What is the most damaging termite in California?
Is California a good place to live for termites?
Can you see termites in your home?
How common are termites in California?
They're everywhere! Termites are active across the state of California, from Redding to San Francisco, down to Fresno, Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Diego. Both subterranean and drywood termites are well-known for damaging homes in California.
Are termites common in Northern California?
Different species of dampwood, drywood, and subterranean termites are frequently found in Northern California due to the favorable climate. Some of the most common termites in the North and East Bay include the western subterranean termite, western drywood termite, and pacific dampwood termite.
How common are termites in San Francisco?
San Francisco ranked among the most termite-infested cities in the United States, according to pest control service Terminix. In this year's study, San Francisco placed second as the most termite-ridden city.
Are termites common in the Pacific Northwest?
There are two common species of termites in the PNW: the western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus) and the Pacific dampwood termite (Zootermopsis angusticollis). A third species, the drywood termite (Incisitermes minor), has been found occasionally but there is no evidence that it has become established.
What percent of homes in California have termites?
And of those inspections, 95% show some evidence of termite infestation, either local or widespread, or a condition that could lead to a termite problem. Booming right along with the strong real estate market is California's termite population.
How do know if you have termites?
How to Tell If Termites Are Active in Your HouseDiscolored or drooping drywall.Peeling paint that resembles water damage.Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.Small, pinpoint holes in drywall.Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards.Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor.More items...
Are termites common in San Jose?
Termites are a type of pest found throughout the United States. The only state where they do not infest properties is Alaska. This means that our town-San Jose, CA-is one of the many places where termites reside. These pests cause big problems for homeowners in San Jose, CA every year.
What time of year do termites swarm in California?
In southern California, the western drywood termite swarms during the day any time between September and November. It may swarm earlier in northern parts of the state. The desert drywood termite swarms at night from June to September.
What do I do if I find termite droppings?
Do not disturb the droppings as they may cause irritation and should be seen by a professional. Call a professional who can determine if the droppings are frass and clean them up properly. Work with the expert to decide on the proper method that should be used to remove the termites in your home.
Are termites always a problem?
While termites can cause damage when they enter our homes and buildings, termites perform valuable services in the environment. For example, some species can help break down rotting wood into soil, and other species can help break down animal feces. In short, we need termites in our environment, just not in our homes.
Are termites a problem in Seattle?
Termites are active in almost all of the state of Washington, from Seattle to Spokane and from Olympia to Walla Walla, Washington. There are small portions in the northeast and northwest that are unlikely to have termite activity due to the climate.
What kind of climate do termites like?
They prefer to live in warm, humid climates, and are thus often found in states on the southernmost border. Termites have been reported in every state in the nation except for Alaska, and they prefer to live in warm climates.
What do termites look like in Northern California?
Reproductive Pacific dampwood termites are about one-inch long, usually a yellow-ish brown color. They have wings. Soldiers are brown with dark brown or black jaws and a flat head.
What time of year do termites swarm in California?
In southern California, the western drywood termite swarms during the day any time between September and November. It may swarm earlier in northern parts of the state. The desert drywood termite swarms at night from June to September.
Does Sacramento have termites?
Subterranean termites are most common in the Sacramento region. The most common WDOs we see in Sacramento are subterranean termites. They are commonly referred to as “subs”. These termites live in soil and burrow below ground.
Are drywood termites common in California?
Drywood termites in Southern California prefer dry wood in furniture, fences, decks, dead trees, and even electrical poles — all things that are commonly found near your home! While drywood termites are one of the most common termites in California, they also thrive along coastal regions.
What Are Subterranean Termites?
Termites are often a problem that property owners only find out about after major damage is done; they are tiny, sneaky, and silent bringers of devastation. All species of termite feed on cellulose-based plant materials, one of the main components of many building materials, and of course wood.
Subterranean Termites
Regardless of geographic area, subterranean termites are the most destructive species of termite, and they can do enough damage to cause a building to collapse. They are found in every state in the country except for Alaska, and attack a structure from the ground up.
Signs Of Subterranean Termites
Signs of subterranean termites in your home can be found both inside and outside. Keep your eye out for a few telltale things that indicate an infestation of subterranean termites:
Prevent A Subterranean Termite Infestation
Soil-to-wood contact is one of the most common causes of termites. Leaky pipes, moisture accumulating near the foundation, in basements, or in firewood and lumber all attract subterranean termites. Cracks in the exterior, poor airflow, and structures made with untreated wood can all be considered possible causes of termites.
