You must have heard a lot about termites. They are little insects and they prefer to feed on cellulose, present in wooden items. There is a social system of termites that is somewhat similar to that of ants and other insects.
In Colorado Springs, various species of termites can be found, with subterranean termites being the most common. Termites are not really related to ants, but they are still sometimes called “white ants”. They are seen in a vast population, mainly in rainforests.
Termites are really sneaky creatures as they can live inside your home, and you may not have any idea about them. Once they make it inside your home, it will not be easy to get rid of them. Therefore, it is crucial that you take all the preventive measures to avoid their entrance into your home in the first place.
There are also species of termites that have been transported to different parts of the world. It is done by humans, but not deliberately. Explore now and find the possible ways to deal with their infestation effectively.
What are the distinct features of termites?
They have physical features that make them different from other insects. At times, people are seen to mistake termites for ants. However, you should know that termites have many features that set them apart from other insects. Their color is much lighter than that of ants.
The antennas are also different; termites have straight ones, while ants have bent antennas. However, other features are distinct enough to separate the two.
What does the life cycle of termites look like?
While most of the termites survive for a year, the queen in the colony can live upto a decade. They are responsible for bringing the young ones.
They can lay many eggs in just a day; it is said that they can lay around a thousand eggs in a day. These eggs undergo various stages, including becoming a nymph, and finally reaching adulthood. There are multiple members in their colony, including queens, worker termites, soldiers, and kings.
Worker termites are responsible for building nests and getting to the food source. Soldiers are responsible for guarding their colony and making sure that it remains safe. Queens have the most important role among the other members.
If the worker termites or soldiers die, they get replaced by the new members, where queens have a role to play. The ones that can prey on termites include some species of spiders, ants, some birds, etc.
What are the different signs of termites’ presence in your home?
It is simply because termites do not make any noise, nor is their infestation apparent until they have done damage. There are some things that can help you know whether you have termites or not:
- Walls that sound hollow on knocking
- Mud tubes can be seen, and their dropping is also a sign.
- Severe damage to some wooden items or to other structures.
- Noticing bubbles in the wallpaper, the wall might look damaged.
- Tiles that sound like they have become loose.
- Finding it difficult to close a particular door that was working fine some time ago.
- Swarmers can also be observed.
- Floorboards that look blistered.
Termite infestation? Professional help is needed!
Dealing with termites on your own is not an easy thing, nor will it ensure a permanent solution. You might get them out to some extent, but they can infest your place again.
You may not successfully remove all the termites either. It is better for you to seek help from a pest control professional. They can make sure that things are taken care of in the right way.