The good news about termites is that you can prevent them from coming into your home by setting up a routine termite inspection and treatment. While there are several treatments that can eradicate a termite infestation, getting a termite control expert’s eyes on your property at least once a year can save you from even a year’s worth of termite damage. Knowing what to look for and what happens during a termite inspection will help you know what to expect and how to get rid of termites from your Rancho Cucamonga home.
Know the difference between ants and termites
If you see an insect in your home, you may first assume that it is an ant. Ants and termites look very similar if you don’t know some of their subtle differences. While most termites stay hidden in your walls and cannot endure sunlight, swarmer termites leave the colony to start a new one. If you see a termite crawling around on your floor, it may be a swarmer termite. Termites look similarly to ants but have some key distinctions.
- Their antennae: Termites have straight antennae while ants are bent.
- Their wings. Both insects have two sets of wings. Both sets of termite wings are the same length while ants have a longer set on top.
- Their waists. A termite abdomen and thorax are about as wide as their heads, with little variation in width. An ant has a wasp-like waist that comes in sharply in a pinched look.
Signs of termites
Even though termites are mostly silent creatures that steadily eat away at your home, there are some things to look for to know if you have a termite infestation. A few signs to look for are:
- Small piles of frass, excrement that resembles saw dust
- Warped wood
- The appearance of water damage
- Tiny holes around your windows
- Baseboards and trim that appear paper thin
- Mud tunnels on the exterior of your home
- Shed wings on your exterior window sills
If you see any of these signs in your Rancho Cucamonga home, do not hesitate to call your trusted termite exterminator immediately.
Cost of damage
American homeowners spend thousands of dollars on home repairs each year due to termite damage. Termites never completely stop eating so eliminating them at the first sign is crucial to saving your house from even more repairs.
Subterranean termites, the type responsible for the majority of damage in the U.S., only eat the cellulose in the wood instead of eating it straight through like a Drywood Termite. The walls, floor, and ceiling can stay intact when only the soft part of the wood is eaten away, even though the structural integrity of the structure is compromised. This can actually be quite dangerous because you may unknowingly put your weight on the floor or even the roof, only for it to give way.
Termite treatment
Whether you need barrier protections around your home, localized treatment when a colony is discovered, or several bait stations around your yard, an experienced termite control expert will find the perfect termite treatment for your situation.
For the best termite control in Rancho Cucamonga, give Bug Baron Exterminator a call today.
