Termites

Termites are insects that feed on cellulose found in wood and plant or organic matter. The most widespread species of termite in the Boston area and across the United States is the subterranean termite. As their name suggests, subterranean termites build underground nests. They also have high moisture needs and prefer to feed on wet or decaying wood. These termites are social and live together in large groups. Termites are active year-round and work day and night to gather enough food to sustain their colony. 

You must proactively protect your home from being damaged by wood-eating termites. These insects are highly organized, and once they discover that your property offers them their basic needs of food, shelter, and water, they won’t be in any hurry to leave. Partner with a Boston termite control expert to guard your home against these pests. General Environmental Services is here to help you keep these wood-eating pests out of your home. 

Termites aren’t a physical threat to people like other pests, but they threaten our homes, wooden structures on our properties, and bank accounts. Termites pose significant dangers to the structural integrity of houses and the contents of bank accounts. The damage termites cause to our homes can become extensive and is typically not covered by homeowner insurance policies. A termite infestation is a costly problem; across the country, each year, termites are responsible for causing more than five billion dollars in damage.

The two biggest attractants for subterranean termites are moisture and wood. Worker termites leave their nest each day to search for reliable food sources. They move through the soil or mud tubes they build above the ground. Damp soil around our homes' perimeter caused by overgrown vegetation, lack of gutters, leaky pipes, and dripping air conditioners or hoses creates the excess moisture termites love. The small size of termites allows them to move into our homes through the tiniest cracks in foundations. Worker termites also get inside through pieces of wood in our homes, making direct contact with the ground, preferring to move through soft or rotting wood.

Once inside, they move towards moisture areas and feed on structural wood, wooden floor joists, wood fixtures, drywall, wooden beams, and other cellulose-rich items.

Outside in our Boston yards, termites create nests in moisture-rich areas. They use fallen trees, dead trees, tree stumps, and other organic debris as food sources.

When termites enter our homes, they remain largely out of sight. Termites travel through our houses behind walls, under floors, and above ceilings, moving into pieces of wood and feeding on its interior. Because these “silent invaders” are rarely seen, it can take months or years for a homeowner to realize a termite infestation has taken over their home. In many cases, homeowners discover termite damage before seeing actual termites.

Because termites are silent invaders, being proactive and guarding your home from these damaging pests is vital. Scheduling regular termite inspections is critical to maintaining a termite-free home.

Look no further than General Environmental Services for quality home pest control in Boston. Trying to eliminate termites alone will only cost you time and money and the structural integrity of your home. We can help you get rid of an active termite infestation or provide the yearly inspections necessary to prevent an issue with these wood-eating pests. When it comes to termites, it is crucial to act quickly; the longer termites are in your home, the more damage these pests will cause. For superior termite control, please reach out today.

When it comes to termites, never let your guard down. Use the following tips to help keep termites from becoming a future problem within your Boston home:

• Cut back shrubbery from your home’s exterior to help the sun hit the soil around the perimeter of your home and keep it dry.

• Remove old or decaying wooden fencing, landscaping ties, and play structures from your property.

• Remove fallen trees, tree stumps, and limbs from your property.

• Repair leaky pipes, hoses, and fixtures that can create the excess moisture that termites love.

• Repair roof damage, loose weatherstripping, trim, and siding that allows rainwater to seep into your home and soak into its structural wood.

• Use dehumidifiers to reduce humidity levels in damp areas of your home.

For year-round home and commercial pest control for termites, turn to the experts at General Environmental Services.