Does Southern Utah Have Termites?

Unfortunately, yes. But, will my house get termites? Probably, if you do not protect it in some way. We have 2 types of termites in Southern Utah: drywood termites and subterranean termites. Drywood termites generally attack your home from the top down. They leave droppings called frass that look like piles of sawdust. Subterranean termites attack from the ground up. They generally leave mud tubes in the areas they are affecting. Both types of termites are destructive to your home and must be treated by a professional. If you're dealing with termites, let Western Pest inspect for free!

Termite Behavior 

Termites are incredibly skilled at staying hidden. Termites have incredible survival instincts and know to stay underground or out of sight at all times. This can make it incredibly difficult to detect a termite infestation. 

Some signs of a termite infestation include: 

• Discolored drywall and peeling paint
• Hollow-sounding wood when knocking on wooden structures
• Mud tubes on the foundation of your home 
• Discarded wings, left behind by termite swarms
• Squeaking floorboards

What is a Termite Swarm?

Termites are highly organized creatures, skilled at working together to protect the queen and grow their colony. When a termite colony has reached its maximum size, it produces swarmers, also called alates, which come out from hiding when conditions are right to mate and begin a new colony.

They have a complex caste system and use vibrations and chemical signals to communicate detailed information to one another. Because of termite colonies’ adaptability, using fast-acting termite treatment will prove ineffective in the long run; rapid treatments will only exterminate a portion of a colony, leaving more than enough termites to repopulate and develop better survival strategies. 

Termite Treatment Options 

There are various treatment options when facing a termite infestation. Your exterminator will decide which treatment is the most efficient based on the termite species you’re dealing with and the unique needs of your home.  Termite treatment options include:

• Bait Treatment
• Liquid Treatment
• Wood Treatment
• Tentting

Check out our blog on home much termite treatment costs to learn more about each kind of termite treatment!

Types of Termites

Southern Utah is home to two different kinds of termites. These include drywood and subterranean. Each of these species have different identifiers and habits.

Drywood Termites 

To choose the right termite treatment, you must first identify whether drywood termites are the culprit. You’ll know drywood termites by the following characteristics:

• Where they live: Drywood termites live in the wood that they feed on. Their tunnels can be found within walls, inside furniture, and in the wooden framework of your home.
• By their droppings: A tell-tale sign of drywood termite infestation is finding piles of oval-shaped pellets called frass which they push outside of their tunnels through small holes and into the open.
• By the climate: Drywood termites are intolerant of cold meaning that they are more commonly found in southern states; however, they do find their way up north on occasion.

Because drywood termites are difficult to access and are usually located inside your home, bait treatments and wood treatments are most effective for eliminating this species.

Subterranean Termites 

When it comes to identifying subterranean termites, there is one tell-tale sign of termite infestation: mud tunnels. Unlike drywood termites, this species lives in the soil and uses mud tunnels to access food sources, namely softwood such as damp wooden sections of your house. Subterranean termites are not likely to leave behind visible droppings so it’s best to look for mud tubes in your yard and swarmers. Once detected, soil treatment is often an incredibly effective way to eliminate this species along with bait stations to prevent members of the colony from entering your home.

How to Prevent Termites

It may seem like we’re stating the obvious, but it’s important to remember that the most effective way to protect your home from termite damage is to prevent termites from entering your home in the first place. There are several actions you can take to help prevent termites, including:

• Ensuring that all exterior wood is at least six inches above ground level to avoid easy access for termites.
• Preventing moisture from reaching the foundation of your home by properly maintaining gutters, repairing any leaking faucets and pipes immediately, and placing sprinklers and irrigation systems to prevent puddles near your foundation.
• Using fresh paint, stain or sealant will help reduce the risk of a drywood infestation.
• Keeping crawl spaces dry with proper ventilation, and consider installing a vapor barrier to help reduce moisture.
• Removing any firewood, debris, or dense vegetation from around the foundation of your home. 
• Limiting your use of mulch since its moisture-retaining properties make it highly attractive to termites.

The best way to avoid a termite infestation, however, is to work with the experts. At Western Pest Control, we are so sure that our termite control will provide you the results you want that we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. To put an end to your termite nightmares once and for all, consider contacting Western Pest Control for a free termite inspection today. Check out our termite control service area in Utah to get relief today!