Summertime is always a busy period for us here at Dentec Pest Control as the warmer months cause all of the local creepy crawlies to come out of their hidey holes and invade our homes.
Termites are no different.
Over the Christmas period we experienced a noticeable increase in enquiries relating to termites as the warmer weather has encouraged colonies around Dubbo to expand. Due to this increase in termite activity we thought we might give you some tips on how you can avoid a termite infestation in your home.
#1 Keep a lookout for swarmers…
Swarmers look like ants with wings.
Termite swarmer wings on a window sill
Termite colonies produce swarmers that fly away to form their own colonies in new territories.
Swarmers usually fly around during the daytime and if you notice them around your property then it’s a tell-tale sign that there’s a large colony nearby either in some timber or an old tree stump.
A good way to check if a new colony is establishing itself in your home, is to look around window sills and door frames. When swarmers find a new home they shed their wings and bury themselves in.
So make sure you keep an eye out for discarded wings…
#2 Inspect house foundations for mud tubes
If you are uncomfortable getting amongst your properties foundations, then give us a call for a termite inspection.
Termite mud tubes leading into a property
Otherwise what you are looking for is small mud tubes leading from the earth, up your foundations and into your property. These mud tubes allow termites to cross from the dirt, up into the wood of your house.
Mud tubes are a tell-tale sign of a termite infestation…
#3 Move any wood away from your home.
This includes wood-chips in your garden… There are some plants that can deter termites but they are by no means 100% foolproof.
Make sure you have a decent gap between wood-chips or soil in the garden and the foundations of your home.
Don’t have any trellises connected to your house either as this is a great path for termites to cross from the soil to your home.
If you have wood lying around, make sure it’s not stacked against your property as it’s bound to attract hungry termites that are looking for a free meal.
And last but not least…
It goes without saying if you want to avoid costly damage to your home from termites this summer…
Get it protected!
There are lots of termite prevention options available to homeowners from termite baiting through to baiting systems and chemical treatments.
If you want to make sure your home is protected, all you have to do is contact us.
Please let us know in the comments below if you have seen termite activity anywhere around Dubbo so we can keep the community notified.