Every year termites cause more damage than any other single pest in the United States. And don’t let the sunshine and warm beaches fool you, that goes for Florida as well. These silent killers love what hurricanes, swamps, and constant rain do to our wood. And central Florida has it just as bad as either coast. That’s why today we’ll be covering Lakeland Termites and the kind of damage they cause.
Lakeland Termites: Overview
The biggest threat that comes from termites is a true infestation. Like any pest, if caught early they can be dealt with. The issue with that is that termites earned the nickname “silent destroyers” for a reason. They hide and thrive in secret, and by the time you see them, it’s usually too late. And once it’s too late, that’s when your wallet starts to hurt.
Termites cause more than five BILLION dollars in damage every year, and that’s only in America. Most insurance companies and plans don’t cover termite damage unless you have specific insurance for them either. And being similar to ants, their infestations should be considered just as dangerous. These insects breed very quickly, and queens lay millions of eggs in a single year.
Finally, all termites consume cellulose-based material. And this is what makes them such a pest to humans. All homes, no matter how they’re constructed, can provide cellulose food for termites. And down here in the sunshine state, we have the fun reality of dealing with multiple species of termite. And not only do each nest and feed differently, but it’s worth knowing which infestation you’re dealing with. Let’s go over a few of the termites you might run into, starting with:
Subterranean Termites
Termites in nature are a vital part of the ecosystem and deal with excess wood. But in a home and business, they become a massive financial burden. If you think you have a termite infestation in this state, this is probably the type you’ll find. Eastern subterranean termites are more widespread but less destructive than other types. One of the reasons is the massive size of their colonies, which can reach millions of individuals in a single nest.
These termites live in the soil beneath and around your homes. They enter through exposed wood that touches the ground, or by constructing tubes of mud from the ground to the wood they want to infest. Cracks in walls and foundations are also paths that these bugs take indoors.
These termites also eat books, other paper products, and really any plant-based goods found around the home. Some colonies also have more than one queen, which is how their nests can grow to such huge numbers. And when one colony is too large, these termites will establish a second nest in the same home.
Dampwood Termites
Up next on our list of Lakeland termites are the Dampwood variety. As the name suggests, these termites infest wood that is moist from leaks or contact with soil. However, dampwood termites don’t live and forage in that soil like the subterranean ones mentioned above.
These termites weaken homes by hollowing out support beams. Not only does this lead to costly repairs and frustration, but it’s genuinely dangerous. In a state that frequently faces down storms with winds over a hundred miles an hour, you want strong support beams. The silent nature of these pests makes detection difficult, however, oftentimes it seems impossible to find them before the damage sets in.
These termites make an actual effort to remain hidden. Instead of building tubes up to exposed wood, they cover up the entry holes they dig with their own feces. Since wood infested by dampwood termites has a very high moisture content, the wood they infest can also be damaged by fungus. As one might expect, a dampwood termite infestation often indicates wood decay, as well as leaks that create excessive moisture in the home. Interestingly, these termites are one of the few that are attracted to lights left on in the home at night.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites, also called powderpost termites in some places, prefer dry wood. One of the most common ways to see a drywood infestation is the piles of pellets that accumulate below the wood that they feed on. And unlike subterranean termites, these colonies develop and grow slowly.
These termites live in dry wood located above the ground and need no contact with soil since they live in the wood they consume and draw moisture from it. Drywood termites construct their feeding galleries and often consume all of the wood in a piece of lumber right up to the surface. A good sign of this termite’s damage is an almost completely consumed piece of wood, with only a thin layer of the painted surface left intact.
This species of termite produce small, dry pellets called frass. The tunnels they feed on will either contain frass that is packed into the tunnel or have frass kicked out to form a small pile at the entryway. These piles of frass look like tiny piles of sand. Unlike sand, however, a frass pellet has concave surfaces.
If left untreated, these termites will cause some of the worst damage of any species. They prefer sound, dry wood. That means just about any part of your house will be a potential target. This can include joists, siding, trim, steps, decks, floors, doors, windows, support beams, and even indoor wooden furniture. Unfortunately, this is a species of pest where the only real method of control is tenting, heat treatments, or injection of control products into damaged wood.
Lakeland Termites: Conclusion
No pest infestation should be dealt with without professional help. But that goes more for termites than anything else. Florida is located in the number one Termite Infestation Probability zone, meaning the potential for infestation in damage is considered high. In states like ours, it is paramount that you maintain an effective termite prevention and control program.
If you own a home in Florida, you should have regular preventative meetings with a local pest control specialist.
