As of the writing of this article, Idalia is leaving Florida and heading up into Georgia. But that doesn’t mean the effects of this storm won’t be felt for quite a while in the sunshine state. Not only was it the strongest hurricane to hit the Northeastern Gulf ever, but there’s more to a hurricane than just the wind and rain. And that includes pest problems. So today, we’ll touch on a common question. Can hurricanes cause termites? And if so, what species should you expect to run in to in Florida? So let’s get into it.
Can Hurricanes Cause Termites: Overview
Unfortunately, the short answer to this is simply yes. Hurricanes are overwhelming forces of nature. On their paths, they can change ecosystems for hundreds of continuous miles. And after the hurricanes pass, they often leave lingering issues. And one of the biggest ones for homeowners to fear is termites. Storms and pests go hand in hand most of the time, sadly.
Termites are pests that, in general, love damp and damaged wood. And storms provide plenty of that for any species of termite on the lookout. Exposing and soaking wood is kind of what a hurricane does. But not only that, but storms bring wood in contact with water and moist soil. When wood above ground is affected by water damage, subterranean termites come out of their nests and establish themselves within the upper levels of a building, eating away at the wood and causing significant structural damage.
And not only are buildings under threat but obviously trees as well. Hurricanes don’t encourage termites to attack their mind, but make weaker trees easier targets with wind and water damage. But, you ask, shouldn’t their underground colonies be drowning in all this rain? Sadly, the question of can hurricanes cause termites has no real upside. Some of the colonies will die, sure. But queens are usually protected by air pockets and will wait until the flooding subsides to come out. And any winged variant of termite can simply fly above the flood waters.
And lastly, as a bit of a no brainer, damaged wood is easier and more appealing for termites to enter than well built, intact wooden structures that they’d have to work that much harder to process.
Florida Termite Species
And as if being inundated with one termite species wasn’t enough. Florida has more than you can shake a stick at, but they generally fall into a few different groups. And now that we’ve answered whether or not can Hurricanes cause termites let’s get into the nitty gritty of the types you may find invading your home.
Subterranean Termites
Here, there’s no such thing as saving the best for last. Subterranean Termites are number one on this list because they’re far and away the hardest to deal with of the three groups. This group of pest insects doesn’t enter your home and live there as other groups do. Instead, they invade from soil in contact with your foundations. They move in through cracks or pieces of wood that are connected to your home and touch the soil.
This species won’t be removed by tenting alone. Tent fumigation will likely kill the subterranean termites that are present in your home at the time of tenting, but they will be able to return from underneath the house as soon as the day the tent is removed since the fumigant has no residual. This pest moves through mud tubes that they construct from their nests in the ground to exposed wood in your home. So once the tenting is done and over with, they’ll just regroup and move right back in.
And don’t think because your home is a concrete block that, you’re safe. These termites will move through your home and travel past those materials to get to the wood. Places like your attic, wood floors, or wooden studs in the walls can end up entirely destroyed by these subterranean termites. And it’s normal for concrete blocks to form tiny cracks over time. So, the stone in your foundation and walls may keep them out for a few years, but it’s only a matter of time. And don’t forget, the question of can hurricanes cause termites has been answered. One blows through your area, and this pest will have a wide open lane inside.
Drywood termites
Next up are drywood termites. These pests prefer wood previously exposed to moisture. And the most common sign that they’re in your home is usually their droppings, which are also known as frass. Frass varies in color, with black, red, and orange all having been reported. This frass is pushed out of the infested wood that they’re colonizing in your home, so you’ll find it often on the floor or on a window. Underneath furniture that’s been infested is common as well.
Dampwood termites
Dampwood termites are usually the least likely to invade a home in Florida. They most often live in trees, in fact. This group of termites requires damp wood to survive, so they usually won’t target wood inside of your home unless there are major leaks soaking the inside of your walls. You’ll often find these termites outside in old, rotted-out wood and tree stumps. And while they can be alarming at first, it’s not uncommon for these termites to present little to no issue to the wood in your home.
Can Hurricanes Cause Termites – conclusion
Well, the answer to this question is obviously yes. Hurricane damage can leave all sorts of wood exposed for nests to form. And if the repairs are done with haste and without proper inspection, it’s not unlikely to seal in an infestation you won’t know about until it’s too late.
But there’s no need to despair. If you believe you have a termite issue on your property, feel free to contact us at our phone number 1-800-634-1313 or visit our website insectfree.com for a free consultation today. Earth’s best has been in business and serving the Tampa area for three decades, so you know you can trust us to operate with the care to get your problem taken care of in a timely fashion.
