Termites are mysterious insects. They live in the ground, sneak into structures, and quietly feed on wood. You can have a termite infestation for years and have no idea they're eating you out of the house and home. Fortunately, American Pest Solutions has been tackling termite problems for over a century, and they're no longer a mystery to us. We've learned proven techniques for successful termite control in our Western Massachusetts service area. Today, we will break it down for you in a few simple steps.

In this article, we'll look at how to tell if you have termites, what to expect from the termites you find in your yard, methods to reduce the chances of a termite problem, and science-based solutions for effective termite control. If at any time you'd like to speak with a licensed pest management professional about termites on your property or termite control in Western Massachusetts, give us a quick call.

At American Pest Solutions, we're here to help you find solutions to all of your pest concerns. With that said, let's jump right in and look at the simple facts every Western Massachusetts property owner should know about termites in our state.

Termite Activity: How To Identify The Signs

When we say termites are mysterious, we mean it. They have an incredible knack for avoiding detection. Not only are termites hard to see, but the signs of termites are also usually hidden. Why is this the case? There are a few reasons. It is important to quickly cover them if you hope to catch these pests in your yard or home.

Termite workers spend their entire lives in utter darkness, which is the way they like it. These insects don't even want to come out into the moonlight. So, not only do they hide from view, they hide their activity from view. What sort of activity? Subterranean termites create structures called mud tubes to get to wood that is above the ground. These structures are typically undercover since termites hide from the moon and sun. If you have a back deck that is low to the ground, you may have to pull some boards up to find tubes winding up your foundation underneath your deck. That is what you're up against.

If you're fortunate enough to see one of their mud tubes, they're fairly easy to identify. These tubes are usually the width of a pencil and shaped like wiggly rivers running from the ground up to the wood. The tubes will sometimes branch as they build these tunnels, just like a river. If several tubes are on top of each other, they can start to look like a muddy column.

 Another reason termite workers stay hidden is that their thin skin is prone to dehydration. When they come out of a concealed location, it'll likely only be when high humidity or damp conditions are present. Even inside a dark space within your home, termites will stay either inside the wood they are consuming or inside the mud tubes they've built, lined with moist soil to keep them hydrated.

If you are fortunate to see termite damage, you'll find mud along with the exposed damage. One place to look for termite damage is in your crawl space. The crawl space can stay dark and humid enough for termites to create visible damage.

While it is difficult to see termite workers, swarmers aren't hard to see. They are black insects with white wings. If you find a dozen or so swarmers crawling on an indoor wall, you won't wonder if you have a termite infestation. But it is rare for them to appear inside. When they show up indoors, that is a bad sign. It is an indication that the nest is very close to your home. Having a nest close to your home isn't good because the workers can feed on your home faster.

Typically, swarmers exit the nest outdoors, swarm for less than an hour, then break away into couples to mate. The queens and the kings will then tunnel into the ground and attempt to make viable nests, creating new colonies nearby. Many do not succeed. But, the few that do will make your termite problems worse.

Swarms occur during the spring and happen quickly. They're easy to miss. You're likely to miss the swarm and only see one swarmer. If you do, we hope you recognize it by itself. A termite swarmer is only 3/8 of an inch from head to tail tip. It is incredibly small. Keep this in mind when an insect lands on you in your yard or when you see a tiny insect crawling on your back deck, steps, or walkway.

When sneaky termites enter your yard, you may see them. You may notice one little swarmer or uncover termite workers under dead branches or some other source of termite food in your yard. If you do, how bad is it? Should it concern you? Let's take a look.

From Bad To Worse: How Termite Damage Can Escalate Quickly

When you see a dozen tiny termite workers on a dead branch, you may think nothing of it. Worker termites are a third the size of the swarmers and look like fat ants. If you recognize them, you might feel a dozen termites aren't a big deal. Here are a few facts to consider:

• One colony of eastern subterranean termites can have tens of thousands of members.
• More than one colony of termites can feed on your property at the same time.
• Termites never sleep. They are active 24 hours a day, every day.
• While termites feed on dead branches in your yard, you can also have termites in your home. They'll feed on multiple food sources at once.
• Termites live to feed, reproduce, and spread.
• If your yard provides a food source for termites, they can grow their colonies faster.
• If your home has moisture damage, you have a greater chance of a termite infestation.  

Termites in Western Massachusetts do quite well because of the damp conditions and damage caused by hard winters and damp springs, but you can reduce the risk and slow termite colony growth by applying termite prevention. Let's take a look.

Protecting Your Property: Effective Termite Prevention Methods

Along with the termite identification and inspection tips mentioned, altering conditions that invite termite problems is essential. Inspect your yard and consider some of the things termites might feed on. Here are some examples:

• Termites love those dead branches. Pick up the sticks and store them in a container to get them off the ground.
• Termites love firewood. Do you heat your home with wood? Store the firewood off the ground so you can see when termites create mud tubes to get to the wood.
• Termites don't just eat wood. They also eat paper products, pizza boxes, clothes, and other items found in waste piles. Make sure to place all waste in trash bins with tight-fitting lids.
• Termites come up from the soil to feed on wood, so it is critical to address wood-to-soil contact.
• Do you have wooden borders that line your landscaping or flowerbeds? Consider removing the wood and using a material that termites don't eat.
• Do you have a dying tree in your yard? Consider calling a tree doctor to nurse that tree back to full health.
• Do you have logs or stumps? Consider removing them from your property.

When you reduce and remove food options, you stunt the growth of termite colonies and give termite workers fewer reasons to stay in your yard. Is this the best way to get rid of termites? No. But it is better to do something than nothing at all.

Professional Termite Control: Long-Term Termite Control And Protection

The best solution for termites is the installation of termite control products. Licensed professionals use two tried-and-true solutions—liquid termiticides and termite baits. Each has its benefits.

Liquid termiticides can provide a complete curtain around an entire structure. When termites pass through the barrier, they pick up the active ingredient and share it with the other termites in their colony. When we apply a liquid termiticide treatment, we use an EPA-approved product and only the amount needed for efficacy. 

A termite bait solution excels at providing a way to monitor termite activity. When termites get into the bait stations, your technician easily detects them. When detected, we replace the cartridge with another containing the active ingredient. That means we only use a limited amount of control material to ensure colony elimination.

Do you live in Western Massachusetts? If so, contact American Pest Solutions for home pest control near you. We'll walk you through the options to determine what will work best to meet your specific needs. We have the experience to provide you with trusted termite control for your property. Please navigate to our contact page for quick answers regarding service options and pricing, or call us for immediate assistance.