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There are three main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Each type of termite colony includes workers (who eat your home ), soldiers (who defend other people from predators such as ants) and swarmers (flyers that locate new areas to colonize). Although you dont generally see termites unless theyre swarming (flying), its good to know how to identify them, Wilson says.

Drywood termites commonly have a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have sheer, tan wings but there are colour variations. Employees are light, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are much like drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and absolute wings. These employees also resemble maggots.

Subterranean termites are smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and sheer wings for the flyers. The workers are smaller, white and maggot-like.

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Drywood termites are partial to dry, nondecayed wood and often end up in attics, flooring boards and window frames.

Dampwood termites like decaying wood or timber that's loaded with moisture. They often attack wood that is making contact with the ground and are found in areas with high rainfall or humidity.

Subterranean termites will eat soft (moisture-rich) timber and drywood, however they initially make contact with your home through the ground.

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Drywood and dampwood termites enter your house through small cracks, often around window frames through cracks in the caulk. Be sure to check around windows regularly and reapply caulk when it begins to show signs of age and cracking. Swarmers lose their wings and float into the timber. Cracks in paint are another simple access point for termites.

Be mindful of maintaining your outside paint. For example, when you hammer Christmas lights then take the nails out, you leave behind little holes and create an open door for a termite colony. .

Subterranean termites often seep into cracks in the homes foundation. In regions like the San Francisco Bay Area, many houses have raised foundations, Wilson states. Termites build mud tubes around the bottom floor, often along posts. But even in the absence of posts, Wilson states sand tubes can stretch from the ground up through thin air to connect with the base of the home. .

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So what do you do if you find a termite in your home when you see one shed wing or one termite flying by, it doesnt mean you've got an infestation. But if you see a group of shed wings or any of the other warning signs noted above, its best to find a professional inspection.

Termites are actually simple to kill,'' Wilson says, but you need a termiticide to do it. Unfortunately, good pesticides are not available to the general public. Most home shops promote termite spray, but those are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.

If you have an infestation that's isolated to one part of your house, state the door trim, you can substitute the trim, Wilson says. But if you've got a full-on termite infestation, you need a larger scale treatment.

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Subterranean termites must be cut away from the house at the ground. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any areas of dirt and the home, as well as around the entire home. It functions as a shield the termites cant break through.

Drywood and dampwood termites can be killed with a timber treatment product like XT2000 Orange Oil, which can be injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This item saturates the wood and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes approximately four to six hours.

Homes which are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your home, or all of the doors and windows are sealed, and the home is gassed with pesticide that will kill all the termites. This procedure can take anywhere from six hours to one week, depending on the type of infestation.

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Employ an Visit Your URL excellent, quality coating of exterior paint on your property, since termites wont consume through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation openings are caulked and sealed. Dont basic or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either abandon the nails in the pockets year-round or fill out the holes when you eliminate the nails. .

Quickly resolve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other issues involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your raised home to maintain that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.