Here in the Boise Treasure Valley, we see a variety of pests such as spiders, earwigs, wasps and ants. But, one pest that has been on the rise is something you might not immediately think of…TERMITES.
Subterranean termites are known to do damage to homes in Idaho. An interesting fact, though, is that drywood termites are not actually native to the state. Some of the things that attract termites to your residence include firewood piles, tree stumps in your yard, mulch, a lot of high moisture and dampness in your home and yard and tree branches touching the roof of your house.
There are 5 very important signs to look out for when it comes to termites infesting your home:
- Mud tubes on walls (1st picture)
- Termites frass, or termite poop
- Broken termite wings and dead winged termites
- Tiny holes on any of your wooden structures
- Damp/moist walls
Basically when dealing with termites, your number one mission is to keep wood as far away from the dirt and your home as possible (ideally 3 inches or so). Termites love any kind of damp wood or moist environment so the more you take it away from them, the better you’ll be able to sleep at night!
If you are worried about termites already in your home, or if your home is not up to par, you can do this to perform a basic inspection:
- Check the foundation wall around your home and make sure there is sufficient space between your siding and the ground.
- If your home is built with a crawl space, check to make sure all of the wood is on top of concrete.
If you discover what you think is an active issue, call Barrier Pest Control. We can accurately identify termite activity and give you treatment options that fit your needs.
– Written by Marie of Barrier Pest Control
