Why Termites Are A Year Round Problem In Iowa And Illinois

When we talk about a termite infestation, it is important to understand what it means to be infested with termites because it isn't the same as being infested by other pests. If you have an infestation of fleas, those fleas will live and breed right inside your home. They won't need to go outside. If yellow jackets get into your home, they can build a nest inside your walls. Both of these are examples of what it means to be infested. But the first example has more in common with a termite infestation that the latter. When termites infest a home in our service area, they rarely create a nest inside the structure. This is because termites require a lot of moisture and there just isn't enough moisture found inside a home. Therefore, these termites typically create their nests in the ground outside the home.

If a pest professional tells you that you have a severe infestation, this typically means the termite nest is located very close to the home as it gives the worker termites a shorter distance to travel for their food acquisition. But rarely does it mean that a termite nest is in the home. It can happen though.

If a wall cavity has a severe plumbing issue, subterranean termites can build a subsidiary nest that does not need to be connected to the ground. When this happens, the nest can remain active all year long, giving those worker termites a chance to do a lot of damage.

Usually, the condition that provides year-round termite damage to occur is when a termite colony is established underneath the slab of a home and termite workers find a way up into the home through a crack or gap. This happens more with older homes, though it is not out of the realm of possibility for new structures. There are many different factors to take into consideration.

The worst situation is when the two conditions mentioned above come together. If you have water in your basement and cracks have developed, you could soon be dealing with serious issues caused by subterranean termites.

For most homes, subterranean termites will slow their assault during the winter months as the cold typically keeps them tucked away in their underground nests. If it gets cold enough, they may even enter into a suspended state that looks a lot like hibernation but is actually called diapause.

No matter what conditions are present in or around your home, termite control is a year-round solution. Whether you are at risk for a severe infestation or not, you'll be protected!

The most powerful weapon in the war against termites is the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This system is installed around the perimeter of the foundation of your home and works 365 days a year to detect termite activity and eliminate attacking colonies.