Termites are a big problem. They can damage wooden structures, eat through electrical wires and cause damage to your home. Knowing how to kill termites before they get out of control is essential if you have termites in your house. This article will explain the five kinds of termites and how you can get rid of them:
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are tiny, reddish-brown ants that live in wood and other materials. They are a common pest in homes and other buildings. Carpenter ants are not dangerous to humans. However, they can cause damage to wood or any other material they are nesting in. They can create holes by biting with their jaws or weakening it by chewing until they can take over the structure completely.
The best way to get rid of carpenter ants is to seal up all entry points inside the home or office. You can also use a product called borax, commonly used for killing cockroaches and other pests, as long as you follow the directions on the label carefully. You can buy borax in most hardware stores or online.
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
The brown marmorated stink bug is a species found in the United States. It is a dark brown, wingless insect with a dark brown to black body and a shield-like white patch on its back. The shield-like patch has two white stripes running along the top of the insect’s body on either side of the head.
The BMSB feeds on fruit, including peaches, plums, and apples; other types of plant material; and wood and other organic material. Sometimes people mistake these pests for boxelder bugs, which feed on boxelder trees in the fall.
Mud Daubers
The mud dauber (Spheciphora sp.) is a type of wasp that builds mud nests in which it lays its eggs. Female mud daubers build mud nests inside tree holes or under eaves or troughs where they lay their eggs. Mud daubers can cause significant damage to trees by eating large chunks out of them during construction seasons when their larvae are present in their nests.
You can kill mud dauber nests using insecticides or heat – either of these methods works well for killing these pests. If you are looking for a more environmentally friendly option, consider using cold weather to kill off the bugs.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are the most common termite species in the United States. They are found mainly in the Midwest and East Coast. The key features that help distinguish dry wood from other types of termites are:
- You can see their eggs with a microscope.
- They have wings on their abdomen.
- Their larvae eat wood fibers. It makes them more damaging to homes than other termites. They can eat through wood faster than most other wood-eating insects. Though some people find their presence makes their house smell like rotten fruit.
Once you spot a dry wood termite infestation, it is essential to take immediate action before more damage occurs by calling termite control in Hametown, PA who can identify the species of dry wood termite present in your home or business and perform a treatment plan specific for your location.
Powderpost Beetle
A powderpost beetle is a tiny, brownish-black insect that can be found in homes. They are often confused with termites and are sometimes even mistaken for them. Powderpost beetles do not bite humans; however, their bites irritate when they come in contact with skin or clothing fibers.
Powderpost beetles need to live in warm conditions. They will usually find an indoor space to call home during winter months when there is not enough sunlight indoors to keep them warm enough outside of your home.
If you find yourself having an infestation with this pest, then there are several ways you can get rid of them, including:
- Forcing the adults into their final resting place by sealing all pathways into their homes with caulk or sealing foam
- Using insecticides that contain Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spores
- Using insecticides that contain fipronil
Eliminate termites as soon as possible.
How you choose to get rid of termites will be dictated by the type of termite you have and whether you have time and money. Regardless, termites must be eliminated immediately because they can harm more than just your home.