California may not have the same bitterly cold winters as the
northern states do, but there is an appreciable difference of temperature
between them. That drop in temperature is often enough to make homeowners in
the state think that they are safe from termites in winter.
Where they go
According to a popular belief, insects hibernate in cold weather,
and so the risks to health and property they pose are few. This is not completely true, as termites do not hibernate
or die off when it’s unbearably cold. These insects just have a knack for
surviving even the worst cold weather.
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| Image Courtesy : Pexels |
Formosan subterranean termites go underground where it is warmer,
when the weather becomes too cold for them. They are less active in cold weather
than they are in warmer ones, but they do not
hibernate. The colder it is the deeper they go underground. However, if the
winter is mild, with only a slight drop in temperature, they go underground still
but remain close to the surface.
This is where the danger lies. From just below the surface, these
still active pests can find their way to the foundation of a building. They can enter through small cracks
and in this warmer and protected environment, they can start swarming if there
is even a slight increase in temperature – just a warm day or two is enough.
Drywood and dampwood termites
make their nest in trees and tree stumps for the winter. These insects too do
not hibernate, they just slow down to ride out the colder weather. Any wood or cellulose-based material that connects the
house to the ground becomes a passage for
them to gain entry into the building.
When the weather turns warm again, they begin their search for food.
They can transfer themselves quickly and easily from the trees to the nearest
structure, such as a home.
Winter is no protection
Once termites get into a home, they enjoy the same warm and dry atmosphere
that the humans residing there do. This makes them fully active once again and
they begin devouring wooden items and other things they find irresistible in
the home.
Termite damage in winter can be worse than that in warm weather.
This is because homeowners let their guard down, thinking that termite threat
is not very serious in winter. They fail to notice in time the signs of termite
infestation and the situation becomes bad before they notice the problem.
An unnoticed termite infestation in winter can do a huge damage and
cause thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs. To keep your home protected from
these pests in winter, it is best to seek help from a professional termite control company. They will
check thoroughly for the presence of termites and give your home an effective
termite treatment, whether or not they spot termites.
Reputed companies offer a 3-year full structure
warranty that covers all species of termites and wood-boring beetles. It includes infestations already identified as
well as those that may appear during the warranty period. This will keep your
home safe for more than one winter.
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