Where Do Termites Come From? | Orkin (2024)

FAQs

Where Do Termites Come From? | Orkin? ›

Subterranean Termite Entry Points

It may seem as if termites suddenly appear when they are in swarming mode. During mating season, winged reproductives, called alates, swarm at dusk in the spring months, usually after rainfall, to find a mate and start new colonies.

Termites gain entry to your home through small openings, cracks, crevices, and crawl space venting. Look for signs where the wood looks like it is rotting or is recessed in specific locations, as these might be signs of termites.

In addition to wood inside the home, termites are drawn inside by moisture, wood in contact with house foundations, and cracks in building exteriors. Different combinations of these factors attract different species. Additionally, geographic location plays a role in how likely homeowners are to deal with infestations.

Keeping grass near your home cut short and raked regularly. Using pine needles as mulch. Pine needles are less appetizing to subterranean termites than wood mulch. If pine needles aren't available in your area, consider pea gravel or other non-organic material as a barrier between your house and the ground.

Their lifespan can be much longer than what most people would expect. In general, termites are able to survive even two years while living in a house, before they eventually die on their own. However, it is impossible to get rid of termites permanently from the environment.

If you actually see termites in the damaged wood, you know this is an active infestation.

Wood termites may soon make their way to your beds for a perfect hiding spot. Once they reach your bed, they might not only damage your bed and mattress but might also make you suffer from allergies due to termite spores.

As the colony matures, they can do significant damage, destroying a home's structure in five to 6 years. The Formosan termite is one type of problematic subterranean termite, and they reproduce so rapidly that they can destroy a home in as little as one year.

Using smells that termites hate, such as orange oil, neem oil, garlic, cinnamon, and others, can serve as a natural and eco-friendly way to repel termites. It provides a non-toxic alternative to chemical pesticides.

Can termites bite you? ›

Q: DO TERMITES BITE HUMANS? A: As a rule, termites do not bite humans. Soldier termites have the ability to do so, but their jaws are tiny and they won't leave a mark. Termites bite wood and bite other insects if attacked, but rarely do termites bite a human.

Winged insects emerging from soil or wood is the easiest way to tell whether termites are active nearby. Even if residents do not notice the pests, their cast-off wings are often left on the floor around doors or windowsills. Since they are drawn to light, these are common entry and exit points.

Boric acid is often recommended for the elimination of termites. Boric acid is a natural pesticide and usually comes in the powder form. You can sprinkle it in the area of infestation or mix it with water to spray in the area. It might be best to use goggles, masks and gloves while spraying the acid.

Spotting a problem early on will make it easier to get the proper termite extermination your home needs. When you're able to recognize some of the early signs of these invasive insects, you can end up saving your home and your wallet from serious damage.

There is no mild way to say this – there is no permanent cure for the termite situation. But with the right termite control treatment you can get rid of an active termite infestation in your home and later employ some preventive measures to keep them away from your property.

Termites take a very short time to spread. Within a few days, they can multiply to what's considered an infestation. Homeowners need to take every percaussion possible, and be sure to act quickly in order to protect their homes.

Subterranean termites, which are among the most common types of termites, tend to swarm and be more active at night or in the early morning. They forage for food during the dark hours. Their preference for nighttime activity is driven mainly by their sensitivity to light and the need to remain hidden from predators.

There are no known cases of a person becoming allergic, bit, or contracting a disease from a colony of termites. At least you can rest easy knowing that a swarm of termites won't attack you while you sleep — just try not to let the bed bugs bite!