Once the cold weather begins to creep away is when we should begin to see swarming termites. Especially after a big rainfall, mature winged adults will swarm from their original nesting site in hopes of forming new colonies. The most common termite you will see swarming is the Eastern subterranean termite, which is native to North Carolina. Here are some fast facts about these termites:
They live below ground
Their main source of food is woody materials, like tree stumps
They appear long, narrow, and oval with a creamy white to dark brown color
Why do Termites Swarm?
Swarming is beneficial when creating new colonies. Termites swarm after a colony has reached a certain capacity and is ready to expand. This normally happens once per year for most colonies. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, also known as alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.
Where does it Usually Occur?
Swarming can occur indoors or outdoors. They cannot survive indoors because of the lack of soil to colonize. If found indoors, they are usually found near windows and light fixtures as they are attracted to light. Whether indoors or outdoors, they usually can’t cause damage. As swarmers, they can’t bite, sting, or chew. The presence of swarms indicates that a colony is nearby, though; so, although the swarmers can’t cause damage, the nearby colony can.
How to Prevent Termites:
Getting rid of water sources by eliminating or reducing standing water around your home.
Repairing any leaky faucets, pipes, and air conditioners.
Removing any tree stumps from your property.
Keeping firewood stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated off the ground.
Scheduling an annual termite inspection of your home and property to help detect termite problems early before they can cause significant damage.
If you begin to see swarming termites and aren’t sure if your home has become infested, be sure to give your local termite control company a call and they can inspect your property and set up a proactive termite control plan.
Once the winter hits North Carolina, the last thing you want to deal with is a cold home! With temperatures dropping, it’s important that your heating systems are ready, and your home is prepared to weather the cold. If not, you could be dealing with cold air and high energy bills. Crawl space enclosure in the winter provides a solution to both problems that many homeowners face.
North Carolina Crawl Space Enclosure Benefits
There are several benefits to enclosing your crawlspace. One that many look forward to is saving on their energy bill. The moisture in your crawlspace can affect the temperature inside the home, causing the HVAC unit or furnace to run longer to help keep your home warm, and in return uses more electricity. When you enclose your crawlspace, the moisture barrier acts as a sealant, which controls the moisture levels. This will ease the strain of your HVAC system to make your home more energy-efficient and save on energy bills.
Another great benefit of enclosing your crawlspace is preventing mold growth and odor. If left open, high moisture levels can cause unwanted growth, creating considerable damage to your home, posing a health risk to your family, and potentially causing an odor throughout your home.
An unsealed crawlspace is an open invitation to pests looking for shelter, food, and water. Once inside, these pests can cause damage and present a health risk to your home and family. After the crawlspace enclosure installation is complete, the moisture barrier can help eliminate entry points for these pests to infest, providing you with another avenue of pest control.
Consider calling a pest control company near you for a crawlspace enclosure inspection and quote to stay warm and pest-free in the winter!
With the holidays here, it’s time to take all the decorations out of storage and make the house jolly again! Hopefully, you aren’t discovering pests in your storage of choice. There are some ways to ensure that pests cannot get a hold of your holiday decorations; let’s break it down:
Storage Containers – Avoid using cardboard boxes when packing away your holiday décor. Cardboard absorbs moisture and can be an attractive home to pests and rodents. Instead, use plastic containers with tight-fitting lids.
Tree and Wreath Bags – When packing your wreaths and artificial trees away, be sure to utilize zippered bags. These bags can repel moisture and will keep pests away!
Handmade ‘Edible’ Décor – Orange sliced garlands, gingerbread houses, or cookie cutout ornaments should only be enjoyed for one season. Be extra cautious packing them up as they attract rodents and pests.
Keep Storage Areas Clean – If you utilize your attic as a storage area, inspect the space first for any signs of pests as you are taking items out and putting them away. Likewise, if you utilize an unfinished basement or any closet in the home, investigate for pest signs. It’s always a good time to inspect your interior.
Enjoy a pest-free holiday season with these easy DIY pest control tips. If the problem is bigger than you can handle, be sure to reach out to your local pest control company, and they will be able to provide a free inspection.
Termites can be active well into the fall and winter months. They will typically find themselves digging a little deeper to keep warm. If they make their way into your home, then they don’t have a need to burrow deeper, as your home is already providing enough warmth for the winter.
Continuing termite control into the cooler months will help to protect your home up until spring begins again. Be sure to keep up with termite control to lessen the chance of termites swarming in the spring and summer months.
Regardless of the season, there are common signs of termite infestations to look for in your home, including:
Noises: Beyond visual cues of termites being nearby, you can sometimes hear them! Once a colony becomes large and more established you can sometimes begin hearing clicking or knocking sounds behind your walls.
Swarms: This is the earliest sign of termites. In late spring or early summer, termites will begin emerging to reproduce to establish new colonies. If you begin to see swarmers, that usually means a colony is nearby.
Wood Damage: It could be your window, door, or floor that is impacted. Sagging floors will usually indicate a more established colony. If a door or window doesn’t close properly, it could also indicate termites.
Mud Tubes: If you begin seeing mud tubes around your property, it typically means termites are close by. The tubes are used as protection and also help to retain moisture, which is vital for termites.
If you suspect you have a termite problem or want to stay proactive against them, reach out to your local pest control company to receive a free termite inspection and discover the best plan of action perfect for you and your home!
A common term used to describe pests and how they survive the colder temperatures is overwintering. These types of pests will often seek warmth and shelter in homes and buildings because of the comfort they offer. Overwintering pests don’t cause any harm to you or your home but can become a nuisance if they begin to infest. Here are some common overwintering pests and some easy do-it-yourself tips to keep them outside of your house.
Lady Bugs
These well-known pests are harmless and are deemed beneficial. They will often consume plant-eating insects such as aphids, mites, and scale insects, all of which can harm crops and plants in gardens; although, if you find lady bugs invading your home, they can become difficult to get rid of.
Boxelder Bugs
This type of overwintering pest is considered a little more aggressive than others. If they puncture your skin, it can cause a slight irritation, but nothing to worry about. Other than that, boxelder bugs are harmless, but can become a nuisance if they choose to infest.
Stink Bugs
These pests can infest homes in large numbers, especially beginning in the fall time. Stinkbugs are attracted to your home due to the warmth that it provides. They can usually find their way indoors through any exterior entry points.
Overwintering Pest Prevention
Keep your home protected this winter with these tips for preventing overwintering pests:
Clean up your yard by raking, keeping the grass cut short, and picking up debris in the yard.
Seal or caulk all cracks and crevices around house foundations, siding, doors, windows, electrical, and plumbing.
Use tight-fitting insect screens on foundations and attic vents.
If you begin to see an overabundance of overwintering pests, then reach out to your local pest control company to create a customized plan of action.
Musty smell upstairs, cold floors, a power bill creeping up — or you just want it sealed before winter. Either way it starts with a look under the house.
Humidity down, fungus and wood rot stopped
Vents sealed, seams taped, heavy-duty vapor liner
Save up to 18% on your utility bills
🏠Locally operated · Serving Alamance County and the surrounding Raleigh, NC area
Free crawlspace inspection. Tell us what you’re seeing and we’ll take a look under the house.
