According to the U.S. Department of Forestry, termites do more damage annually than fires, floods, and tornadoes combined. Florida is home to two popular types of termite species that can cause severe damage to your home or commercial business. At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we offer customized termite control solutions for homes and businesses suffering from an infestation. If you need help ridding your property of pesky termites, contact our certified pest control specialists today.
Drywood Termites in Florida
While living in Florida offers a variety of benefits, the warm and humid climate attracts a variety of unwanted pests, including drywood termites. This particular type of termite can be found near wood, as they tend to create colonies in an areas with very little moisture. While there are many telltale signs of drywood termite infestation, below are the two most popular.
Drywood Termite Swarms
When a drywood termite colony is mature, swarms of winged male and female insects can rapidly reproduce. Since warm temperatures and heavy rainfall can instigate termite swarms, it’s no surprise that the great state of Florida is prone to termite infestations. If you notice a swarm of termites near your Florida home or commercial property, contact the professional pest technicians at Palm Coast Pest Control immediately. We’ll schedule a convenient time to visit your place of residence to inspect your termite infestation before recommending the best termite control solution for you.
Drywood Termite Frass
Did you know that drywood termites extract water from their feces to conserve it? The result of this action are very distinct fecal pellets, also known as frass. Hexagonal in shape and roughly 1mm long, termites tend to kick frass out of their living corridors which can create noticeable mounds. If you start to notice frass mounds on your property, contact a pest control specialist right away.
What Do Drywood Termites Eat & Where Do They Live?
Drywood termites feed on wood and other cellulose materials. They can often be found munching on dying trees, houses and furniture. These critters live in small social colonies that begin with around 50 drywood termites. After four years, there may be as many as 700 individual termites in one colony!
Drywood Termite Treatment Solutions
At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, our pest control technicians have helped hundreds of Florida residents and commercial business owners rid their property of drywood termites through safe and effective solutions. During a structural inspection for drywood termites, our certified pest control specialists will look for a variety of infestation signs. Common symptoms of a drywood termite infestation may include:
- Noticeable feeding damage to your structure
- Fecal pellets near wood structures
- Small holes in your home’s siding
Due to the difficulties of detecting a drywood termite infestation, do-it-yourself treatments are not recommended. If you feel your home or commercial business may be infested with drywood termites, contact the pest control specialists at Palm Coast Pest Control today!
Subterranean Termites in Florida
Florida’s warm and humid climate attracts a variety of unwanted pests and termites, including subterranean termites. These pesky pests live in colonies underground and build tunnels in search of food. Unlike drywood termites, subterranean termites depend on moisture to survive. Their diet also consists of wood and other cellulose material.
Subterranean Termite Colony
A colony of subterranean termites has quite the complex infrastructure. At the top of the termite caste are the primary reproductives. This is a number of mature subterranean termites that will eventually become king and queen termites. This higher rank of termite is actually the only caste with functional eyes. Next in the hierarchy line comes the secondary reproductives. This termite colony originates from a single pair of reproductive swarmer termites, also known as the king and queen. Should the king or queen die, other termites within the colony will develop functional reproductive organs to take their place. The secondary caste members will produce the majority of the eggs, which can cause the colony to grow at lightning-fast speeds.
The subterranean termite workers are the next caste that are often found in infested wood. These pests are responsible for all of the labor in the colony. Whether it’s caring for the young, building foraging tunnels, or repairing the nest, the workers take on the more hazardous jobs of the caste. Lastly, the termite soldiers make up the defenders of the colony. These critters protect the colony from marauding ants and other termites. Soldier termites tend to have very large heads and jaws used to puncture, slice, and kill their enemies.
Subterranean Termite Swarms
More often than not, a subterranean termite infestation begins when warm temperatures and heavy rainfall trigger an established colony to send out a swarm of winged termites. Swarms consist of winged reproductive males and females and most colonies are usually active for three-to-five years before winged reproductives appear. Winged reproductive termites can easily be mistaken for flying ants, with two large wings in front and two smaller wings behind them. After subterranean termites mate, they shed their wings completely.
Subterranean Termite Treatments
At Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter, we’ve been providing subterranean termite treatments to commercial and residential accounts for more than two decades. With a comprehensive termite baiting system, our exterminators can quickly and efficiently remove termites in and around your property. While there are many advantages to using a subterranean termite baiting system, some of our favorites include:
- Termite baiting systems are more environmentally friendly than most termite extermination solutions.
- They are ideal to use around structures that are inhabited by persons with chemical sensitivity.
- Bait installations do not require any drilling of your porch or foundation walls.
If you’ve been noticing subterranean termites in our around your Florida property, schedule an appointment with Palm Coast Pest Control today.
Termite Prevention in Florida
Now that you know the two most popular termites in Florida, it’s time to implement a prevention plan. According to our termite control specialists, there are four major considerations in preventing termites from invading your building.
- Sanitation – If you’re building a new home or office space, make a point to avoid burying wood under porches or steps, as this can provide food for termites. Make sure to remove any form boards of wood scraps from the soil before filling or backfilling. In addition, remove all tree roots and stumps from the building site before beginning the construction process.
- Landscape Practices – Many homeowners and business owners don’t realize that the shape of their landscape can determine their structure’s susceptibility to termites. Cellulose mulches such as wood or bark chips that are placed against the foundation gives termites easy access to food. Landscape timbers and wooden desks can also house termites.
- Wood Treatments – Wood can be treated after a termite infestation has occurred as a supplement to a soil treatment. Infested wood can be sprayed, brushed, and even injected with an aerosol system to help prevent future infestations.
- Termite Baits – Termite baits use a small amount of insecticide to reduce the number of termites foraging around your structure.
If you need assistance ridding your home or commercial property of drywood termites or subterranean termites, contact the pest control specialist at Palm Coast Pest Control in Jupiter today!
