Drywood Termites are Swarming - Do you think you may have them?

Well, it's that time again - I have to tent my house for termintes this Thursday.  I'm the third house on my block to tent within the past 30 days.  Why all the tenting activity?

It seems like we've had an unusually busy termite season this year.  Swarming season is from April - August every year, and takes place when they are mating or growing their colony.  When the colonoy gets over populated, then they need to swarm (fly) to re-colonize to a new location.

Be aware that It takes roughtly 1.5 years after they nest for the actual damage in a property to appear. This means that if they swarm and attach to your house, it may not be until a year or so later that you see drywood termite damage!

  How do you know if you have them:  You may see evidence - a small pile of saw dust in a corner, on the side of a wall or inside a closet.  You may find little wings on a windowsill or near a light. Termites are attracted to light when they swarm, and they drop their wings.

Cold Weather Snap - These critters do not like cold weather.  This season, inspectors are finding less than normal amounts of termites on outside roof facia, and more swarming inside homes where it has been warmer.  In a nutshell, termites tend to relocate to the interior of a house during cold weather, then they swarm when it gets warm, hence, why we have noticed an abudance of swarming termites this year in particular.  Because we live inside homes, not out on the facia!

Click here for more information about termites and how they can be treated in this TERMITE OVERVIEW.   I hope this has been helpful.  Wish me happy Tenting! ... and hopefully you don't have to tent!