You may not have an interest in bug science or zoology, but knowing a few things could keep you and your wallet safe. Many pest species are health and/or property hazards here in Chandler, AZ. Termites are the latter. These wood-eating insects will chew away at your home or business. In the blink of an eye, your investment could become a harborage for these destructive pests.

Recovering from termite activity costs a pretty penny too. Every year, Americans spend a total of $5 billion on termite care. If you read about how to identify and stop these pests, you’ll be in better shape to prevent a problem or detect one before it gets out of and. Also, you can find out what Ozone Pest Control can do for you.

What Do Termites Look Like? How Do Termites Behave?

In a termite colony, these insects exist in a caste system consisting of workers, soldiers, and warmers or alates. Each plays a specific role and has certain features.

• Workers are the tiniest, being ? of an inch long. They’re white or grayish-white. As their name implies, they do much of the pillaging.
• Soldiers are a pinch bigger, and yellow-brown. They have rectangular heads and striking jaws to protect their clan.
• Swarmers or alates are ½  of an inch long. Their color varies; they could be yellow, black, or brown. They aim to reproduce and thus grow the colony. Once nests are overflowing in the spring, they flee to mate and establish new, sister colonies. This is the only time termites will be overtly visible.

If you see a swarmer, you’ve got an infestation problem. Whatever crack or crevice they exit from, there’s likely a whole family on the other side. Once they take flight, they’ll gravitate to windows and lamps for light.  Stay vigilant and look out for these additional termite indicators:

• Drywall that begins to buckle or becomes discolored
• Several wall holes as small as a pin-point
• Loose or caving in floorboards and tiles
• Crusting or bubbling paint that looks like it’s water damaged
• Frass or termite droppings that look like debris piles resembling salt and pepper spills
• Hollow-sounding wood
• Walls that have mud tubes and maze patterns in them, particularly in the basement or near the foundation
• Discarded swarmer wings that look like fish scales
• Ticking or rustling sounds in the walls

How To Prevent Termites

Believe it or not, you won’t have to give up wood to avoid termites. You can certainly keep your home, establishment, furniture, and other belongings made of the material. You don’t have to forfeit a building project or use other mediums. What you will certainly have to do is clean, maintain your yard, and pay attention to the structure of your property:

• If you have any interior or exterior wood that’s been damaged or ruined by water, refurbish it. Otherwise, get rid of it.
• Fix all leaks, especially if it’s dripping on wood.
• Place your loose wood away from your property, and off of soil (ex. Carpentry panels).
• Seal holes and gaps in foundations, walls, plumbing, and other utilities.
• Maintain your shrubs, bushes, plants, and flowers, and keep it a few feet from your property.
• Regularly wash your vents and gutters.

What Can Ozone Pest Control Do About Termites?

As you read, termites stay undercover in walls. They are hard to detect, and once you know they’re around, it can be too late. Prevention is key, and successful extermination is even more important.

For over 20 years, Ozone Pest Control has stopped termites and other unwanted pests in their tracks. We perform thorough, free inspections and treatment sweeps. We check doors, under cabinets, appliances, driveways, and garages. No stone is left unturned. We apply human and pet-safe baits, sprays and glues to eliminate your termite problem We have many affordable options for continued visits to ensure that you can maintain peace of mind.

Don’t test your luck and wind up with a termite disaster; reach out to us today!