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One of the most destructive pests in the U.S. is subterranean termites.  While they have their place in the natural world, they cause approximately $2 billion of damage to developed property each year.  Subterranean termites can be hard to identify because they stay hidden behind walls, under floors and other out-of-the-way spots.

Subterranean termites are named so because they build their nests in the soil.  Inside the colony are three types of members: soldiers, workers and reproductives.  Each of these types dedicates their entire lives to fulfilling their purpose within the community, but it is the workers which are responsible for consuming the precious wood structure of your home or deck.

Colonies can range in size depending on the location, climate, and availability of food.  Workers are attracted by the scent of decaying wood so if you live in a damp part of the country or have piles of wood in your yard that are constantly exposed to the elements, you may be running a higher risk of infestation.

Because subterranean termites require constant protection, they will build tubes out of the soil and create a sort of highway they can travel to and from a food source in. One of the easiest ways to diagnose an infestation, therefore, is visually sighting these raised tubes in the soil around your property. Also, due to their extremely private nature, any visual sighting of actual termites is an almost sure sign of a larger infestation.  (You should not hesitate to call a pest control professional immediately in this case.)

One of the best ways to prevent subterranean termites is by maintaining your property and keeping it free of debris.  You can also stay on top of any structural repairs that need to be done on your home’s exterior, including removing any wood-to-soil contact points. Make sure the soil on your property is properly drained, and can dry out thoroughly after a rain shower. 

Subterranean termites can be terrifying for a homeowner, affecting the value of the property and calling for extensive repairs.  If you have any reason to believe these creatures are on your property, call a professional pest control service immediately to find out for sure, and learn what can be done to protect your investment now and in the future.  For a free Los Angles pest control inspection, give us a call at 888-675-0258 or go to www.accuracypluscalifornia.com.

Tags: termites

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 at 12:00 pm and is filed under termites. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.