Five Facts You Might Not Know About Termites

We all know termites eat wood. It is also a common understanding that termites feed on homes and businesses, which can lead to frustrating repair costs. But there is a surprising amount of information that most people don't know about these destructive insects. Take a look at the following five facts and see if there are any you don't already know about these wood-destroying pests.

1. Termites never sleep. We often get asked how these tiny insects can do so much destruction to man-made structures. One of the reasons is that they never sleep. Termites are simple organisms. They don't have to recharge their batteries like many other creatures do. They are able to feed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without stopping.

2. All termites are not created equal. There are many species of termite. And there are several classifications of termite species. The two largest classifications are subterranean and drywood. Subterranean termites can establish a colony in the ground. That is why they are called subterranean. Drywood termites establish their colonies in dry wood. Of these two types of termites, there is no comparison in the amount of damage they do nationwide. Subterranean termites are head and shoulders above drywood termites. Drywood termite damage is in the hundreds of millions. Subterranean termite damage is in the billions.

3. Winged termites are not a species of termite. Some folks think that the black termites with the long white wings are a species of termite. But those winged termites are a caste of termite that is produced by a termite colony for the purpose of establishing new colonies.

4. Winged termites are not a warning of an impending infestation. When winged termites appear on your window panes or window sills, even on the outside, it is not likely a warning of an impending infestation. Termite swarms do not last long or travel far. For this reason, swarmers are usually a sign that there is a mature colony on the property.

5. Swarmers are attracted to light. If you have exterior lights, you could lure a nearby swarm to your home. When swarmers take to the air at night, they often flutter around streetlights and other exterior lights. Keeping your lights off, or replacing white lights with insect-resistant yellow bulbs can make your home less attractive.

These are all important facts to know about termites but the biggest fact you should know is that termite damage can be prevented. At All-American Pest Control we offer home termite control services and green pest control for termites. We would love the opportunity to explain how these services work to protect Tennessee homes and businesses from termite damage. Every home and business is better off without termites. That's a fact.