If you think termite control in New Orleans is not a big deal, think again...
Termites were among the first insects to develop and flourish over 200 million years ago. They are responsible for billions of dollars of damage each year. The Formosan Subterranean termite is native to East Asia and was introduced to the US probably around 1945 following the end of World War II. It is considered to be the most destructive insect pest of wood and other cellulose materials throughout New Orleans, Southeast Louisiana, and many other parts of the country. Termite colonies may include anywhere from 3 to 10 million insects, that’s a lot of mouths to feed, thus causing a tremendous amount of property damage over a short period of time.
If you think this sounds bad, just wait. Termites are known to eat through and destroy expansion joint sealants, styrofoam insulation, roofing materials, plastics, and more. What is even more terrifying is that they only require 1/64th of an inch to enter your home. Fortunately, these termites only take flight 2 or 3 months a year, usually, the largest swarm occurs in New Orleans around mid May. Termites appear by the thousands at dusk, flying around street and porch lights. Attracted to any and every source of light, termites will be seen inside your home flying near lamps, televisions, or any other form of light before landing, dropping their wings, and pairing off into couples.
If the number of termites seen inside your home numbers in the hundreds, this may be an indicator of a bigger problem. If not, you will find wings and dead termites in the morning due to the lack of moisture. Even scarier still, termites often go unseen until they swarm. They are truly secretive and can be hard to identify for the untrained eye. PLEASE, it is in your best interest to correct any leaks or other conducive conditions so that existing problems may be eliminated by a professional. Check out some of our tips below for termite control in New Orleans.
TIPS FOR TERMITE CONTROL IN NEW ORLEANS
- Trim vegetation off the home
- Do NOT let irrigation spray toward the home’s foundation or exterior walls
- Direct A/C drain lines away from the home
- Do NOT allow leaks to continue in the roof, hose bibs, broken pea traps, busted toilet wax rings, etc.
- Store firewood AWAY from the home
- Do NOT store or pile any debris along the side of your home
- ALWAYS use a professional to treat termites and inspect at LEAST once annually
- NEVER attempt to solve the problem yourself... We are here to help!
- Spend a little money now to control and prevent termites or a ton of money later controlling and replacing the damages.
