Termites

Termites are social critters that always work as a team to get things done. They feed on cellulose which can be found in plants. However, it is also found in lumber. Once they’ve moved onto your property, they’re going to begin feeding on the lumber around your home. Termite mounds on your property mean that the colony has outgrown its current underground nesting system. Some termites will burrow into the wood around your property while destroying it every second of the day.

Subterranean termites are commonly found in our area. They cause 95% of the structural damage done to American homes each year. On average, termites cause $2 worth of damage annually.

Termites Live In Structure Colonies In Oklahoma City

A termite colony is going to contain several members, including queen termites and king termites. The appearance and responsibilities depend on the classification.

Queen Termites

The queen is a primary reproductive termite that can reach 4” in length. Hundreds of worker termites have to help her move through the colony’s tunnels. Each day, the queen termite can lay roughly 30,000 eggs at the maximum.

King Termites

King termites are reproductive members of the colony as well. During the early days of the infestation, the king and queen termites reproduce and build more soldiers and workers. They’ll continue working together to build the colony and make it larger.

Worker Termites

Although worker termites are smaller than other members of the colony, they’re equally important. They might be more important than other termites. These soft-bodied termites are light with no wings. They’re roughly the size of rice and can grow up to 10mm long. These small termites constantly work to help the colony thrive. They stay busy around the clock and never stop working.

Worker termites are responsible for many tasks, including taking care of eggs, building tunnels, grooming other termites, and feeding other termites. They eat cellulose and feed it to soldiers and other termites.

Soldier Termites

Soldier termites perform the task of protecting the colony from invaders. Soldier termites are white and wingless. They’re a lot like worker termites since they are soft-bodied and roughly the same size. The difference between soldier termites and worker termites is the fact that soldier termites have long, brown heads. They’ll use their powerful jaws to defend the colony from potential predators. Soldier termites fight many predators but the most common is the ant.

When ants attack the colony, soldier termites will defend it

Winged Swarmer Termites

Finally, the colony will have winged swarmer termites. These termites are produced in spring so they can spread the colony further. The colony will produce female and male swarmer termites. Since there are male and female swarmers, they can reproduce. Winged swarmers are going to leave their primary colony and build new colonies in other areas. A termite colony can have hundreds of swarmer termites, but it will only have one king and one queen.

Which Termites Are Found In Oklahoma City?

Oklahoma City has several termites species. However, residents primarily have to worry about Subterranean termites. These termites can be found in many areas, including Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Michigan. They’ll be explored in greater depth below.

Overview Of Subterranean Termites

The appearance depends on the class. Soldiers and workers can grow up to three-eighths of an inch. Although they look similar, soldier termites have longer, brown heads. They use their powerful jaws to kill ants and other predators. Swarmer treatments can reach half an inch in length.

Behaviors

These termites live in underground nests, but some live above ground. Mud tubes are built so they can access food without being attacked. Swarmers are produced in spring and help the colony spread to nearby areas.

Biggest Threats

Subterranean termites pose immense risks to homeowners and their property. When compared to other termites, Subterranean termites are the most destructive. The worker termite will use its saw-liked jaws to slowly chew through your wood. They tear off small pieces of wood and destroy the home slowly. Although they work slowly, they can quickly cause severe damage to your property.

Flying Ants & Flying Termites

They look similar, but there are a few differences. Flying ants have wings of different sizes and a pinched waist. Flying termites have wings of equal size and a thick waist. If the antennas are elbowed, it is a flying ant.

Unique Facts About Oklahoma’s Termites

You’ll want to learn as much as you can about termites. Below, you’ll find some unique facts about termites.

