Q. Yesterday we saw termites flying out from a stump in our yard and birds were picking them off. Why do termites swarm?
A. Reproduction is a strong force that cannot be denied. The whole purpose of a termite swarm is to start new little termite colonies. Once a termite colony reaches a certain size, it starts to produce “primary reproductives” or swarmers. While worker termites are wingless and sterile, the swarmers are winged males and females capable of reproduction.
VIEW MOREBaiting for termites (instead of drilling and injecting, or trenching around foundations) is a treatment technology that has been around for more than 15 years. Termite bait monitors (or bait stations) are basically feeding stations for termites that contain wood material plus toxic bait. The monitors are inserted into the ground around a home’s foundation to protect the structure from termites.
VIEW MOREQ. We just discovered that we have termites in our house. We don’t really want to spend the money for a termite treatment right now. How much do termites eat? Will they do a whole lot more damage if we put off the treatment until fall?
VIEW MOREEarly spring used to be a busy time for pest control companies that do termite control. That’s when termites would swarm and customers would call. Today, any pest control company in the Northeast will tell you that the number of calls they get about swarming termites is way down in the last few years.
VIEW MOREQ. My husband recently brought firewood into our basement, and basically filled up one whole side of it. There is enough wood to last all winter but I am worried that he may have brought termites into our home. Is it possible to bring termites in with firewood, and should I be concerned?
VIEW MOREMany people worry overmuch about termites and imagine that their house is going to fall down around them. While termites are a serious problem and they do require control, they won’t destroy your home overnight. There are some warning signs of termite infestation if you know what to look for.
VIEW MOREQ. How do termites find the wood they infest? Is it just random or can they key in on the wood in my house?
A. Actually, researchers don’t agree on how termites find their food sources. Some think that they mostly forage randomly, digging networks of tunnels until they find wood. Others believe they can track moisture, soil temperature, and other factors to find wood. Regardless, once they find wood, they have a system of recruiting other termites to the site and foraging becomes less random and more structured.
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