How Dangerous Are The Termites In Tulsa?
4/15/2021
It’s not a secret; termites are not pests you want making their way into your Tulsa home. After all, termites feed on cellulose found in wood which means they can cause all sorts of property damage should they begin to feed on the wood that makes up your home. However, many people are left wondering if property damage is the only threat they need to worry about when it comes to termites. Do termites bite? Can they transmit diseases? Just how dangerous are termites to Tulsa homeowners? If you have termite questions, don’t fret, because we have termite answers. Answers that can help you prepare against termite infestations and all the threats they bring to your Tulsa home.
Termite Need-To-Know Basics
Termites are ant-like in appearance. They are typically black, brown, or pale yellow in color, and some have wings. However, they aren’t strong fliers. Termites live in colonies that are made up of three separate castes. These castes are workers, soldiers, and reproductives, which have wings. Each caste has its own responsibilities within the colony. Workers gather food for the colony. Soldiers, on the other hand, protect the colony from any threats. Reproductives, which include the queen, set out to create new colonies. When this happens, it is called a termite swarm.
The two types of termites you might face, here in Tulsa, include subterranean and drywood termites. Subterranean termites build their nests underground in the soil. From their nests, the workers will set out to find viable wood with which they can feed the colony. Drywood termites, on the other hand, build their nests within the very wood that they are eating.
Threats Posed By Termites
Many people wonder just how dangerous termites are to have in a home. There is both good and bad news here. Good news first. Termites are not known to bite humans. While the soldiers do have mandibles, they only use these on smaller insects and other small threats. Moreover, termites are not known to transmit any kind of disease. However, they can trigger allergies if you are allergic.
Now for the bad news. While not necessarily threatening to us humans, termites pose a lot of threats to our property. That’s because if termites get into a home, there’s no telling how much damage they will cause if they aren’t dealt with. They can destroy structural wood, siding, flooring, furniture, and wooden antiques. Termites are responsible for roughly five-billion-dollars’ worth of damage, each year, in the United States alone. That means you need to be prepared if you want to keep your Tulsa home safe.
Signs Of Termite Infestations & Termite Prevention Techniques
Unless it is during a termite swarm, you probably won’t ever spot an actual termite in your home. Therefore, you need to know other signs of an infestation that you can look for. These include:
- Soft, rustling noises coming from the walls.
- Tight-fitting windows and doors.
- Excessively squeaky floors.
- Mud tubes in the soil around your home.
Furthermore, you should take the proper preventative measures to help keep termites out of your home in the first place. These include:
- Remove or replace any rotting wood in your home.
- Use dehumidifiers to address moisture issues in your home.
- Fix leaking pipes and fixtures.
- Limit wood-to-soil contact around your home’s exterior.
- Fill in cracks in your home’s foundation.
- Keep woodpiles away from your home’s exterior.
Effective Termite Control Solutions For Your Tulsa Property
If you spot signs of termites in your home, contact the professionals here at BugBros Pest Control right away. Remember, the longer they last, the more damage termites can cause. Time is a factor. Don’t wait until the damage is done. Give us a call today.