MUNCH, MUNCH, MUNCH
It’s termite time in north Texas

You could have tiny diners munching away at your house right now. Spring – late March, April and early May – is when termites in north Texas tend to swarm, and a homeowner’s best bet in detecting the little demolition experts who live to chow down on your woodwork.

Termites are small and can be easily confused with ants. The most common termites in our area are eastern subterranean termites. They are solid black and have clear wings that are longer than their bodies. They are most noticeable when they swarm, but by then, they could have been in your house for some time. And while they are there, it’s possible for them to consume a foot of wooden board in six months. Mature colonies can contain hundreds of thousands of termites that are eating and damaging your house 24 hours a day, 365 days a year!

Since we can’t actually hear them munching their way through our homes, when you’re spring cleaning, be on the lookout for these telltale termite infestation signs:

Large swarms of winged insects inside or around your home are the most obvious sign of termite activity. Subterranean termites usually swarm in the daytime, when it is sunny and often right after it rains.

Live termites seen in wood construction elements, such as baseboards, window and door frames, and wall studs. Termites are sometimes found while doing home remodeling or repair.

Mud tubes on walls outside or inside your house, which often disappear into cracks of masonry, in and around doors and window frames, or along siding. Termites construct mud tubes to protect themselves as they go from soil to wood. The tubes can be a quarter inch around and can extend many feet across solid surfaces.

Hollow-sounding wood in walls, baseboards and floors should be inspected for termite damage. Termites eat from the inside of the wood out, so damaged wood is sometimes difficult to detect.

If you think you have termites, you’ll need a treatment barrier and bait receptacles to eliminate the problem. Eliminating and controlling termites is not something a homeowner should attempt themselves. It requires specialized equipment, materials and professionals. Without treatment, your home will continue to suffer damage. In most cases, replacement costs for damages far exceeds paying for termite treatment.

Most reputable pest control services will give homeowners a free, no-obligation termite inspection. They can tell you if you have termites and help you make the best decision on your course of action if you do.

This termite information is shared with you from the pest control specialists at Myers Pest & Termite Services, headquartered in Euless with an office in Richardson. For more information about Myers Pest & Termite Services’ pest control services or a free estimate, please call 817.318.8500 or 972.713.6200. www.myers-services.com.

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