Get Professional Help
The best way to protect your property from subterranean termites or to deal with a current infestation is to seek out professional help. Subterranean termite treatment options for an active infestation can be done in several ways. Bay Pest Solution Inc. is here to help; we offer inspection, treatment, and a warranty on our work.
What is the most damaging termite in California?
Western subterranean termite: The most common termite, these termites are cream-colored and much smaller than drywood or dampwood termites. They are considered to be the most damaging termite in Northern California and even the nation, and can cause a lot of destruction in homes.
Is California a good place to live for termites?
Although not as humid as some areas in the country, the mild climate in California makes for an ideal environment for termites of all kinds. Some of the most common species in the North & East Bay area include:
Can you see termites in your home?
Chances are, you will never see the termites that have infested your home. The only types of termites usually seen by residents in the North & East Bay are swarmers across all species of termites, which fly to establish new colonies and are often mistaken for flying ants. No matter the type of termite you may have, it’s always important to call a professional who can correctly identify and treat the infestation before extensive damage is caused.
How Termites Begin to Infest and Cause Damage
Termites can be a nightmare for homeowners because they can cause significant structural damage to property for quite some time before the infestation is noticed. Since termites are so small, they’re difficult to detect to the untrained eye, and you’re more likely to notice the damage they cause before you spot the termites themselves.
Termites That Pose the Biggest Threat to Homeowners
Many species of termites have been discovered throughout the U.S., but certain types of species are known to populate in fixed regions of the country. In the Bay Area, three common species of termites can typically be found and pose threats to homeowners.
Subterranean Termites
The Subterranean species of termites are particularly prevalent in the Bay Area because of the moist climate and are responsible for the majority of termite destruction in the U.S. These resilient pests require access to plenty of moisture, living in-ground soil in or around the foundation of your home.
Dampwood Termites
Dampwood termites are common to humid climates, including along the coast of the Bay Area, and focus on structures where they can gain easy access. As its name suggests, this species finds shelter and survives in wood with high moisture content. They don’t require contact with soil, especially if the wood material they invade is rich with moisture.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites typically favor warmer areas along the coastline and are highly concentrated in the Bay Area. Unlike Subterranean species of termites, Drywood termites dwell directly in the wood they devour instead of colonizing underground because they require very little moisture to survive.
Contact MightyMite Termite and Protect Your Home
Our team at MightyMite Termite are the experts who specialize in accurately assessing, diagnosing, and treating all types of termite infestations. We have an extensive understanding of how these pesky invaders behave and are equipped with various methods of eradicating them safely and responsibly.
What are the two most common types of termites in Northern California?
The two most common kinds of termites in Northern California are subterranean and dry wood termites.
How do termites get into a house?
This kind of termite often gets into a house through wood-to-ground contact, entering through doorframes, deck posts, or porch steps or supports. They can also get in through cracks in the foundation or the mortar between bricks, or even through holes in concrete blocks.
How to keep termites out of your house?
To keep them at bay, you’ll need to be vigilant about maintaining the exterior wood of your home. Seal any cracks, nail holes or crevices that you find , and consider putting screens over vents. Any wood that has sustained water damage is also a problem because wood that’s been softened by moisture is extremely appealing to termites. In fact, if there’s enough moisture in a house, termites can sometimes even survive with no soil contact. If there’s any damage to the wooden parts of your house, whether from a roof or plumbing leak, excessive condensation or humidity, poor drainage around the foundation, missing or faulty downspouts or gutters, poorly adjusted sprinklers, or some other water source, take care of it as soon as possible to help protect your home from termites.
How do subterranean termites make their nests?
They do this by burrowing into exposed vulnerable wood that the swarmers land on.
How do Mightymite termite services work?
At MightyMite Termite Services, we can help you keep your home safe from termites, using treatments that are naturally derived and have a low impact on the environment. We diagnose and treat infestations with the most effective methods and unmatched warranties, solving your termite problems the first time, with an industry-best “no call-back rate.” That, combined with our experience, technology, and highly trained professional staff, makes us the leading extermination company in the Bay Area. For more information, call us today at 408-377-3761, email [email protected], or contact us through our website.
What is Mighty Mite termite?
Mighty mite Termite Services has been serving Northern California for nearly a decade, committed to helping the community one termite infestation at a time. Our knowledgeable, experienced staff members are happy to discuss different treatment options with you, sharing our expert knowledge to help you make an informed decision. Whether the answer is rodding, drilling, fumigation, botanical-based products like orange oil, or another type of termite treatment, we’re dedicated to going above the industry norm, continually finding new and better ways to protect homes and business from termites. That dedication to excellence is what drives our success.
