After a long cold winter, warm weather is widely welcomed. However, the hot weather typically encourages pests to awake again. A pest that thrives in these warmer months are the ever-annoying termites.
There are nights where swarms of them encircle any outdoor light source. As you see the swarms of termites, you may start to wonder if they could cause property damage or if you need to call pest control. As the weather heats up, it is important to familiarize yourself with the basics of termite season and how to stop the insects from coming into your home. Information such as knowing the exact time, the length, and end of termite season is practical. Similarly it is useful to recognize the signs of termites in your home, and how to prevent termites on your property.
When is Termite Season?
The start of termite season will vary depending on your location, but it generally begins at the start of spring. The warming weather will naturally awaken all sorts of insects and termites are no exception to this rule. If you live in a place that is typically warm year round, you will have to be cautious for termites throughout the year. If you live in the Northeast, termites will typically begin swarming in March due to the seasonal weather change. In these warmer months, termites swarm around in order to mate. After the termites couple up, they shed their wings and look for a new nest such as homes with wood.
Termite season lingers throughout the year. If you live in an area that is hot year round, termite season could last the whole year. Termite season is quite long, beginning in March and ending in November. Termite swarming in particular lasts for a much shorter time frame. The swarming season begins at the end of winter or the start of spring, so March is generally the ideal month, but swarming can occur whenever the termites wake up. Swarmers tend to be most active in the early afternoon or after a light shower. During the swarming season, it is necessary to look out for possible wood damage as termites are looking for new food sources.
Like all bad seasons, it is necessary to know when the threat will end. However, considering termites’ status as a year-round pest, it is difficult to determine the end of termite season and it’s dependent on the climate of where you live. In the American Northeast, termite season ends in October or November. During the winter months, termites go under the ground to avoid the cold air and forage for new food sources. However if termites are already in your home, they will be unaffected by the change in temperature, as they enjoy the same protection from the elements that you do. Even during the off-season, it is important to prevent and watch out for termites.
Prevent Termites Before the Season Starts
Perhaps the most important step in dealing with termites is to start early prevention. Termites are a serious threat to any household and getting rid of these pests is a lengthy process. The first thing you can do is to remove any cellulose based material, such as mulch, wood, paper, and cardboard, away from the foundation of your home. Termites are naturally attracted to cellulose material and thus they can easily enter a home if these items are near your home’s foundation. If you use mulch in your garden, consider making a 4-in barrier between the mulch and your home. Again this naturally attracts termites as mulch is a food source. On a similar note, keep any wood siding at least 7 inches above the soil and keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your home and raise the wood at least 8 inches above the ground. If you have a wooden fence surrounding your home, make sure to check it regularly if it’s rotting or infested. A good option is to coat the fence with a termite-free paint and it will repel the pest from inhabiting your fence post. Also you can get a termite protection plan from TermiGuard to keep the unwanted bugs from feasting on your house.
If you are experiencing termite season, it is also necessary to recognize the signs of a termite infestation. If you catch these signs early, it makes it much easier to deal with termites later. Signs of termites include seeing discarded wings across your property. These wings are left over by mating termites during the swarming season. Another common sign of termites is mud-tubes which termites use to travel underground between their nesting areas and food sources such as trees or houses. They tend to be pretty small and the tubes connect from nests underground to a wooden structure. Another common sign relating to wood damage is blisters in wooden floors. These wood blisters often resemble the same blisters from water damage, so if you see them and have not dealt with any water damage issues, it could be termites. Another common sign of termites is damaged or hollowed-out wood, as termites feast off any wooden structure. It’s important to keep an eye out for any of these signs, as termites are an annoying pests that threaten any household.
Termites are conclusively one of the worst pests to deal with, as they are active throughout a large part of the year and they pose a large threat to any home or apartment with wood. These pests particularly thrive in the warmer months of the year, as termite season typically begins in March. Considering what termites can do to one’s home, it is necessary to familiarize oneself with the important dates of termite season. It is imperative to prevent termites from even entering your home by removing piles of wood and managing your mulch. Additionally, it is also important to recognize the signs of a termite infestation in order to quickly remedy the unwanted visitors. If you are worried about the possibility of a termite infestation during the hot summer months, reach out to TermiGuard and they will remedy your termite worries!
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