How You Could Be Wrong About Termites In Bradenton

Termites are mysterious insects, and their enigmatic nature can make you feel uneasy if you live in Bradenton. Some of the rumors flying around about termites are pretty scary, like the fact that they can chew through concrete. Today, we're going to look at some myths you might believe about termites. Some may help you feel a little easier about these mysterious, wood-eating insects. Some will help you protect your Bradenton home. And some will just give you some general insights. Let's take a look.

Myth: If I have a lot of mulch or decaying wood in my yard, termites will leave my home alone.

Termite workers would much rather eat rotting wood than the firm wood inside your home, right? Yes, they would. But every myth has a little bit of truth to it. Before you start putting wood, cardboard, or some other food source for termites in your yard to draw them away from consuming your home, consider these points:

• Termites don't feed on one source of food at a time. While a colony is feeding on rotting wood in your yard, it can also be feeding on the wood of your home.
• Putting wood sources in your yard will attract termites and you could have more than one colony feeding on that wood while they're also feeding on your home.
• While termites prefer soft, rotten wood, they're more than happy to feed on firm, sound wooden timbers.

Myth: Termites can eat through concrete.

Here is another myth that has some truth to it. No, they can't eat through concrete; not even a little bit. But you might think that they can eat through concrete. Worker termites are always looking for food. As they explore your foundation, there is a high probability that they will find any cracks you have. These cracks can be below the surface and can allow termite workers to make their way up and into the wood of your home, just as if they chewed through the concrete.

Myth: If a home has been treated for termites, it is safe forever.

When you move into a home that has had a ground treatment, or the structure treated, you might think you're safe from termites. We can understand why you might think this. With all of the wood termites could feed on, why would they want to feed on wood that has been treated. The problem is that treatments don't last forever. The active ingredient breaks down over time. Eventually, the wood of your home will be unprotected. It is nearly impossible to retreat the wood timbers inside your home. You can, however, have the soil around your home retreated with termiticide to revitalize your termite barrier.

Myth: Termites are part of the ant family.

Sometimes we get calls to deal with white ants. When you uncover termite workers, you might think you have an ant problem because you could mistake termites for ants. Termite workers have six legs and crawl around like ants. But they don't behave like ants. Most of the ants that get into Bradenton homes are mostly a nuisance. Termites are far from just a nuisance. It is important that you recognize termite workers if you see them. One easy way is to look at the "waist" of the insect. Between the thorax and the abdomen, an ant has a clear pinch. Termite workers do not. If you examine an ant or a termite, keep in mind that the legs are attached to the thorax. This will help you figure out where the thorax is on a termite worker—if you are at all curious.

Myth: Termite infestations are easy to detect.

Has anyone told you that you don't have to worry about termites because they're easy to detect? This is another myth that has some truth to it. If your home is attacked by drywood termites, you might be able to easily detect them. They push frass out of their tunnels, and this material can appear on your window sills where the light exposes this evidence. Unfortunately, subterranean termites don't leave visible evidence like this. They don't create kickout holes or produce frass. This is why they are the most destructive termites in the United States. Subterranean termites cost U.S. property owners more than $5 billion annually. The damage caused by drywood termites is in the hundreds of millions.

Most Important Fact To Know About Bradenton Termites

There is no better way to protect your home from termites than to invest in professional termite control. If you would like assistance with this, we'd be happy to assist you. Reach out to Keller's Pest Control today and speak with one of our friendly agents. We're here to help you find answers and solutions to all your pest control needs.