If you’re a resident of Hillsborough county, then you know that Hillsborough county termites are a real issue. And with spring coming crashing through, the flowers blooming, and the weather warming, it’s about time we talk about this pest and get you ready for the swarms to come.
Hillsborough County Termites: Are central Florida termites bad?
Down here in the sunshine state, we’re home to most families of insects you can find. That’s good and bad. The good is that our state has an amazingly strong ecosystem for small to medium sized insects that provide a benefit. Ladybugs, earthworms, and all sorts of butterflies as an example. However, that also means small to medium sized pest insects have a ball here as well. Everything from invasive mosquitoes and cockroach to invasive termites.
You can think of our weather and nature for that. Florida’s sunshine, sandy beaches, dunes, low-lying forests, and swamps are all big nursery habitats for pests. So when they find their way here, they’re here to stay. And in Central Florida, it’s worse than most other parts. This is due to our large rural populations and agriculture industries. For example, in Brandon there’s a massive termite problem in old houses and barns. And those don’t just go away when you build new construction a few blocks down. Trees, streets, and man-made obstacles won’t stop termite swarmers from taking to the air this spring and looking for any and all exposed wood they can infest.
And because of this, we have many different kinds of pest insects that you have to be on the lookout for. Even among the termites there’s different classes. Some more dangerous to your home and property than others. So let’s touch on some of the differences and how you can keep an out for Hillsborough county termites.
Hillsborough County Termites: Drywood vs Dampwood species
Termites are winged pests that are similar in appearance to ants but are more closely related to cockroaches. They have straight antennae, thick bodies, and wings. They’re also milky white in color with small or invisible eyes on the sides of their heads. One of the termites that are commonly found infesting homes across the state is the West Indian Drywood termites. This species is notorious for sending out huge clouds of swarmers every spring. Their swarmers are dark brown and have clear, membranous wings that shine in the light. But when they land, these swarmers twist their wings off and discard them as not to be impeded in their underground tunnels.
Drywood termites and subterranean termites differ in their nesting habits. Drywood termites make their nests inside wood. They don’t live in the open or forage in the soil for food. Instead, they look for wooden structures such as doors, walls, windows, cabinetry, flooring, fascia, furniture, windowsills, and attic where they make their nests. Since they live inside their source of food, you will rarely see them. However, it is their peppery frass that betrays them. You will find the six-sided frass that looks like sawdust, pepper, sand, or salt scattered around their nests.
Subterranean termites, on the other hand, nest in the ground in moist, hidden places away from the sunlight. Instead of living directly within the wood they infest, these Hillsborough County termites construct mud tunnels that connect with their target of attack. They make these tunnels between their nest and food sources as a way to protect themselves from detection or predation.
what are swarmers?
And now, I know I’ve mentioned the swarmers a lot so far, but let’s talk about what they actually are. Also known as alates, termite swarmers are winged adults that can reproduce. During the springtime of the year, the colony will produce swarmers that leave the nest to find mates and form new colonies of termites. And colonies will produce massive numbers of these reproduction capable insects to belch forth in the spring, hence why it’s known as swarming behavior. Many of them will succumb to the elements or predators, but plenty will be left to find a new colony.
They typically emerge at certain times of the year. However, thanks to the myriad of termite species in Central Florida you can all but guarantee there will be some sort of swarming through most of spring. These insects look similar to winged ants but can be differentiated by a few key things. Swarmers, for one, have four wings on their bodies instead of just a pair. They have straight antennae like the adults, and their body thickness also separates them from ants. Additionally, flying ants have mismatched wing sizes and bent antennae that make them easily recognized at a pretty large distance.
Hillsborough County Termites: What to do if infested?
Well, if termites have infested your home it’s a pretty big issue. These are some of the most, if not the most, structurally dangerous insects. They can enter your home through any weakness or wood contact with the ground. Concrete foundation slabs can’t even stop these pests, as they’ll simply crawl through the holes left for your utility wires. So, it’s important to always be looking out for signs of a termite infestation.
For one, bubbling, buckling, and warped wood are a good indicator that you may have a termite issue. For example, if a door gets progressively harder to shut it’s possible that it’s due to warping in the door frame. This can lead to the door no longer fitting the frame, or having to be forced in to close. This is caused by termite damage weakening the structure below.
But even if you can recognize the infestation, there’s very little a layman can do to deal with it. Instead, feel free to contact us at Earth Best’s pest control. You can either fill out the popup at our website insectfree.com, or give a call to our number on the home page to get a free consultation today. Give us a chance to show you why Earth’s Best is one of the highest rated pest control companies in the area, and why we’ve been in business for three decades!