Spencer Pest Services will be operating under the Rocket Pest Control brand going forward. You're still in the right place to schedule pest control services!

Putting an End to The Greenville Termite Problem

Termites are one of the most terrifying pests to have to deal with. They are hard to spot and they cause massive amounts of destruction. It’s important to know how to identify termite swarmers and to understand the signs of an infestation. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between termites and other wood-destroying insects such as carpenter ants. However, being proactive and knowledgeable can help in putting an end to the Greenville termite problem.

The Termite Caste System

Termites live in colonies where every member has a role to play. They have a sophisticated caste system meaning that there is a hierarchy in place. The workers are at the bottom of the hierarchy and spend their time gathering food and caring for the young. Soldiers are next up and do many of the same tasks as the workers but they also protect the queen. Neither the workers nor soldiers are reproductive. The alates are the winged termites (or swarmers) that fly away from the colony to mate and become the kings and queens of new colonies. The queen is the highest level of the termite caste system. She produces young termites, non-stop, for her whole life.

Identifying Termites     

Termites are often confused with flying ants in the alate (swarmer) stage because it is difficult to tell them apart. You must get close enough to notice the difference in their antenna, body shape, and wings. Termites have wings that are the same size while flying ants have different sized wings. Flying ants have bent antennae and termites’ antennae are straight. Flying ants have thinner midsections than termite alates. Both termites and flying ants shed their wings once they settle into a new location. It’s important to contact a pest control professional if you have termites or flying ants on your property because if the flying ants are carpenter ants, they, also, can do a lot of damage to the wood of a home.

Termite Damage

Termites cause billions of dollars in damage in the US each year. This is more than most natural disasters combined. If left unchecked, termites can do extensive damage to a Greenville home. Termites feed on cellulose which is the fibers in wood. This means that they eat into wooden support beams, cabinets, furniture, books, important papers and more.

Preventing Termites

Termite damage is not something typically covered by homeowner’s insurance so it’s imperative to take steps to protect your home from termites. One of the best ways you can protect your Greenville home is to be diligent about doing home inspections. Termites thrive in moist conditions and damp wood so making sure your gutters are draining properly, your foundation is dry, you don’t have leaking hoses or pipes, and you keep moisture in your attic, basement, and crawlspaces to a minimum is crucial.                 
                  
Termite protection from Spencer Pest Services means you get the guaranteed protection of the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This system utilizes bait stations around your home that attract termites. They eat the bait and take it back to the colony killing themselves and the queen, effectively destroying the colony. 
 
Contact us at Spencer Pest Services today to protect your home from termites or to begin ending the termite problem already in your Greenville-area home.

 
Prev
Next