Category Archives: Termites

Three Types of Spring Termites to Watch Out For

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Termites are a big problem for US homeowners, causing over $3 billion dollars a year in damage to homes across the country. About 3% of all homes in the United States currently have a termite issue, and many homeowners aren’t even aware there’s a problem.

Certain termite species thrive when the weather warms up, and you may have noticed swarms of these pests in and around your neighborhood. Depending on where you live, spring is a crucial time for termite management. Here are three particularly nasty termite species who love nothing more than to soak up the spring weather (and eat your walls.)

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Beetle Invasion Leads to Massachusetts Quarrantine

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A potentially economically challenging situation has recently presented itself in the westernmost counties of Massachusetts. Set to impact nearby cities like Boston and the whole of the Northeast, officials have made the decision to enforce a wood-transporting ban on all Ash wood coming from the affected counties. The reason? The dreaded Emerald Ash Borer beetle has been detected in small quantities among the western counties of Mass. and a state-wide quarantine seems to be the only hope at keeping the bug from spreading. Continue reading →

Got Bugs? Blame the Christmas Tree.

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You had a magical holiday season with your family and life is finally getting back to normal. The presents are put away, the lights taken down, and the kids are even back in school. Unfortunately, Santa brought you something you just hadn’t bargained for: bugs!

As if you needed another reason to switch to switch to an artificial tree next year, studies have shown over 80% of all “real” Christmas trees harbor pesky pests. While some arerelatively harmless, other insects that have been known to reside on holiday trees can do damage to your home or your family’s health.

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Termites and Firewood

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It’s that time of year when the nights get chilly and we crank up the fireplace.  Though gas logs have become immensely popular, there are still plenty of homes doing it the old fashioned way, with real, wood fire places.  If this applies to you, it’s important to be aware of the potential risks of bringing wood inside your home so you can prevent problems from occurring. 

We’ve discussed termite issues on this blog before, but as a refresher, termites feed on wood.  The most common type of termite in the United States is the eastern subterranean termite.  This species has to maintain contact with the soil at all times so that they don’t dry out.  So the question remains, how do you avoid bringing them into your home on firewood? Continue reading →

The Eastern Subterranean Termite

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Most homeowners shudder at the thought of termites, and rightfully so. These creatures play a key role in the ecosystem by breaking down decaying matter. However, they will also happily breakdown wood in your home. There are many different species of termites in the United States, but the one that is by far the most popular is the eastern subterranean termite. This termite can be found in over half the states and is responsible for billions of dollars of damage to structures every year.

This species builds its nest underground and maintains close contact with soil at all times, otherwise it would dry out. When these termites infest a home, they will build mud tubes to transport themselves around the area. They also replace the wood that they consume with soil to keep themselves surrounded with it. Continue reading →

Beware of Carpenter Ants

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carpenter ants

Carpenter ants feeding on a piece of wood. http://www.flickr.com/photos/taylar/3584257063/

We all know that ants are a very common pest in and around households.  We also know that termites are the greatly feared, wood-destroying pests that plague homes.  However, the carpenter ant is a bit of a hybrid (not biologically) of these two pests.  Carpenter ants can be found throughout the United States and, like the termite, can cause significant damage to wooden structures.  Though there are many different species of carpenter ants, the black carpenter ant is arguably the most common in this country.

These pests build their nests in wood, creating tunneled galleries through the structure in order to create a living space.  While termites consume wood, carpenter ants simply discard it, leaving behind sawdust like material known as frass.   Continue reading →

How to Prevent Termites

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worker termites

termites http://www.flickr.com/photos/gnilenkov/6880327102/

Last week we gave an overview of how to detect a termite problem in your home, but the best practice for any home is to try to prevent these destructive pests from ever occurring.  It probably does not come as a shock to hear that termites can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home.  Therefore, it’s important that you aren’t giving them easy access to your house. Once they set to work devouring your wood, you’ll have a huge mess in no time. Termites are attracted to moist wood and this idea is the basis for the majority of our prevention tips.   Continue reading →

Signs of Subterranean Termites

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termite damage

As you can see, termite damage occurs on the inside of a wooden structure. http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisandbabs/5685676890/

They may not be as repulsive as roaches as frightening as spiders or as unsettling as rats, but when it comes to damage to your home, termites take the cake.  These tiny pests will move into your home completely unnoticed and set to work devouring any wood in sight.  Most people are aware of the problems associated with termites but don’t actually know how to recognize signs of these pests.  Subterranean termites are the most common type of termite in the United States and are found in every state but Alaska.  These pests feed on wood and replace what they consume with mud.  They are especially attracted to damaged and damp wood. Continue reading →