What do termites need to survive?
All termites have the same basic needs: food, warmth, and moisture. They seek all three in your home, feeding not only on wood but also on other things that contain cellulose, like paper and cardboard. Depriving termites of these things is the first step in keeping them out of your house.
1. Spotting Termite Swarmers
Seeing swarmers is a definite sign of termite infestation because they only come about when termite nests are full. There are three groups of termites in a colony: workers, soldiers, and swarmers. Workers and soldiers remain in walls, stripping wood and protecting their base.
2. Damaged Paint & Walls
Your paint and walls will start to look very different once termites get going on your property. Paint will begin peeling and bubbling, and appear as though it’s been damaged by water. There will probably be discoloration on drywall, along with sagging. You might find lots of little holes in it, the size of a needle point.
3. Seeing Termite Waste
Swarmers leave evidence of their presence, as they shed their wings. These often resemble fish scales. Termite feces can often be found in piles, and might be mistaken for salt and pepper specks.
Author Bio: Zach Smith
Landscape Pro Turned Gopher Pro: Owner, Zach Smith, graduate of Cal Poly’s Horticulture program worked nine years as a landscape professional- dealing with gophers, moles, and ground squirrels and was quickly recruited by other local gardeners.
What are the signs of termites in your home?
When you see signs of termites in your home, call a trusted pest control professional as soon as possible to handle the situation. Termites feed on wood, meaning they eat through the wood that makes up the frame, floors and other components of your house. Most people don’t know they have termites until they discover the damage done, because termites remain hidden underground or inside the wood they are eating. Keep on the lookout for these signs of termites:
How much does it cost to do termite treatment?
If you plan on getting your house treated for termites, expect to pay around $767, on average. This cost will depend on several factors. The first is the extent of the infestation, with preventive treatments costing less than treating established colonies. Liquid or fumigation treatments will also cost extra and will depend on the scope of the infestation. Because of all these factors, it’s important to get price quotes from several termite control companies .
How long does a termite treatment last?
Termite treatment companies typically say liquid termite treatment lasts around five years. Termite bait stations don’t last as long and usually need annual maintenance. With all types of treatments, it’s important to have a pro come to perform an annual inspection to make sure that termites aren’t making a comeback.
How do you get rid of termites?
The best way to get rid of termites is to act fast. Termites are a problem that will only get worse — and no matter how much you want them to, they usually don’t magically move out on their own. There are three main types of termites: drywood, dampwood and subterranean. Drywood and dampwood termites sneak through cracks in your exterior paint, nail holes, and gaps near windows and other openings and begin to eat through your wood. Subterranean termites enter your house from the ground up by creating mud tunnels. In all cases, they survive by eating the wood of your house. The type of termites you have can steer the treatment plan.
How much does fumigation cost for drywood termites?
Fumigation treatment of drywood termites: $1,200-$1,500 for a 30,000- to 35,000-cubic-foot home. Pros measure fumigation costs in cubic feet. Fumigation costs can also be affected by the number of stories in your home.
How much does it cost to treat a house for termites?
If you plan on getting your house treated for termites, expect to pay around $767, on average. This cost will depend on several factors. The first is the extent of the infestation, with preventive treatments costing less than treating established colonies. Liquid or fumigation treatments will also cost extra and will depend on the scope of the infestation. Because of all these factors, it’s important to get price quotes from several termite control companies .
How do termites move?
Mud tubes: Subterranean termites move between their earth home and your house by building mud tunnels. Mud tubes under or along the side of your house or foundation are a sure sign of a termite infestation.
What is the most damaging termite in California?
Western subterranean termite: The most common termite, these termites are cream-colored and much smaller than drywood or dampwood termites. They are considered to be the most damaging termite in Northern California and even the nation, and can cause a lot of destruction in homes.
Is California a good place to live for termites?
Although not as humid as some areas in the country, the mild climate in California makes for an ideal environment for termites of all kinds. Some of the most common species in the North & East Bay area include:
Can you see termites in your home?
Chances are, you will never see the termites that have infested your home. The only types of termites usually seen by residents in the North & East Bay are swarmers across all species of termites, which fly to establish new colonies and are often mistaken for flying ants. No matter the type of termite you may have, it’s always important to call a professional who can correctly identify and treat the infestation before extensive damage is caused.
