Termites are a problem that you can solve with your Broken Arrow exterminator. These wood destroying insects get into our homes and ruin the structural integrity of the buildings that we live and work in. It’s important to protect your greatest investment from these invaders. Termites can take a beautiful home and turn it into a pile of rubble if you don’t do what is needed to be done to protect it. In Oklahoma, it’s not a matter of if it’s simply a matter of when. So in this article, let’s take a good hard look at termites, their life cycle and what are you and your Broken Arrow exterminator can do to protect your home from termites.
TERMITE DIGESTION AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATOR
Termites are very unique in the insect world. There are very few other animals or insects that can break down wood into energy. The termite can do this by a symbiotic relationship with an enzyme in its stomach. This enzyme is unique, and the fact that it can break down the cellulose found in the cell of a piece of wood and turn it into energy. The cells of wood are consistent of two essential things. The first thing is lignin, and the second is cellulose. Cellulose is the majority of the cell, and it is what produces the energy for the termite to live.
During the development process of the termite, it will have to molt a number of times. What’s happening is that as the termite grows, it will outgrow its exoskeleton. When it does this, it must remove that exoskeleton for a new exoskeleton that is much more pliable and larger. As it does this, some of the gut biome is lost in the process. In order to continue to have the enzymes necessary to break down wood in the cellulose, it must replenish its gut biome. This happens through a process, known as trophallaxis. This is where a young termite nymph will feed from the anus of an adult worker. In doing this, it will replenish the enzyme that lost during the molting process. While this is pretty disgusting, it is a process and it’s done by all termites. Contact your Broken Arrow exterminator for more information.
TERMITE SIGNS AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATOR
In order to understand if you have a problem with termites, you need to know what the signs look like. These insects are very susceptible to drying out. They require a humid air to survive. In Oklahoma, the most common termite that we have is the eastern subterranean termite. This termite stays underground in order to maintain the humidity necessary for survival. Often you’ll see that if you have an area of wood that’s been drenched with water, this is usually the first place you’ll find termites attack. They will build mud tubes up from the ground to carry the humid air from underground above ground and continue foraging for food. If you’re seeing these mud tubes coming up from the ground on the outside of your house, then you know that you have a problem with termites.
Once a termite colony gets to a certain size, it will seek to reproduce itself. The way the termite colonies reproduce itself is through a process known as swarming. A special kind of reproduction termite will be born in the colony known as a swarmer. These winged termites are much more hearty than the average termite. They can last out in the dry air for a long period of time before having any kind of issues. Your Broken Arrow exterminator will have more information on termites and can get you a free inspection.
SWARMING TERMITES
In the late spring of April and May, these swarmers will exit the colony in attempt to reproduce the colony itself. They will fly away and find a large swarm of other like-minded swarming termites from other colonies. Here, they will pair up male and female, and go off to find a place to create a new colony. Once they land, they will lose their wings, mate, and dig out a royal chamber. This royal chamber will be the beginnings of a new colony. The king will work as a worker until the eggs that the queen has laid have hatched themselves. Contact your Broken Arrow exterminating for help with termites.
If you have a colony, that’s attacking your house, it’s completely possible that swarming termites can come out inside your home. If swarmers come out inside your home, you could see them flying around inside your home, and in many cases, they will go straight to the window and attempt to go to the outside air. Because they can’t get through the window, they will die and fall in the window sill. While termites are swarming insects, there are many species of ants that also use swarmers.
In order to differentiate between the two, it’s important that you get a good look at the swarmers in your window sills. If their bodies are the same width for their entire length, this is a termite. Ants will have three definite body sections, separated by a small waist. The wings of a flying termite will be longer than the termite itself. The wings of a flying ant will be about the same length as their body. If you’re seeing that you’re having flying termites in your window sills, then it’s time that you contact your Broken Arrow for help.
ELIMINATING TERMITES AND BROKEN ARROW EXTERMINATOR
If you’re having issues with termites or any other pests, then it’s time to contact your Broken Arrow exterminator. A quality exterminator will have the know how to treat for termites. Here at TermMax pest control, we are the best in the business when it comes to dealing with termites or any other pest. We service the greater Tulsa area, including Broken Arrow, Coweta, Catoosa, Claremore, Bixby, Jenks, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Prattville, Turley, Owasso, and so much more. Call today for a free estimate. We’re here to help!