AnswersDriveMOISTURE. Subterranean termites, who build their colonies in the soil, are attracted to moisture. Standing water in or around your home's foundation creates an attractive environment for these termites.
How do termites start out?
Subterranean termites live in colonies in the soil. They require moisture from the soil to survive, and can tunnel hundreds of feet to reach feeding sites. To reach food above ground, they build mud tubes to protect them from exposure to light, air and enemies.
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Do termites eat through concrete?
There is an urban legend that says that termites can eat through concrete to get into a home. In fact, termites do not eat concrete. They can squeeze through very tiny cracks, so it sometimes seems like they have eaten their way through. Formosan subterranean termites live in very large colonies.
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Do you have termites?
Your first clue to a termite problem may be small flying insects – known as termite Swarmers - flying near your windows and leaving behind their discarded wings. To actually tell if you have termites in your home, it is often easier to look for the early damage signs they can typically cause.
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Are termites active during the day or night?
Swarming termites may be most active during morning, evening or mid-day, again depending on species and other factors. Only a few species tend to swarm at night.
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Where termites are found?
Dampwood termites are found only in coniferous forests, and drywood termites are found in hardwood forests; subterranean termites live in widely diverse areas. One species in the drywood group is the West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis), which is an invasive species in Australia.
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Can termites eat through pressure treated wood?
By Chris Williams on June 25, 2014. Pressure-treated wood is resistant to termites, but make sure that there's no contact with soil. Pressure-treated wood is wood that has had a chemical preservative forced into the pores to form a barrier that resists decay and wood-eating insects like termites and carpenter ants.
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Do termites eat cedar?
Termites can eat cedar but they tend to stay away from it because cedar wood has resin and oil that tends to repel them. Some scientists have even found that these resins are toxic to the termites that decide to ingest them.
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How do termites look like?
Look for discarded wings around window sills - Flying termites (also known as swarmers) are often confused with flying ants, because both their winged mating cycles occur during the springtime. However, flying ants do not shed their wings.
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Where did the termites come from?
Subterranean Termite Habitats. Subterranean termites also require damp soil to support their colonies. In fact, Formosan colonies, a subspecies, use mud to create tunnels that lead from their nests to food sources. Subterranean termites are commonly found in yards and houses where soil, moisture, and wood are plentiful
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How do you prevent termites?
Method 3 Preventing Future Infestations
- Get termite inspections done annually by a professional.
- Remove cellulose-based debris from around your house.
- Eliminate wood to ground contact in your house.
- Have your house pre-treated for termites.
- Remove termite access by filling cracks in your house.
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What attracts flying ants into the home?
If you spot one flying ant, more are likely to appear soon. These social insects swarm during their mating season. Flying ants may be attracted to some household items, but their main instinct is to return to their colony after the mating season ends.
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Can termites spread from clothing?
As is the case with clothing, chances are very low that you can transport termites in your luggage, unless you pack a wooden item which has been infested. If you are moving, you can unknowingly transport drywood termites on infested furniture, but you are unlikely to spread termites in your moving boxes.
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Why do termites eat wood?
Termites eat wood to derive the cellulose and nutrients they need to live. Termites have protozoa and bacteria in their gut that allow them to break down the cellulose fibers in wood, which is difficult for other creatures to digest.
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How do I get rid of termites in my house?
Part 2 Getting Rid of Termites Yourself
- Set up a cardboard trap. Take a couple flat strips of cardboard, wet them, and stack them on one another in an area where termites are likely to be.
- Try beneficial nematodes.
- Expose your wood to sunlight.
- Freeze the termites.
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Why do termites grow wings?
The life cycle of the termite begins with a mating flight, wherein swarming winged reproductive males and females leave established colonies and procreate. After fertilization, winged termites land and shed their wings, going on to form new colonies.
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Do termites eat composite wood?
Homeowners may reduce the chances of termite infestations by using pressure treated, naturally resistant, or composite wood. Homeowners with a composite deck can rest easy, at least as far as termites are concerned. The little wood chompers won't go anywhere near composite.
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Do termites make cocoons?
It's made of silk, which the last larval instar creates around itself as a start to the pupa cycle. Fleas, and some species of moths and butterflies, create a cocoon. Unlike these other insects, termites do not undergo a complete metamorphosis. This means that termite cocoons do not exist.
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What are the ants with wings?
While both species have four wings, termite wings are uniform in size. Winged ants have noticeably larger wings in the front than the pair in the back. Termites antennae are almost straight where the ant's antennae is elbowed. Termite wings are twice as long as their body.
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What are the flying ants?
The majority of ants are wingless. However, at certain times of the year, swarms of flying ants become a common sight. These winged ants often are called alates, swarmers or reproductives. Winged ants have elbowed antennae, thin waists constricted at the thorax and hind wings smaller than their front wings.
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Can termites fly into your house?
Identifying Winged Termites in the House. Your local pest professional can help identify winged termites found in the home. Discarded wings are one sign that flying termites are inside the house. Swarmers are not strong fliers and usually only fly a few yards until they land.
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How do I know if I have termites or flying ants?
Termites have straight antennae and wide bodies without pinched waists. They are characteristically black or dark brown. Swarmers, or flying termites, have clear front and back wings that are the same length. In contrast, ants have elbowed antennae and pinched waists.