There are areas of the country where you can go your entire life without noting a single sign of termites near your property. Unfortunately, this just isn’t the case in Florida. Rated as one of just a few states with high levels of termite infestations, Florida residents have to be seriously vigilant about these problems thanks to the ideal conditions in the state. Understanding more about what you might be facing, though, can be helpful.
Types of Termites
There are four different kinds of termites throughout the state of Florida, but most homeowners only ever face infestation from two of them: the subterranean termite and the drywood termite. In the middle part of the state, subterranean termites are king. In the coastal areas, drywood termites tend to reign supreme.
Subterranean termites tend to live in colonies that are well hidden underground, and they look for cellulose, which they can obtain from wood. Once they find a food source, they leave a scent trail behind for the other termites to follow, and if that food source is your home, you can bet you’ll have plenty of them to deal with quickly.
Drywood termites live only in the wood. They don’t have to have any real contact with the soil. They get their moisture as they digest the cellulose, so those DIY soil treatments just don’t work with this variety. They will often create a number of colonies in just one spot. These termite swarms are most often activated thanks to spring and summer rains.
Protecting Your Home
There are some things you can do on your own to protect your home from termites. If you’re building a new home, there are various products that can be sprayed on the wood before it’s ever put in your new home to help prevent an infestation. You can also make certain to take care of any leaks right away, trim trees and bushes away from your home, and store firewood well away from your house. Beyond those simple measures, though, the best way to prevent termites is to contact a termite pest control service. They can not only evaluate your home initially, but also offer you an outdoor pest control package that will help keep your home safe in the years to come. Termite exterminators know the risk to Florida homeowners is high. Contact your local pest control company for help in preventing a serious infestation now.