Do I Need to Worry about Termites in the Winter?

When the temperatures drop, you are more likely to snuggle up inside your home and try to stay warm. You aren’t as likely to go poking around your house to do repairs or updates, and you aren’t as likely to go outside to do yard work. Therefore, you aren’t as likely to notice any termite activity around your home, which may lead you to believe that you don’t have to worry about termites in the winter.

The truth is that you have to worry about termites all year long, no matter where you live. You should have a year-round termite control plan in place that includes a regular termite inspection to ensure that no infestations are spreading.

Ideal Conditions for Termites

Here’s what termites need to survive: Cellulose (from wood, drywall, paper, cardboard, or plant matter), water, and humidity. They not only need water to drink, but they need to live in damp environments since their exoskeletons are not fully developed and do not provide adequate protection against moisture loss.

Ideally, termites like a temperature of about 75 degrees Fahrenheit. In Arizona, it hits 75 degrees on most days of the year. So even during some parts of the winter, the temps are ideal for termites to munch happily through your home. But even when the weather gets colder, termites can stay warm by burrowing deeper into your home or farther under the ground.

Termite Activity throughout the Year

You are more likely to see the signs of termite activity when the weather is a bit warmer and termites can operate closer to the surface. You will see mud tubes on the ground or around the foundation of the house. Termites use these mud tubes to travel without exposing themselves to sunlight or the dry air.

Termites also breed in the spring. The reproductive class matures and grows its wings for swarming and mating. You may see the swarming behavior yourself as it takes place above ground. Reproductives develop a harder exoskeleton to withstand the conditions outside. But even if you don’t see the swarming first-hand, you may see the signs that it has taken place. When swarming is over, the termites land and shed their wings, which may appear along your window sills or near other openings. The spent wings look a bit like fish scales.
You aren’t likely to see the tunnels or the wings in the winter, since termites don’t mate then and they will likely dig deeper to get warmer. But you can look for other signs of termite activity, including:

Peeling paint

Cracks on the walls or ceiling

Soft spots in the floors or other areas

Hollow sounds when you tap on the wood

Frass, or termite waste

If you notice any of these signs, you should call an exterminator right away to conduct a termite inspection.

Proactive Treatments

You aren’t safe from termites in the winter, and you shouldn’t let your guard down just because you don’t notice signs of termite activity or infestation. You should be proactive in your termite treatment to keep your home safe. If you wait until termites have infested your home, you will end up paying much more to remove them. They can get deep into your home, and they can rapidly reproduce. They can also eat wood rapidly, causing extensive damage. Waiting to develop a termite pest control plan near Scottsdale means you are more likely to have to pay a lot of money for repairs.

Your homeowner’s policy will not cover termite damage, and termites can destroy structural parts of your home that can cause massive damage and put your family at risk. Some houses have even collapsed because of termite damage.

Call Varsity Termite and Pest Control in Arizona to develop a Scottsdale termite control plan for your home or business. Our professionals will perform a termite inspection near Scottsdale to see what kind of termites are in your home, and they will choose the appropriate termite treatment for that species. They will also treat for other termites to prevent any new infestations. Our goal is to create a comprehensive termite pest control plan that will keep your property free of these destructive pests. Call us in Arizona to schedule your termite inspection.

 

Published By:

Varsity Termite and Pest Control – Tony Kaufman

West Valley Location:

Office: 602-560-6021

East Valley Location:

Office: 602-757-8252

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