Most problems in life are noticeable. That’s part of what makes them problems. Many people do not think about all of the little invisible things that lead up to some of life’s greatest difficulties. Let’s take termites as an example. These pests do not make their presence known when they invade a home. They often stay hidden for months, if not years, before being noticed.
If you don’t know, termites in Birmingham can severely damage a home in this amount of time. To help you identify these pests early and deal with a termite problem in your Birmingham home, if you have one, here are some things to consider today.
The Life Cycle Of Termites
Each termite goes through three stages of life, egg, nymph, and adult. Eggs are laid by female reproductive termites underground inside colonies. These eggs are assigned to have the role of worker, soldier, or reproductive by the queens. Once hatched, termite nymphs feed on cellulose brought back by workers until they develop into adults. In young termite colonies, the task of feeding nymphs falls to the colony’s king. Finally, when fully grown, termites take on their mission in life, either gathering cellulose (workers), protecting the colony (soldiers), or reproducing and taking care of the young (reproductives).
Clear Signs Of A Termite Infestation In Your Home
Before we talk about signs of termites, we think it is important to mention that most signs of an infestation only show up after several months, if not years after these pests have invaded. The only early warning sign these pests occasionally leave behind is mud tubes running up the exterior foundation of a home. You will not find this sign if your foundation has cracks or gaps running up to exterior wood or if structural wood is directly touching exterior soil.
With all of this in mind, here are some more clear signs to indicate a termite infestation in your home:
· Overly-squeaky floorboards and stairs
· Windows and doors that are hard to open and shut
· Swelling wood due to moisture damage
· Hollow sounding wood that should not sound hollow
· Bubbling wallpaper and paint
· Sagging drywall
· Discolored walls, doors, and ceilings due to moisture damage
· Swarmers (flying termites) inside your house
· Buckling support beams
· Sagging doors and ceilings
What Attracts Termites To Homes
Termites are driven by one thing: food. These pests consume cellulose, a material found in wood and wood-based materials. When termite swarmers are looking for new places to build their nests, they look for cellulose to eat. The most common termites in Birmingham, subterranean termites, prefer water-damaged or rotting wood. They also love to eat wet cardboard, newspaper, and things like sticks, leaves, and dead trees. The more of these things you have on your property, the more likely these pests will settle in nearby. If your house also provides edible wood sources, they will also look to it for food.
Contact The Pros At The First Sign Of Termites Around Your Home
The absolute best way to identify a termite problem inside your Birmingham home is to hire a professional to come out and have a look. At Pest Control Experts, our Birmingham pest technicians are trained to identify signs of termites and are adept at eliminating and preventing termites in our area. They will not only address any problems you have but make sure your home has protection against any termites that might want to invade in the future.
Tags: Termite Identification, Termite Signs, Termites In Birmingham