Are Tallahassee, FL Homes and Businesses More Susceptible to Termites in the Summer?

Termites are a part of a balanced ecosystem as they help to speed up the wood deterioration process, which creates new soil. However, termites don’t discriminate when it comes to the wood they consume. They’ll just as easily make colonies in the wooden structures of your home as a tree in your backyard.

When termites enter your home, they can cause massive amounts of damage that can be both expensive to fix and potentially dangerous if left untreated. Read on to find out why you’re more likely to get termites in the summer and how to tell if they’ve invaded your home.

When do termites swarm in Tallahassee?

Swarming is part of the termite’s natural reproductive process when they become more active and work to increase the size of their colony. Termites in Tallahassee swarm during the late spring through summer. Still, it’s possible for termites to invade your home at any time of the year. It’s important for you to remain vigilant and inspect the wooden features and structures in and around your home to ensure you don’t have a termite infestation.

How do you know if you have termites in your home?

Termites are subterranean insects, which means they primarily live and work underground. They thrive in dark, moist conditions. Termites eat away at the wood within the floor, inside walls, under roof shingles, and can even be found in furniture.

If you think you have a termite infestation, there are a few telltale signs you can inspect your home for:

Mud Tunnels

Termite mud tunnels look like just that—tunnels made of mud. Look along the sides of your home for mud tunnels leading into cracks or crevices. They can also be on walls in basements and where infestations exist. These tubes are created by the colony so that they can travel without outside elements and predators from impacting their survival.

Soft Wood

Termite damage can be deceptive because termites tend to consume wood from the inside out. While the wooden structures in your home may look undisturbed by termites, feel for soft spots in floors, ceilings, and furniture. If the wood gives easily, termites have probably eaten it away from the inside.

Hollow Sound

If you think termites may have infested furniture in your home, knock on the wood and listen for a hollow sound. If it doesn’t sound solid, termites could have infested it. As previously mentioned, termites eat from the sides out. They create cavities in wood as they eat.

Wings and Remains

Swarming termites are dark brown or black in color, and they’re attracted to light. If you’ve got an infestation, you might find dead swarming termites (or just their wings) near light sources. During the swarming season, these reproductive termites burst out of the colony in an attempt to break away and expand the colony.

Got Termites? Call Capelouto

Termite infestations are not something you can fix on your own. If left untreated, termites can cause extensive damage that’s not only expensive to fix, but that can create dangerously weak wooden structures. Protect your home and your family by enlisting the help of the professionals at Capelouto. If you suspect you have a termite problem, don’t hesitate and call us today.