Termites are destructive insects that will destroy your home if the infestation is not dealt with properly. These tiny insects are commonly mistaken for ants because of their similar size. But there are two distinct differences between termites and ants. For starters, termites have a high cellulose diet, which means that they mainly eat wood or shrubs. Termites also have straight bodies, whereas ants tend to have segmented bodies.
If you think you have termites on your property, you need to act fast to ensure they don't cause too much damage. This is where Protection Termite Control can help you out. We are a family-owned company that has been providing pest control in Phoenix for over two decades. We specialize in termite control and know what you should do to protect your home from termite damage.
What Types Of Termites Live In Phoenix?
It is estimated that there are about 2,000 different termite species in the world. Luckily, in Phoenix, there are only two types of termites that homeowners commonly have to deal with, drywood termites and subterranean termites.
Subterranean termites live underground in colonies that have three castes: reproductives, workers, and soldiers. The workers and soldiers are completely blind and use their senses to help them navigate around the colony. While the soldiers' only job is to protect the colony, the workers are tasked with foraging for food, building the nest, caring for the young termites, and any other task that needs to be done around the nest. The king and queen are the only reproductive termites that will mate in the colony. Once other reproductive termites reach full maturity, they leave the nest to find a mate and start a new colony. While the reproductives can't see too well, they are the only ones in the colony with eyesight and two pairs of wings that allow them to fly.
Drywood termites do not like to live underground. Instead, they prefer to build their nest inside dry and untreated wood. These types of termites usually live in large colonies that can have over 2,500 termites living together in one nest. Instead of having a worker caste, the young drywood termites act as the workers until they reach adulthood.
How Do Termites Get Into Phoenix Properties?
The most common way termites in Phoenix enter your home is through wood-to-ground contact. Many times, they will infest a deck or a porch before moving onto the rest of your home. They will first come to your property during the swarming season. This usually occurs between July and September, when the reproductive termites will swarm various properties, looking for a place to call home. If the swarmer termites find your property to have adequate accommodations, such as plenty of water and food, they will build their nest on your property.
Why Termites Are Such A Destructive Pest
Termites like to consume wood. Even though they are small, they gather in large numbers, which allows them to consume a lot of wood in a short amount of time. If you have termites on your property, some of the signs that you may see include:
- Blistered wood
- Peeling paint
- Buckling floorboards
- Sagging ceilings
Termites usually have to infest your home for several months before you start to see damage. However, because they live under the ground or inside the wood, you usually don't know they are there until you see the damage.
How To Protect Your Home From Termites With Professional Treatment
The best way to get rid of termites on your Phoenix property is to have professional help. At Protection Termite Control, our innovative termite control solutions can eradicate these destructive bugs from your property for good. Give us a call today to get a free quote!