Termites

What Are Termites?

Termites are one of the worst household pests on the planet. They’re social pests that are going to work together to survive. For instance, they’ll work diligently to ensure that the entire colony has access to water, food, and shelter. Once the colony is well-established, they will swarm off in hopes of building a new colony.

Termites eat cellulose which is found in lumber, cotton fibers, cardboard, furniture, and plants. As a result, there is a risk that they’re going to target your home and turn your life upside down. If you’ve found termite mounds around your property, you likely have a big termite problem. Mounds are produced because the colony has grown too large. There is also a chance that the termites are going to burrow in the wood so they can create nests.

Although there are various species, the Subterranean termite is the most common in the United States. It is estimated that this species causes 95% of the $2 billion in damages to American homes and businesses each year.

Termite Responsibilities

Termite Queen

The termite queen is primarily tasked with being reproductive. She will work diligently to ensure that the colony can continue growing. The queen is the largest member of the group growing up to nearly 4” in length. If the queen needs to move, she will require assistance from hundreds of worker termites. The queen termite will create the colony by laying eggs and helping produce workers and nymphs. In many cases, a queen will be able to survive for more than ten years. During this time, she may produce up to 30,000 eggs daily.

King Termite

The king helps the queen reproduce. During its initial stages, the king and queen will work together to ensure that the colony thrives.

Workers

As the name suggests, worker termites do the brunt of the work. They’re soft-bodied and light-colored. They do not have wings and most will grow up to 10mm in length. Workers are constantly busy. They’ll work around the clock and usually do not leave the colony’s tunnels. Worker termites will search for food, feed other termites, groom other termites, and help build and maintain the colony’s tunnels.

Soldiers

Soldiers are responsible for protecting the other termites from predators. They’re white and wingless with soft bodies. They have powerful jaws and long heads that make them dangerous to predators. Although there are other predators, termites primarily have to worry about ants.

Winged Reproducers

Finally, there are male and female winged reproducers. These termites help the colony produce offspring. They develop wings so they can lead their primary colony and build nests elsewhere. These termites leave the colony in hopes of building new ones elsewhere. A single colony will have a king, a queen, and several winged reproducers.

Which Termites Are In Miami?

Although there are many other species, residents of Miami will likely encounter Subterranean termites. This species is common across Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Florida. More about this type of termite will be provided below.

More About Subterranean Termites

When you’re dealing with Subterranean termites, you’ll find that colonies are divided depending on the responsibility of the termite. Each colony consists of workers, soldiers, and reproducing termites. The length and appearance of the termite depends on its responsibilities. Worker termites belonging to the Subterranean family can grow up to 3/8” in length. Soldiers are roughly the same size, but they have powerful jaws and larger heads. Reproducing termites are longer with some growing up to ½ an inch.

Behaviors

Subterranean termites tend to live in colonies underground. If they’re living above ground, they prefer living in moist, secluded locations. They can build unique mud tubes that allow them to access their food sources. In addition to this, the mud tubes can help protect the termites. As with other termites, they’re going to eat materials that contain cellulose. Subterranean swarmers will emerge in the spring so they can begin building new colonies.

Primary Threats

Unfortunately, Subterranean termites can create numerous problems for you and your loved ones. Since they have powerful jaws, they’ll easily be able to chew through wood. They can destroy your home’s structure and your wood furniture. If you don’t tackle the problem rapidly, they will cause immense property damage.

Flying Ants Vs. Termites

Flying ants have two sets of wings. The front wings are longer than the back wings and they’re not easy to break off. Their waist is narrow while their antennas are elbowed. As for flying termites, both wings are roughly the same size, but they’re easy to break off. Their body is thick and even from top to bottom. Their antennas are straight.

Facts About Termites

• Termites will never stop eating. A colony will continue eating around the clock and every day of the week.
• A termite colony can survive as long as they’re able to produce new generations of worker termites. In some cases, a colony will survive up to 70 years.
• It is estimated that the average termite colony in the United States is home to roughly 500,000 insects.
• Termites are beneficial in the forest because they’ll help break down dead and decaying wood.
• Subterranean termites need access to water or they won’t be able to survive. If they become dehydrated, they will die.
• When nesting above ground, termites build mud tunnels or tubes close to the ground. Then, they’ll keep the tubes wet.
• Ants are one of the main termite predators. Ants will attack termites when they’re searching for food.
• You can eliminate the ants completely from your property.
• The world is home to more than 2,000 termite species.
• Only 40 species live in America with most being found in the southeast.
• Subterranean termites can be found in every American state except for Alaska.
• Termites will not be able to chew through concrete, but they can easily slip through tiny cracks in concrete.
• Worker termites will need to chew and digest cellulose and regurgitate it for other members of the colony.
• Queen termites may live up to 20 years while laying thousands of eggs daily.

Are Termites Dangerous?

The good news is that termites are not dangerous to humans. They’re not going to bite you or transmit dangerous diseases. Nevertheless, they can create issues for homeowners. Termites are going to quickly destroy the structure of your home. To prevent this from happening, you need to go above and beyond to get rid of the termites as quickly as possible. Otherwise, they’ll chew through your home’s wood structure and make it unsafe.

Getting Rid Of Termites

Unfortunately, getting rid of termites is not an easy task. In some cases, termites will live up to 300 feet away from your property, and they’ll use underground tunnels to travel back and forth from your property. As a result, it is going to be difficult to find out where the termites are hiding. You can’t remove them from your property until you’ve found out where the main colony is. We recommend working with us because we offer cost-effective, reliable termite removal services in Miami.

Can I Eliminate Termites Myself?

Although you can try, you likely won’t be able to eliminate termites on your own. The problem is that you’ll have difficulty finding the termite colony. Furthermore, you’ll need to use the products safely. If you don’t, you’ll end up exposing yourself and your loved ones to dangerous pesticides. The best way to tackle the problem swiftly is by calling us to learn more about our termite pest control services. We’ve got you covered.

When Can You Begin?

Contact us to schedule an appointment immediately. One of our friendly termite experts will reach your home in 24 to 48 hours.

Is Your Termite Treatment Safe?

Our company goes to great lengths to provide safe termite removal solutions. We’ll make sure that you and your loved ones are protected during the removal process. Our exterminators rely on EPA-registered products to deliver lightning-fast, satisfactory results.

Preventing Termite Infestations In The Future

• Make sure that water is kept away from your home’s foundation. All water pipes should be inspected regularly. If you find any leaking pipes, faucets, or AC units, fix them immediately.
• Reducing humidity can help. Make sure the humidity in the crawlspace, basement, and attic is low. Proper ventilation can help.
• Firewood should be stored away from your home. Try to keep it at least 20 feet away and five inches from the ground.
• Mulch needs to be placed at least 15 inches away from the home’s foundation. Alternatively, you can try using rubber mulch.
• Check your home’s foundation regularly. If you notice any mud tubes or bubbling paint, there is a risk that you’re dealing with a termite infestation. Don’t wait to fix the problem because it will only escalate.
• Are you concerned that you have termites in your home? Don’t wait. Contact our office immediately so we can fix the problem for you right away.

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