Even in the winter, termites continue to be active. However, the daily pattern of subterranean termite colonies changes a little in the winter. Subterranean termites often dig deeper into the ground in colder areas to acquire the heat they require to survive.
Termites: More Than A Summer Issue
It makes it reasonable to believe you are protected from termites or any other pest when looking at the amount of snow covering your yard. No termite swarmers are creeping around on window sills, no hornets sticking to your exterior screens, and no flies buzzing about your trash cans. It makes sense that during the winter, bugs disappear or hide.
The truth is that termites can attack your house or place of business all winter long. What you should know about winter termites is provided below.
What Affects Termites When It Is Cold?
Termites are animals with cold blood. Cold-blooded organisms have the same body temperature as the surrounding air, water, or soil, unlike warm-blooded organisms that can regulate their body temperature. A cold-blooded animal can only survive frigid temperatures by moving to a warmer environment. To survive the winter, soil-dwelling insects like subterranean termites tunnel more profound into the ground.
Termites hibernate, right?
Depending on the situation, termites may appear to hibernate. Due to their cold-blooded nature, termites will slow down in colder climates. If the temperature falls low enough, they will retreat to their colony and wait for the ground to warm up. Termite colonies cannot live in protracted freezing temperatures and little snow cover.
What Happens to Termites When It Snows a Lot?
More snow gives more protection against the cold. If the soil temperature is warm enough, subterranean termites will continue to tunnel and search for food sources. But because their preferred operating temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit, they will remain nearby their colony. During the summer, termites can forage underground to a football field away.
What Weather Preferences Favor Winter Termites?
The only requirement for winter termites to stay active is warmth. If your home has a heated crawl space beneath it, a dirt basement, or any other area where the ground is perpetually warm, termites will continue to send workers in. Because termites are essential organisms that do not require sleep to produce energy, they will feed on the wood of your home every day of the week throughout the winter.
In the winter, do termites swarm?
When a colony reaches maturity, it releases swarmers to establish new colonies. Although it typically occurs in the spring or fall, it can occur at any time of the year when the temperature changes. It is unlikely that termites will produce swarmers in the winter because the temperature in your home will likely remain constant.
But in the spring, as the weather warms up outside your house, it will raise the temperatures enough to cause swarming activity. Swarmers are typically crawling about on your inside walls at that time.
How Can I Check For Winter Termites in My House?
If termites eat away at your house, they will either be drywood termites living inside your walls or subterranean termites emerging from the ground. On interior walls, subterranean termites will construct mud tunnels. These tubes can be located in dark, damp places like your attic, cellar, storage spaces, closets, crawl spaces, and bathrooms. This article has appeared on wikipests.com.
To force their waste out of their tunnels, drywood termites make exit holes. The firm feces on your window sills will resemble pepper granules. Unless you tear down a wall, you won’t be able to see termites because they feed on the interior of wood, although you may occasionally hear them.
To communicate with one another, worker termites tap their heads against the walls of the tunnels. You could hear a clicking sound if you put your ear close to the area where they are feeding and digging.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What time of year are termites The worst?
Since termites are active all year round, there is no fixed start or finish to the termite season. The Major League Baseball season is the time of year when termites are most noticeable due to swarms, shed wings, and droppings (March to November).
Termites are constantly active year-round in warmer areas. Termites usually are less involved in the winter in colder locations (November – February). While termites may slow down in some regions over the holidays, their ongoing activity means that they are always a threat to property.
When Does Termite Season End?
Depending on where you reside, termites may be visible for a short while. Subterranean termites cannot seek nourishment when the soil is excessively hot or cold. You may experience moderate temps for a few months or nearly the entire year, depending on which U.S. state you call home.
There are other factors than the weather that affect activity. The amount of shelter a colony receives in its nest also affects the termite population. Seasonal weather fluctuations will not have as much of an effect on drywood termites living inside a heated home because they are less exposed to temperature swings.
Similarly, subterranean termites can build their nests up to 18 inches below the surface and away from the cool air, or they can spend the winter foraging in more remote regions of their nest. Your basement, which has a controlled temperature, can offer the ideal sanctuary from the chilly weather.
Termite season ends when?
Although termites are often not visible throughout the year, they can still cause damage to your home at any time. Anytime you notice evidence of a termite infestation, regardless of the time of year or the weather outdoors, get in touch with a pest management expert. Even when termite activity is not readily apparent, an experienced termite specialist is trained to recognize the warning signals of an infestation.
Does cold get rid of termites?
Cold temperatures can kill termites, and it is possible to effectively manage some varieties of termites, such as drywood termites that are susceptible to freezing. Getting rid of a termite infestation is typically neither effective nor practical.
Termites are gregarious insects that gather in big colonies and can withstand cold temperatures by producing heat by huddling together. Most termite species are also found in warmer climes. They can withstand freezing conditions by tunneling deeply beneath the ground or finding refuge in buildings that offer insulation and protection from the elements.
What month are termites most active?
Termites are most active from late spring through early fall when the weather is warmer. They are most likely to be found during this time, hunting for food and water and mating. Termites may be active year-round in various regions of the nation, especially in areas with moderate winters.
Temperature, humidity, and the accessibility of food and water are a few variables that might affect termite activity. Generally speaking, termites are more active when the soil is damp, and the temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
How do you know if you have termites?
There are several indications that you may have a termite infestation, including:
- The termites may swarm and generate winged reproductives drawn to light during the spring and summer. A termite infestation may be detected if these insects are present in large swarms, particularly close to windows or doors.
- Termites use mud tubes to move between their nest and food source to shield themselves from predators and the elements. These pencil-sized tubes, constructed from soil and termite saliva, are standard for building foundations and crawl spaces.
- Wood that sounds hollow: Termites consume wood from the interior, leaving the exterior layers unharmed. Termite damage may be indicated by hollow noises when tapping on wood.
- Discarded wings: Termites’ reproductives wings may fall off after they swarm and mate, accumulating close to windows or doors.
- Apparent harm: Termites may cause visible damage to wood at more advanced stages of infestation, such as drooping or falling ceilings, walls, or flooring.
Conclusion
Winter is not a respite for termites, nor should your attempts to safeguard your home be. At Action, we provide year-round termite protection and monitoring. Avoid allowing these wood-eating insects to feed on your house or place of business all winter. By reading the information on Wikipests, you can fix your termite problem right now!