Termites love warm weather areas that have a lot of rain. They shall expand their colonies freely. Termites may be little creatures, but they have an insatiable appetite that sees them chew through large masses of timber, at a rate that cannot be matched by any other pest.
It is common to see people seeking solutions to an existing infestation. This usually does not work out well for them, since by the time you see them, they shall have done irreparable damage to your building. You are better off preventing an infestation. You need to have the house thoroughly inspected. There are several species of termites, with the most common being the Drywood termites, Dampwood termites, Subterranean termites, and the Formosan termites. They have some clear differences. But they are all stubbornly persistent.
Once Drywood termites are lodged in wood, they will not need to come out. They shall digest the cellulose and get all the moisture they need. In the same wood you shall find plenty of colonies. They are detected through their fecal pellets.
Dampwood termites need to be in moisture-rich places to live. They go for decaying wood on the ground. They are common on the outside of the house. You shall keep them away by seeing to it that there are no wet areas around the house. They shall also attack trees, where they eat through their interiors, resulting in hollow trunks and branches that can fall and damage property.
You will hear of the Subterranean termites more often than any other species. They inhabit structures in which they have created an intricate tunnel system ,and millions of them are present. You will see more of them during the warm seasons. Their choice of soil is because they need a lot of moisture. They will construct long mud tunnels that lead them to food.
The Formosan termite is also called the super termite. It is the most destructive species there is. They make the biggest colonies, with the highest number of inhabitants among termites. Their nests have many kings and queens who are constantly reproducing. Their queens are able to lay thousands of eggs a day. They can chew through large planks of wood, without leaving any signs of their presence on the ground surface. They are thus harder to detect.
It is common for people to think that termites only eat wood. They are usually wrong, seeing as termites can eat anything with cellulose in it, from cardboards to insulation. They will also attack asphalt and thin sheets of metal. They can thus destroy the outer layer of your house easily. They can also crawl into the house through the smallest of spaces.
You need to ensure they are not present to begin with. You need to consult a competent and reputable pest control service provider, before it is too late.