Drywood termites are insects that are among the most annoying pests here in Florida. They feed on cellulose, which is found in the organic material in wood, paper, plants, and sheetrock. This is why you’ll often find them in our homes, where wood is in abundance. You can spot them by the damage they cause to the wood they use for food and moisture.
Because they feed on wood, drywood termites can slowly destroy a house, to the tune of billions of dollars a year across the United States.
Most drywood colonies are small, but they can quickly spread through a home through the process of swarming. This is the process by which they reproduce to create new colonies. The swarming itself isn’t dangerous. But the results are. That’s because all of those new colonies will soon be looking for food and destroying the wood and related materials throughout your home.
In this article, we’ll show you the best practice for getting rid of this home invaders.
Best practice for treating drywood termites
If you have drywood termite infestation, you’ll know by the discarded wings around your window sills (a result of their swarming activity), pellets that look like sawdust, and damage to wood (like your baseboards.)
Tent fumigation is among the most successful ways to treat drywood termites. Tenting works because the process reaches the termites deep in the wood, where other methods do not. In about six hours, the fumigant penetrates the entire home and kills the termites.
From start to finish, the process of tenting, fumigating, and airing out the home takes three to four days. However, it might take longer, depending on the size of your home and severity of infestation. Some other important facts to know about tenting:
- The process is safe. Although the fumigant is deadly to humans and bugs alike, rest assured that we will make sure you home is safe for return. You will not be cleared to re-enter your home until the gas levels measure less than 1 ppm (parts per million).
- The fumigant will not leave any residue on your household items. You can go back to living in your home with peace of mind.
Call JD Smith to clear your home of drywood termites
Drywood termites are the most common type of termite found Florida, so don’t panic if you discover an infestation. We recently shared some steps you can take if you notice a termite swarm in your home. And here are tips for keeping drywood termites out of your home.
If you don’t yet have an infestation, we can help you keep it that way. Talk to us about our termite prevention program.
Please keep this in mind: JD Smith Pest Control offers a promise to our customers: If your pest problem returns after treatment, we will make it right (as many times as it takes).
Think you have drywood termites in your home? Contact JD Smith Pest Control for our free inspection.
