TERMITES BEGIN SWARMING IN MID TO LATE FEBRUARY THROUGH LATE MARCH and have been feeding all winter, summer, spring and fall. This is the first visible evidence of termites and their swarm is commonly mistaken as “”flying ants””. Turning on your heat on a cold day can cause these termites to immediately start flying out of your walls, or when the temperature outside rises significantly after a cold spell, termites will swarm.

FORMOSAN TERMITES USUALLY SWARM AROUND MOTHER’S DAY & WILL CONTINUE TO SWARM THROUGH AUGUST. They swarm at night and are attracted to lights. Keep exterior lights off as much as possible. Only keep interior lights on when you are in the room.

WHAT CAN A HOMEOWNER DO TO PREVENT TERMITES?
If you have not had your property treated, have a professional inspect your property to determine if you have a termite infestation. They can give you an estimate to treat the property to prevent termites or treat to eradicate termites. Our company provides FREE ESTIMATES. Not to be confused with an annual inspection provided for a fee when you have a termite contract with us.

TIPS & ADVICE

1: Keep moisture away from your house. Trim & prune plants that are near your house. Clean your gutters, and make sure they drain water at least a little bit away from your foundation. Check for leaky faucets, hoses or air conditioners – leaks are a common reason for termites to be attracted to your house. If you wrap your outside faucets in the winter, unwrap them after the last threat of a freeze. Termites can come up between the faucet & insulation undetected. Termites survive on moisture.

2. Wood is food for termites. Remove all sources of food away from your house & outbuildings – Firewood, old stumps, newspapers, magazines, cardboard boxes, grading stakes should all be removed from anywhere near the house. Mulch in gardens should be at least 2 inches below the slab line. Mulch should not touch stucco or any siding on the house.

3. Wood structures near the house should not touch the ground. Most houses won’t be designed with this problem – but many people put decks, latticework, fences, door frames, or stairs on their homes as well. There should be a half a foot free space between the ground and any wood and 2 inches between fences and the house.

4. If you have a Termite Contract, it is important that you let your Termite Company know BEFORE you do any work around the foundation of your home, as this can void the contract. Examples: add new concrete, add dirt around the foudation, dig up and replace old concrete, add an addition on your home. Anything that could disturb the chemical barrier placed around your property should be reported to the company BEFORE it is done.