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Professional Termite Pest Control Louisville KY
Believe it or not, termites are extremely social creatures. This means that if you see just a single one, there are likely hundreds potentially thousands lurking right around the corner. What’s even more frightening is that they work together effectively, more effectively than ants. They work together as a team to procure food, water, and shelter. They do this so that their colony can thrive, reproduce and eventually venture off to start their own colonies.
Termites feed and survive on what is known as cellulose. This is a substance that can be found in a variety of common elements like plants and cardboard. Lumber, cotton fibers, paper, and furniture are just amongst a few more elements that contain what is known as cellulose.
Termite infestations commonly lead to termite mounds. Termites normally build their shelters and colonies underground. However, when they’ve gotten too large, they’ll protrude from the ground and create what looks like a mound. These mounds can grow in size and make the colonies more unconcealed. Normally termites colonies are unseen when built underground, but when they get big enough to turn into a mound, they’ll be much easier to spot. All that being said, termites don’t just live underground. They also live in wood. They’ll burrow into it and this usually is a product of small mud tubes. You’ve likely seen these tubes built upon wood before. These are termite homes.
Amongst the termite population, it is the subterranean termite that is the most commonly found in North America. They are estimated to cause 95 percent of the researched $2 billion damage a year in the United States.
Each termite colony is unique in the fact that they have their own society made up of specialized levels of castes. Each caste also has a broad range of responsibilities.
The Queen
The queen is the largest member of the colony, coming in at just under 4 inches long. She is so large for the colony that if she needs to be moved, it’ll take several hundred workers pushing at one time to get her moving.
However, without the queen, the colony would cease to exist. She is the one that creates the colony by laying eggs. She lays enough eggs until the workers and nymphs are large enough to care for the colony on their own. What’s even more interesting is, the queen is capable of living for more than ten years. During these years, she is capable of laying nearly 30,000 eggs in a single day
The King
Where there is a queen, there is a king and the termite colonies are no different. There is also a king involved and he is the primary assistant of the queen. He helps her create and attend to the colony during the initial formation.
The king will continue to mate throughout his life to help increase the size of the colony.
Worker Termites
The worker termite is another member of the termite colony, and perhaps one of the most essential members. These members are soft-bodied, light-colored, and do not have wings. Each worker is about 10 millimeters in length, which is about the size of a grain of rice.
They stay busy 24/7 and rarely get to leave the tunnels of the colony. It is their primary objective to care for the eggs while also maintaining and constructing the tunnels. They’ll also forage for food along with keeping the other members of the colony well-fed and maintained.
Soldiers
The soldiers in the colon are white, soft-bodied, and do not contain wings.
They have long heads with two powerful jaws that are utilized as weapons.
It is the soldier termite that is responsible for defending the colony against threats, as you’ve likely already discerned from the name of the termite.
Winged Reproductives
Believe it or not, both male and female termites produce offspring for the colony. And, that’s what the winged reproductives are.
These critters will develop wings so that they can eventually leave the colony. When they leave it will be their primary goal to parent new colonies.
Colonies usually contain both primary reproductives (1 king and 1 queen) and hundreds of secondary reproductives. It is their sole responsibility to assist in egg laying and colony growth.
What Types Of Termites Are There In Louisville, KY?
While there are a variety of termite species in Louisville, KY, it is the Subterranean termite that is the most common.
Overview
Depending on their specific tasks Subterranean termite colonies are organized into different castes. These will be the workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The characteristics of each termite are usually dependent on the role of the insect within the colony. Worker termites are usually 1/8 to 3/8 inches long. Solder termites might be similar in length, but they are highly distinguishable by their powerful mandibles and large brown heads. The Reproductives are right around ½ inch long.
Habits
The Subterranean termite likes to live underground in secluded colonies. They also build what are known as mud tubes. This allows them to gain access to food sources while also protecting themselves from the open air. That is the purpose of the mud tube. Like other common species, these termites like to feed on cellulose. Subterranean termites swarm in the spring when the Reproductives venture off to start new colonies.
Threats
Thee termite is without a doubt known as one of the most destructive insects on the face of the earth. They have certainly earned this reputation over the years. They have hard, saw-toothed jaws that work like shears with the capability to bite off extremely small fragments of wood one piece at a time. This is how they are capable of destroying and tearing through homes.
