If you suspect that you have termites, give Arizona Best Choice Pest Control a call for your free termite inspection. Contact us.
Where do drywood termites live?
Drywood termites are found in coastal regions in the south and southwestern part of the United States. However, in rare cases, these termite infestations can also occur in the northern part of the country as well.
Unlike most termites that build colonies in the moist soil and prefer to eat damp wood, drywood termites can thrive in dry places as well, and specialize in eating bone-dry wood. This makes Arizona homes a tasty target.
How to detect a drywood termite infestation
Drywood termites live mostly within the wood on which they feed. They can be found inside built-in cabinets, furniture, door and window frames, exposed beams, window paneling, and baseboards around the perimeter of your home.
After a colony of termites has taken up residence inside the house, they can go undetected for years as they burrow into the wood. Only once the pests have done significant damage to the wood are they noticed by the homeowners.
That being said, there are certain telltales signs that can indicate the presence of a termite infestation.
Drywood termites extract water from the feces. This result in a unique fecal pellet called frass. The pellets are hexagonal in shape and are about 1 mm long. If you see these small pellets near furniture items inside the house, your home may be infested by drywood termites. You should contact a termite control professional as soon as you find the pellets to detect and remove termite infestation.
Another telltale sign of a termite colony are mud tunnels. The termites build mud tunnels that connect the nest to their food source (wood). The appearance of mud tunnels is a clear indication of a termite infestation that needs to be removed by a pest control professional.
The tunnels may contain wood-like broken fecal materials. You can break open the tunnels to find out if the termites are active inside.
The third telltale sign of drywood termite infestation include swarms of winged insects. The winged insects are a group of male and female termites that usually occur during four or five years after a termite infestation. They fly in search for a new colony of the termites. Swarming usually occurs during spring and autumn seasons. Also, the swarms of winged drywood termites usually occur during the rainy season.
Final words of advice!
Keep in mind that removing a drywood termite infestation is not a DIY project. Only a pest control expert can remove the termite infestation and keep termites from re-infesting your home.
The professional can quickly locate the source of the infestation and take steps to eliminate the colony from the house. What’s more, the pest control professional can treat the affected areas inside the house so that termite infestation does not occur again.
If you want help in removing termite infestation in Arizona, you should contact Arizona’s Best Choice Pest & Termite Services. We offer a free termite inspection.
Categories