The rain may be good for some people, but it also has a negative effect on others. For example, many homeowners complain about the havoc that rainstorms can cause on their homes and property. One of those problems is termites! The rainy season indeed brings an increase in flying termite activity, which can lead to increased infestations and costly repairs.
If you want to protect your home from these pesky pests, then read this article from experts in termite management which discusses how rainfall affects flying termite activity and what you can do about it!
What are Flying Termites
We’re all scared of termites since these pesky little creatures are known to destroy homes and buildings. But what happens when these creatures start to fly? It can be such a horrible nightmare, right?
Unfortunately, flying termites exists and these type of termites are often called “swarmers”. Flying termites are alates, or virgin termites ready to mate, which are looking for a new place to call home. Once mated, these alates will shed their wings and start laying eggs to establish the first colony of the next generation.
It’s true that flying termites can be dangerous since infestations do not require physical contact and they can build colonies anywhere there is cellulose-containing wood-like flooring or furniture.
For example, if you see swarms around your house then chances are high that individual insects have already invaded it. There might also be mud tubes on window casings, skirting boards (baseboards), at roof intersections, and other areas showing evidence of recent activity by swarmers trying to find entry points into your property.
How Does Rain Affect Flying Termites
Throughout the years, many people have noticed that after heavy rainfall, discarded wings can be seen on the ground. Many used to think these were dragonflies but now we know that they are actually discarded wings from alates.
In general, rain can encourage alates to move. This happens because alates are attracted to moisture and humidity since their primary goal is spreading out in search of a suitable location for establishing new colonies.
But what makes flying termites more active during rainy days? Experts believe that this increased activity may be since these insects can survive longer without air than other types of termites.
They also have smaller bodies which means they lose water at a slower rate than other species do when exposed to rainwater. Moreover, rainfall may increase soil pore pressure allowing them easier movement through underground tunnels so they don’t drown easily while searching for safer habitats.
When the rain starts to fall and it affects the current colony of these termites, they’ll fly off and start looking for a new place to live. If you have a termite infestation, then rain can cause them to spread out quickly and look for other locations in your home.
Ways to Protect Your Property From Termites After Rainfall
If you want to protect your property from flying termites, then it’s best to take action as soon as possible.
The first step is making sure that no nests or termites are living on and around the exterior of your house (or inside for that matter). These insects like moist areas with plenty of shade and humid conditions so pay attention if they’re present in those types of locations.
Besides inspecting the outside area, also check woodpiles, firewood stacks, and other places where these bugs can hide such as under shingles or siding boards since this will make an ideal site for them to breed. Make sure all windows remain closed at night when humidity levels tend to be higher than usual which could attract more swarmers.
Finally, inspect your home’s foundation for mud tubes or other signs of activity to see if termites are already living there. If you find any evidence then it’s time to call an exterminator as soon as possible since the next step is getting rid of them before they spread out and cause further damage.
When to Call a Professional For Flying Termites
If you only have one or two flying termites in your home then you can easily take care of them by following the tips above.
However, if there are more than that it’s best to call a professional as soon as possible because they’ll know how to get rid of these bugs successfully. They’re trained and experienced professionals who have all the needed tools to conduct the removal of termites.
The main reason why hiring an expert is recommended instead of trying DIY methods is safety since they use powerful chemicals which could be dangerous for homeowners who aren’t properly trained on their proper usage.
If this happens, then accidental poisoning might occur even though most insecticides come with clear instructions on what types of materials should never be used near them.
In Conclusion
We hope you found this blog post about rain increasing termite activity to be interesting! If so, please take a moment and share it with your friends or family on social media because sharing is caring.
For more information about how we can help protect your property from flying termites after rainfall, give us a call today. We’ll provide the best pest control services for any type of infestation or insect problem that may arise in your home.