How Flying Ants And Termites Are Different
The flying ant and termite are two common insects. While commonly known, they are a bit different in appearance and habitat. First, the flying ant has a pair of front wings that is longer than the back pair. They are not easily broken off, whereas the termite has a set of front and back wings that are the same size. The ant’s waist is narrow and pinched, whereas the termite‘s waist is thick and much less defined. The antennae of the flying any are elbowed while the termites are straight.
Termite Facts
Here are some interesting facts about termites that even some of the most highly trained professionals aren’t aware of:
A termite colony eats non-stop for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is simply no break!
A colony can live for nearly as 50 to 70 years, with generations and generations of worker termites.
In the United States, an average termite colony will contain right around 500,00 insects.
Termites can provide a valuable service to the environment by breaking down dead wood in forests. They break it down into soil that can be put back into the earth.
Subterranean termites must have constant access to water other they will dehydrate and die.
Above ground termites use water from the ground to maintain mud tunnels or tubes that are built into the ground.
The main predator of the termite is the ant. Ants can attack termite colonies while looking for food.
It is entirely possible to rid a property completely free of termites.
There are actually over 2,000 different species of termites. Most of them live in tropical and subtropical parts of the world.
There are nearly 40 termite species in the United States, with most of them being located in the Southeast.
Termites are not found in Alaska.
90 percent of all termite damage in the US is caused by the Subterranean termite.
Termites cannot get through concrete, but their soft bodies allow them to squeeze the tiniest of cracks and cervices.
The total weight of all termites colonies in the world would out weight the total number of humans in the world. That means there are probably nearly thousands of termites to one human.
Only the worker termite can chew and digest food, which means it is their sole responsibility to gather food and regurgitate it for the rest of the colony. Quite the task indeed.
The queen lives for over 20 years and lays thousands of eggs within a single day.
Are Termites Dangerous?
Termites only pose damage to physical property. They are not really a threat to the common human. They do not bite and are not known for carrying or transmitting diseases. That said, they can cause structural damage to a building that can harm a human. While this is highly unlikely, there have been humans killed in buildings that have collapsed due to termite damage.
How Do You Rid A Building Of Termites?
Despite what one might believe, termite control is much easier than imaginable. This probably has to do with the fact that termites generally live 300 feet away from most properties, utilizing underground shelters. They use tunnels to move to and from the nest site. This can make it easy to eliminate the main structure, but it makes it extremely hard to detect and destroy all the tunneling systems. Unfortunately, the entire system must be destroyed if you want to rid a property completely termite-free.
Can You Do It Yourself?
As you’ve probably already guessed, termite colonies are extremely complex. This makes it extremely hard for an untrained individual to completely eradicate termites from a property. There are tons of do-it-yourself solutions out there, and some of them might be effective, but they will not likely completely clear up your problem. In addition to this, the pesticides used to eliminate termites can be dangerous to humans, pets, and anyone involved in the equation. Therefore, your very best option is to turn to a professional.
How Soon Can Termites Be Dealt With?
If you contact a reputable and reliable pest control company in your area they should be able to show up within the next 24 to 48 hours. From there, they should be able to handle the problem with a few days. That being said, termite control and elimination is a long-term process. It’ll take constant checks and a diligent eye to ensure that you have cleared up the problem and keep it clear.
Are The Treatments Safe?
As was mentioned before, pesticides are commonly used to kill termites. Unfortunately, these pesticides are harmful to humans and pets. However, there are some pest control companies that are now offering more eco-friendly options. If these companies are legit they should be registered and licensed with the EPA.
Preventing Termites In The Future
The best way to deal with termites is by hitting the head-on and stopping an infestation before it begins. The only way to do just this is to know the facts.
- To start, one will want to make sure to divert water away from their property’s foundation. Make sure you have proper draining and downspouts. Leaking faucets, water pipes, and AC units should all be dealt with properly.
- Humidity in crawlspaces, attics, and basements will need to be dealt with by utilizing proper ventilation.
- Firewood must be stored at least 20 to 30 feet away from the property, being kept 5 inches off the ground.
- Mulch needs to be at least 15 inches from the foundation as well.
- Always keep a diligent eye out for mud tubes, cracked, or bubbling paint, and wood.
- As soon as you suspect a potential infestation get in touch with a trained professional that’ll know how to proceed.
Why Hire Us!
We are a bonded pest control company licensed with the State of Kentucky. Our local office is conveniently located in the heart of Louisville, where we have quick and easy access to local neighborhoods. We service:
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