“Silent destroyers” and “Terminators” are just a couple of names that best fit the termites. As small as they are, termites are capable of destroying from small houses to big mansions to large buildings. In the United States alone, they caused $1.5 billion in structural damages. Termites can cause huge economic damage.
Termite Management Solutions in Mooresville, NC
The price of a house for sale, for example, can be brought down with the presence of termites no matter how beautiful the house is. It is always a good practice for the buyer to have the house inspected by a pest expert in Mooresville, NC, and have it certified as termite-free.
Overview
There are more than 2,000 species of termites all over the world, but only 40 are in the United States. They measure about ¼ to ½ inches in length, with straight bodies and short antennae. Their colors can be from light to brown.
Types of Termites
Of those 2,000 species of termites worldwide, 40 are in the United States. Here are the most common termites that attack houses and buildings in America:
- Subterranean termites - These are the termites that cause the most damage. They are responsible for billions of dollars in damages as they eat wood with their sharp teeth. They also eat books, paper, and other cellulose-based materials. They also damage structures faster than any other termite.
- Formosan termites - These are very aggressive termites. They also damage structures faster than any other termite. This is so because they multiply quickly, so there is far less time required for them to finish off all of the wood available.
- Drywood termites - These termites prefer little moisture. They infest your attic wood.
- Dampwood termites - Unlike dry wood termites, damp wood termites prefer high moisture. They are attracted to wood that is damaged by water. They are also drawn to stumps, fallen lumber, logs, and tree branches that are on the ground. They are much larger than the subterranean termites.
Signs of Infestation
Seeing actual winged termites indoors is a sign that there are many more in your house and that damages may have been done. They are often seen around windows and doors; check on exposed wood in your house, wood that sounds hollow when tapped may have termites behind it; mud tubes extending over foundation walls, wooden beams, and support piers; rippled tracks behind wall coverings. Termites are detritivores, they eat dead wood and plants. They also eat mulch, stumps, and roots. Other things they eat are carpets, cardboard, fabric, and animal feces.
Treatment
If you suspect a termite infestation, there is nothing much you can do. To get rid of them, call the pest experts in Mooresville, NC: Lake Norman Home Services Company. The people at Lake Norman Home Services are highly skilled and well-trained, utilizing only the latest and the most advanced equipment in the business. They also use family-friendly and pet-friendly methods, so you are assured of your safety. Lake Norman Home Services has been in this business for more than 50 years and has been trusted by residents and businesses in Mooresville.