Have you ever seen flying termites, gathered in huge swarms? Do you know about the dangers they may cause once settled inside or nearby your house? How to protect your house from termite infestation? Let’s throw light on these questions.
Termites much resemble winged ants, but their existence close to people results in more problems as compared with the ants. It isn’t hard to take apart the two kinds of insects.
Usually, termites have a double set of equally big wings together with two-segment bodies. While ants use one pair of little wings and another set of bigger ones placed on the three-segment body. Termites fly out the nests to find new places for settling in. They are usually organized in swarms which consist of mature reproductive creatures of the colony able to give birth to a new offspring. Termites gather in masses and you can observe termites fly in a warm wet season which is spring or summer.
There are two different kinds of termites
Subterranean and Dry Wood
Subterranean termites prefer to live in wet soil or rotted wood. It can be a really challenging problem to find their presence as this type of termites dig deep into the ground and may show off only by leaving mud tunnels. Subterranean type of termites is very harmful because they feed on different sorts of wood and can easily gnaw through your house building foundation if it is made from their favorite treat.
Dry wood termites naturally build their nests inside dry wood making featured holes and tunnels. As a result, they can chew through your house construction from the very foundation up to the attic. They don’t need any soil to live. These termites are known to feed on paper, books or carpeting. And the homeowner sometimes notices the significant damages when the termites have already settled huge colonies inside the house. In this case, there are little chances to save the property.
What are the most typical markings that your house is overrun with flying termites?
- dropped wings;
- small excrement pellets;
- interior finishing bubbles or damages;
- tunnels inside the timber.
These things definitely indicate that you share your house with termites flying problem. After mating, some males die. But the others drop their wings and make deep holes in the soil or timber foundation of your house. The termites get paired to start new offspring. The growing youth (nymphs) feed on wood. Do you notice dead termites or their organs to fly inside your property, on the windowsills? It is a direct indication of a serious problem, and you should take upright measures to get rid of the uninvited dwellers. Otherwise, in the result of flying termites’ infestation, your house may literary be damaged or even ruined.
Make a thorough walk-around inspection of the nearby area in order to identify the tracks or long narrow tubes called mud tunnels which were left by these insects in the backyard. Exterminate them or in spring you can watch termites fly their nuptial dance.
Search for infestation features. Check your foundation for strength by pushing the screwdriver into the timber. Holes or clear sound may indicate that the creatures have been living inside your house for a rather long time and you now have a serious problem.
As you see, the signs of termites’ living are very subtle, because they usually dig deep into the wood structure or into the solid ground. You won’t notice until they start new flight or wracking of your house.
Once you have identified flying termites’ presence, take right measures to eliminate them. There are 3 ways to do it:
- Use bug zappers. They are placed in the yard, attract termites flying around and kill them by means of electricity. Close enter doors in order to prevent the termites fly into the house.
- With the help of liquid termiticide sprays. Disperse them in the places where these insects are supposed to settle. As a rule, they prefer moist and dark wood, crackers and holes in the ground or timber. Check all suspicious places on the damaging matter, the existence of mud tubes or even died termites.
- Place baiting systems wherever it’s possible. Baits attract a flying termite and make them die from poisoning.
Preventive measures from termites
- Termites can’t live without water. That is why, ensure that there is not any standing water in or outside your house. Flooding of nearby soil can make temporary effect as termites like wet ground.
- Keep your house clean and dry.
- Store the timber far away from your house or if you feel the strong need in using it, cover the timber or wallpaper with pest repellent to make them uneatable or poisonous for termite flying nearby.
- Seal all holes and cracks in the house foundation.
- Eliminate all soil from your house.
- Remove all stumps in your garden. These objects, as well as rotted wood, are really delicious treats for the termites.
- Apply the effects of very low and very hot temperatures. Flying termites whether they are subterranean or dry wood, can’t resist these contrasts. For example, liquid nitrogen kills termites by means of cold effect. Unfortunately, there are no safe ways to apply hot temperatures. The only measure, in this case, is practicing a fire to burn the termites completely out. But of course, you may apply this extreme method to eliminate subterranean termites outside your house, taking all necessary cautions into consideration.
The flying termites’ extermination is not an easy task. But timely measures and radical approach to this problem will help you to get rid of those harmful creatures forever.
