Termite Activity in the Winter
In the depths of winter when temperatures are reaching new lows, many animals become less active or choose to hibernate. Termites, however, are skilled at adapting to the change in weather and remain active during this time, despite many assumptions to the contrary. If you think that winter is a good time to take a break from termite control, our termite exterminators some unfortunate news for you: termite prevention is a year-round process.
How Winter Affects Termites
Termites are cold-blooded, so their bodies adjust to temperatures around them. While warm-blooded creatures can maintain a consistent body temperature on their own, cold-blooded creatures are at the mercy of their environment. This means that they must seek shelter in areas that have the heat that their bodies cannot produce. If they cannot find a suitable heat source, their activities will slow down and they may go back to their colony until it starts to warm up. If the temperature drops below freezing for a long length of time, termite colonies may not survive.
Where Termites Go During the Winter
Termites may continue to burrow deeper into the ground if temperatures continue to get worse. However, if they’ve made their way to your home, you could be in trouble. Because termites seek out warmth for survival, your basement, crawl space, and heated home provide the perfect shelter for termite colonies during the winter months. Once inside, they will feed on your wood continuously, 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Termite Activity Becomes More Predictable in the Winter
Termite activity is actually more predictable in the winter, so termite exterminators may be able to remove them more easily in comparison to warmer seasons. For example, termites stray further away from their nest in the summer to find food sources. In the winter, however, they remain closer to home because of the cold. If bait is placed close to their nest, they will choose this over other food in the winter because they don’t want to venture out too far. Therefore, winter is the perfect time to be on the lookout for termites so that you can put effective removal solutions into action.
How to Check for Termites
If termites are preying on your house, chances are they infested one of two ways: 1) coming up from the ground or 2) swarmers flew onto the structure creating an aerial infestation. In both cases Subterranean termites will create shelter tubes on and inside of your walls. Areas of moisture intrusion create a condition conducive for both types of infestations and only increase the odds of an attack by termites. Drywood termites make holes in their tunnels to push feces out, so you can check for this on your window sills; it looks like small pepper grains. You may also hear them working on the inside of your walls; if you place your ear against the wood, it will sound like a click.
Termites don’t stop working in the winter, so it’s best to stay alert year round. At Palmetto Exterminators, our termite exterminators provide superior pest control services and have been trusted for over 58 years. If you suspect termites are infesting your home, learn more about our termite protection services and find out how you can get a free inspection.
