As a homeowner, you hear stories about termites, but no one really warns you about how invasive and destructive they can be. A lot of people find out the hard way how much damage these pests can cause. Termites are responsible for billions of dollars worth of damage each year in the U.S.

For such a small pest, they pack a big punch. Luckily, there are strategies to help you get ahead of termites so you can protect your home from the damage they cause. Learning about their behaviors is a great place to start.

Termite Activity and Survival Strategies

Most people think that all pests either hibernate or die in the winter. Contrary to this popular belief, termites are active year-round. Some species may be more active during warmer months, but they don’t stop coming for your home just because the temperatures drop. In fact, this only motivates them to get indoors more.

Species like the subterranean termites move deeper underground for warmth in order to survive cold temperatures, but most remain active through the winter months. Worker termites, in particular, are known to keep foraging, they just stay closer to their nest during the cold season.

Termite Infestation Risks

As we mentioned, termites are more than just a headache for homeowners, but no one really warns you how important pest control is ahead of time. If you are concerned about termites, you’re absolutely right to feel this way.

A termite infestation can be an incredibly costly and even worst-case scenario. These pests cause significant amounts of property damage, often right under your nose. Many homeowners don’t realize they have termites until major damage has been done.

Invasive species, like dry wood termites, can remain active all year long, putting your home at a major risk no matter what time of year. Once a termite infestation has settled into your home’s walls and foundation, the colony will continue to thrive all winter.

Signs of Termite Activity in Homes

So, how do you know if you have a termite infestation?

These pests can be hard to identify because they are often confused with flying ants. Termites burrow into wood, and they often infest areas of your home where there is little disturbance, like your foundation or inside your walls.

Early signs of termites include damaged wood, mud tubes, and termite droppings. Mud tubes are usually the same width as a pencil, and it’s an actual tube that termites form that allows them to travel from their nest to a food source undercover. They are typically seen on walls, ceilings, and foundations of homes.

You may also recognize termite activity from the long channels they bore into wood surfaces and piles of wings that they shed once they have mated.

Doing a walkthrough of your attic, crawlspace, or anywhere that you have natural, untreated wood can help you catch a termite infestation before it causes severe damage.

Protecting Your Home from Termites

Homeowners don’t have to feel hopeless. There are proactive measures that people can take to avoid termites and defend against them. That all begins with scheduling regular inspections from a pest control professional, like Flex Pest Control.

Working with a team of experts sets you up for success. We offer prevention tactics to protect your home from termites so you can avoid the costly repairs associated with a termite infestation.

We can help point out areas where your home’s foundation and crawl spaces could use some help, and we offer expert tips to keep your home well-ventilated and dray to avoid attracting termites.

Getting Rid of Termites

The lifecycle of a termite is longer than you would think; termites die around 1 or 2 years after they have reached maturity. This gives them a lot of time to reproduce and build their colony, which is why termite infestations are so common.

It doesn’t help that these pests are incredibly resilient. Termites live in hiding, evading sight for a long while until we finally realize that our houses are in serious trouble. That’s where professional pest control comes into play.

At Flex Pest Control, our experienced termite specialists can thoroughly inspect your home and locate any active or formerly active termite colonies. From there, we create a customized treatment plan to eradicate the termites that have invaded your space.

Learn more about our termite control tactics and schedule your inspection today to keep your home protected all year long.