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There are 3 main forms of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes employees (who consume your home ), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers who find new places to colonize). Though you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its good to know how to identify them,'' Wilson states.

Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a reddish head. Swarmers have absolute, tan wings although there are colour variations. Employees are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are much like drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and sheer wings. These employees also resemble maggots.

Subterranean termites are somewhat smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and sheer wings for the flyers. The employees are smaller, white and maggot-like.

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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed wood and often end up in attics, floor boards and window frames.

Dampwood termites like decaying wood or timber that is rich with moisture. They often strike wood that's making contact with the ground and are found in regions with high rainfall or humidity.

Subterranean termites will consume soft (moisture-rich) wood and drywood, however they initially make contact with your home through the ground.

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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your home through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the caulk. Be sure to check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.

Be mindful of maintaining your outside paint. As an instance, when you hammer Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind small holes and produce an open door for a termite colony. .

Subterranean termites often burrow into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions such as the San Francisco Bay Area, a lot homes have raised foundations, Wilson says. Termites build mud tubes around the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson sayssand tubes can extend from the ground up through thin atmosphere to connect with the base of the house. .

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So what do you do if you find a termite in your house If you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you have an infestation. But if you find a group of wings or any of the other innovative pest control warning signs noted above, its best to get a professional inspection.

Termites are actually simple to kill, Wilson states, however you need a termiticide to do it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not available to the public. Most home shops promote termite spray, but those are watered down to meet public security specifications, so theyre not as effective.

If you've got an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, say the door trimming, you can replace the trimming, Wilson says. But if you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.

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Subterranean termites have to get cut away from the house at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites creates a chemical barrier between any regions of dirt and the home, in addition to around the entire house. It functions as a shield the termites cant break through.

Drywood and dampwood termites can be murdered with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which can be injected under pressure into the timber through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the timber and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this way takes about four to six hours.

Homes which are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a massive tent is placed over your home, or all the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that will kill all the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the kind of infestation.

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Employ a good, quality coating of paint on your house, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then yank them down. Even the tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either leave the nails in the pockets year-round or fill the holes when you remove the nails. .

Instantly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide appropriate ventilation under your raised home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.