• Worker termites never stop working or eating. When they invade a property, they’re going to eat the wood on the property around the clock. They do not take days off or vacations.
• Worker termites are responsible for feeding the other members of the colony. Workers are the only termites in the colony that can consume cellulose. When doing so, they can regurgitate the cellulose and feed it to other colony members.
• Termites are not physically dangerous. However, they will destroy your property. They need to be dealt with swiftly since they can cause extreme property damage.
• Termite colonies do not disappear quickly. Instead, the one on your property can stick around for 50 to 70 years. As long as worker termites are being produced, the colony can thrive.
• They’re great for the environment because they help get rid of the deadwood in forests and wooded areas. They do their party by recycling the deadwood.
• Most termites need access to water around the clock. If Subterranean termites cannot access water, they’ll dry out and die.
• Termites can live above ground. To do so, they will build and maintain mud tubes that have to be kept moist.
• Termites and termite colonies are frequently attacked by ants. It is common for these predators to attack termite workers when they’re out of the colony and searching for food.
• Researchers have identified more than two thousand termite species. Most can be found living in tropical and subtropical locations around the world.
• The United States is home to roughly 40 species of termites with most of them residing in the southeastern portion of the country.
• Subterranean termites cause more than 90% of all damage to American structures and homes. In general, termites cause more than $2 billion in damage to American buildings.
• Although termites cannot chew through concrete, they can easily move through its cracks and gaps. Their soft bodies allow them to move through the small gaps without trouble.
• The weight of the world’s termites is heavier than the weight of all people on the planet.
• Other members of the colony depend on worker termites to feed them.
• Queen termites often live up to 20 years or longer.
• A queen termite can easily lay a few thousand eggs each day.

Are The Termites On My Property Dangerous?

Once termites invade your property, they’re going to set their sights on your home. You’re likely worried that these pests are going to hurt someone in your household. Although they’re frightening, they’re not physically dangerous. These pests generally do not bite, attack, or transmit illnesses. However, their presence is enough to worry you sick. They’ll likely cause you to lose sleep at night and that can take a toll on your mentally and physically. In addition to this, termites can make your home unsafe. If they chew through columns and beams, the home may become unsteady and unsafe. In some cases, it could lead to a home collapse.

Get rid of the termite infestation or you may be required to evacuate your home soon.

Best Way To Get Rid Of Termites

You’ll want to take advantage of the latest termite control methods to get rid of the infestation as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, dealing with an infestation won’t be easy. The problem is that consumers have trouble finding out where the termite colony is located. These pests often travel up to 300 feet from their nests using underground tunnels. Nevertheless, they’re weak, fragile pests that can easily be overpowered by ants and other small predators. They build intricate tunnels so it will be hard to find out where the primary colony is located. Then, there is a risk that you’re going to miss some of the termites during the treatment process.

The entire colony needs to be destroyed or the termites will only continue destroying your home. They’ll reproduce and come back stronger than before. Our termite program is highly recommended for residents of Oklahoma City. It will help you get rid of the termites and stop them from returning.

Eliminating Termites With DIY Methods

You can likely kill termites using DIY methods. However, taking care of a termite infestation won’t be easy. If you want to wipe out the infestation, you need to better solutions than do-it-yourself methods. When using DIY methods, most people won’t have satisfactory results. If these products are used incorrectly or mixed improperly, they can pose immense risks to humans, pets, and plants. Therefore, it is pertinent to rely on safer solutions, and we’ve got them. Our termite pest program can fix the problem. When you call our office, you can guarantee that we’ll take care of it in a jiffy.

When Can The Extermination Start?

Do not delay getting in touch with us. Call our Oklahoma City office right now. We’ll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours.

We Offer The Safest Termite Solutions

We understand that our clients are worried about using dangerous chemicals in their homes. We wouldn’t do this and you shouldn’t either. Unfortunately, some pest control products contain dangerous chemicals that could make you or your loved ones sick. The products we use won’t. We only use products tested and approved by the EPA because they’re safe. We can use these products to wipe out the termites around your property while keeping you safe every step of the way. Our technicians take steps to keep the client safe during each phase of the extermination.

Avoiding Future Infestations Of Termites

Once you’ve eliminated the termites from your property, it is pertinent to keep them out and avoid another infestation. Use the tips below to avoid future infestations.

• Don’t let water collect around your home’s foundation. All of your gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks need to be working flawlessly to prevent water from accumulating here. Also, don’t forget to deal with leaky pipes, air conditioning units, and faucets.
• Humidity problems can lead to termites problems. Therefore, you need to deal with high humidity in your attic, crawlspace, and basement. Improve the ventilation to avoid problems.
• Be careful when storing your firewood. All firewood should be stored a good distance away from the home. Furthermore, keep it at least five inches from the ground’s surface.
• Be cautious when using wood mulch. Keep it away from your home or use rubber mulch.
• Carefully check your home’s foundation for signs of termites several times each week. Check for bubbling paint, mud tubes, and wood that sounds hollow. If you find these things, you might have termites.

Don’t delay contacting us. Our office is eager to begin helping you. We’ll do to great lengths to fix the problem quickly.

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