Termite Identification & Prevention In Chesapeake, VA

What are termites?

Termites are insects. They are social and live together in large colonies. Within a colony, there are three groups of termites: workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The most common termite in our area is the subterranean termite. These termites have high moisture needs, nest underground, and more often than not enter our homes unseen. You are more likely to see signs of termites rather than the termites themselves; hiring a termite control and prevention professional is the key to detecting and preventing a widespread termite infestation in your Chesapeake home.

Are termites dangerous?

Termites pose a significant danger to homes in Virginia. Termites are not pests that cause people harm; they don’t bite, sting, spread diseases, or contaminate your family’s food. They are considered dangerous because of the damage their feeding habits cause to the structures of our homes. When termites find their way inside and begin feeding on structural beams, flooring, and other wooden elements, the damage they cause is costly and difficult to repair. Termites enter our homes unseen and can work for many months or even years without notice.

Why do I have a termite problem?

Moisture is what will most likely draw termites to an area. Excess moisture that attracts subterranean termite activity is caused by:

• Broken irrigation systems
• Poor drainage
• Clogged gutters
• Leaky pipes
• Poor ventilation

Subterranean termites have extremely high moisture needs and need constant contact with the soil or the damp interior of water-damaged wood to survive. If your property can provide termites with the moisture they require and suitable food or nesting sites, these insects will take advantage!

Signs of a termite infestation include the following:

• Mud tubes on the soil around your home or running along foundation or basement walls
• Shed wings of reproductive members that have swarmed from a mature colony to find a mate and build a new nest
• Windows and doors that are no longer opening or closing properly
• Cracking wood or wood surfaces that sound hollow when you knock against them
• Small pinpoint holes in the exterior of wood or drywall

Where will I find termites?

Termites are attracted to properties that provide them with the things they need to survive and thrive such as moist soil and decaying plant matter. Outside, termites create their nests in the ground. However, when they find their way inside, termites can be found tunneling through and feeding on wood and non-wood items such as structural supports, flooring, wooden trim, insulation, plastic plumbing pipes, sub-flooring, and foundations. Termites travel from their food source, which is oftentimes our homes, to their nest through underground tunnels or mud tubes that they create on the surfaces of walls and foundations and along the ground.

How do I get rid of termites?

Termites difficult pests to try to prevent and control on your own. Trusting your termite control needs to Hawk Mosquito & Pest is the best way to eliminate wood-eating termites and other destructive pests from your Virginia property. We provide our customers with residential and commercial termite solutions in Chesapeake that are eco-friendly, effective, and fit any budget. Our services will ensure that your termite problems are quickly and completely solved and that they won’t invade and cause damage to your home in the future! Reach out today and learn more about guarding your home against the appetite of wood-eating termites.

How can I prevent termites in the future?

Prevent issues with termites by partnering with us at Hawk Mosquito & Pest and implementing the following recommendations.

• Repair leaky air conditioners, pipes, and fixtures that provide the excess moisture that attracts termites.
• Avoid stacking firewood near your home.
• Keep mulch racked back away from your foundation.
• Avoid wood-to-soil contact near or on your home.
• Remove excess wood from your yard like tree stumps, fallen trees, downed limbs, and construction materials.
• Make sure your foundation is free of cracks; if any develop, use the appropriate material to seal them.

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