Pest Control: FAQ about Termites
Termites do more than $5 billion in damage to homes all over Illinois and other parts of America each year and homeowners spend two billion dollars annually treating their home for termites. Clearly, it’s a major threat. However, how much do you really know about these tiny pests who can eat through the wooden beams in your home? Read below to see commonly FAQ about termites.
Termite facts
- Termites love moist, dark areas with access to organic materials like wood, newspaper, and cellulose insulation. Keeping mulch, firewood, and other organic material away from the perimeter of your home and sealing any leaks quickly can go a long way towards keeping termites at bay.
- Termites eat constantly, 24/7. There are no breaks between breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the termite world.
- There are more than 2,000 different kinds of termites. Although there is a myriad of different kinds of termites, most of the termites found in the Cottage Hills, IL area are dry wood termites.
- Termites are nutritious. If you’ve ever watched “Naked and Afraid” or other survival shows, you probably know that termites are one of the most nutritious meals that can be foraged in the wild. They are rich in protein, calcium, and iron.
- Termites never sleep. They work on their colonies all day, every day until they die. They are more active in warm temperatures.
- Termites have been around for a long time. Termites have crawled the earth for more than 130 million years, since the Cretaceous period. Examples of early termites have been found encased in amber.
- Most termites are blind. Only the reproductive termites need to see, to find a new colony. Workers spend their lives in dark, damp places and have no need for eyesight.
Keeping termites away from your home is easier when you know a little bit about them. The best thing you can do is to avoid creating a hospitable environment for them by keeping wood and other organic material away from the base of your home, making sure rainwater is directed away from your home and cleaning up any leaks quickly and thoroughly.
