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

Drywood termites commonly possess a brown body with a red head. Swarmers have absolute, tan wings although there are color variations. Workers are pale, tan and look like maggots, with no wings.

Dampwood termites are similar to drywood termites, often with a tan or brown body and sheer wings. These workers also resemble maggots.

Subterranean termites are somewhat smaller than their above-ground brethren with black bodies and utter wings to 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, floor boards and window frames.

Dampwood termites like decaying wood or timber that's rich with moisture. They often strike 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) wood and drywood, however they initially make contact with your home through the ground.

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

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

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

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

Termites are actually simple to kill, Wilson states, but you need a termiticide to perform it. Unfortunately, superior pesticides are not readily available to the general public. Most home stores promote termite spray, but these are watered down to meet public safety specifications, so theyre not as successful.

In case you have an infestation that's isolated to one portion of your home, state the door trimming, you can substitute the trimming, Wilson states. But if you have a full-on termite infestation, you need a bigger scale treatment.

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Subterranean termites must be cut away from the home at the soil. Pacific Coast Termites makes a chemical barrier between any regions of dirt and the house, as well as around the entire house. It acts 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 is injected under pressure into the wood through ink-pen-sized holes. This product saturates the timber and will prevent future infestations. Treating a moderate infestation this manner takes approximately four this content to six hours.

Homes that are massively infested (you can see termites everywhere) can require fumigation. Either a huge tent is put over your home, or all 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 kind of infestation.

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Apply an excellent, quality coat of paint on your house, since termites wont eat through paint. Ensure that all windows, doorframes and foundation gaps are caulked and sealed. Dont staple or nail up Christmas lights then pull them down. The tiny holes make termite homes. Instead, either abandon the nails in the holes year-round or fill out the holes when you remove the nails. .

Instantly solve any plumbing leaks, standing water on your roof or other difficulties involving decaying wood. Provide proper ventilation under your raised home to keep that region dry. Subterranean termites adore wetness.