fast Do Termites Eat Wood?
Termites consume cellulose in wood either from tree’s or the wood in your home and they relentlessly forage for food non-stop. An average termite colony can weigh 70 lbs. or more and can house as many as 1,000,000 termites. One acre of land can average between 13 – 15 termite colonies. As you can imagine with such voracious appetites there are two types of structures, those that are already infested with termites and those that are waiting to be infested. The largest subterranean termite colonies eat about a pound of wood per day!
How Common is Termite Damage?
According to statistics, there is more financial damage caused by termites than by fires, floods, hurricanes and other natural disasters combined. Similar in nature to ants, termites live in an intricately organized system which the Queen controls along with determining what is needed to ensure survival. Termite Queens can live for as many as 25 years in optimal conditions and can produce millions of viable offspring.
What is a Worker, Soldier & Winged Termite?
Worker termites have one job and that is to sustain the colony by feeding all of the other members. Worker termites eat the cellulose found in wood and then transfer it the other members of the colony. The alates (winged reproductive termites) will leave the colony during the spring months to start anther colony. These can be found swarming in the tens of thousands. The alates are not very hardy and often die without the protection of the colony. Soldier termites have one job and that is to protect the colonies from invasion. They have one natural enemy and that is the ant. Soldier termites will use their large pincers to protect the colony from invasion.
Termite Pest Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
If you suspect you have termites in your home, or if you don’t remember the last time you had someone inspect your home for termites, contact the professionals at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control to schedule your annual termite inspection. Termites are destructive and can cause serious structural damage within a very short amount of time. You may have a termite infestation and not even be aware of it. The costs associated with preventing or treating your home for termites is much less than the cost of repairs for the damage termites are capable of doing to your home. For more information about termite inspections, treatments, prevention and maintenance plans contact the professionals at A Five Star Termite & Pest Control and speak with an associate about termites along with any of your other pest control needs. Call us today.
