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If you own a home, you can reduce termites with these tips. by Susan Taylor
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If you own a home, you can reduce termites with these tips. |
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Gardening,Home Improvement,Home Repair
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The advent of spring rains will get you flowers.... however, they invite a termite swarm. This particular stage of the life cycle of a termite where it is large enough to be seen and often mistaken for winged ants. It is unfortunate, but it easily occurs because of the similarities between the two. Following are several things you should consider should you come across either of these. The swarming termite has 2 - equally sized sets of wings that are much longer then the actual body of the termite. Flying ants will also have two sets of wings, one set longer than the other, and both sets are generally equal to or slightly longer than the ant's body. The difference in antennae can help distinguish between swarming termites and flying ants; swarming termites' antennae will be straight, while the flying ants will have antennae that are bent or elbowed. Finally, swarming termites have a thick waist, whereas flying ants will have a constricted or “pinched” waist resembling that of a non-flying ant. Hopefully, this will help you in identifying the pest you are dealing with. To avoid the effects of the sun and obtain the moisture required for their survival, all Subterranean termites live in the ground. In order to protect themselves from exposure to sun light when gaining access to food sources, mud tubes are are built by workers. If there are mud tubes present, termite control professionals or home owners of active termites will realize there is a problem. There is not always a noticeable presence of these pests in the soil if there is an ample supply of water in the infested area. The moisture required by termites is harmful to our homes in itself and can be caused by roof or plumbing leaks, clogged gutters, insufficient caulking or exterior paint deterioration, improper irrigation, etc. The attack of termites in our homes ,with out much warning signs, may happen when the soil is in touch with the external sides of the foundation, the bushy growth of plants abet the basement or if there is full of fallen leaves around the base of the sidewalls. As spring approaches, we need to protect our homes from termites. What landscaping has to do with termites you may wonder, the answer is a lot, as native termites are subterranean.. all of it. Beware that if you increase the water supply to the plants close to your home, you may be increasing the risk of termite infestation also. It is suggested that you leave an area of one or two feet of ground surrounding the house clear of shrubs and trees. This will allow for a more extensive survey of the home as well as decrease the amount of water supply required around the house. A very important aspect in this procedure is the composition of the retaining wall. If you want to avoid termite infestation, do not use railroad ties as they are known to carry this pest into new territories. Because the ties were previously in contact with soil on at least three sides and are frequently transported across state lines, there is no telling the infestation potential or from where yours were purchased. Landscaping timbers, bricks, rocks, molded plastic, etc. are a better choice for retaining walls or flower bed, borders. In helping recycle trees and other cellulous material, the Termites play an important role in our environment. They are known for allowing air back into the soil which encourages plant growth, and for breaking down organic materials allowing for the materials nutrients to enter back into the soil. This behavior results in costly damage to residences. Homeowners can reduce the chances of becoming victims of termite damage by identifying termites and the conditions conducive for their infestation.
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Termite Control, Termite Control Birmingham, ,
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