Are Termites Active In The Winter And How To Prevent Them?
In the sweltering summer, several of us would find termites. You are more inclined to discover early termite nesting symptoms when mowing and making necessary house repairs. At the greatest of times, finding termites may be shocking. It might be even more surprising to see them in the cold season. Sadly, the wood-muncher that is everybody’s least favorite doesn’t usually follow seasonal customs. So, are termites active in the winter? What about their destination? The cold weather does not necessarily cause all bugs to disappear or hibernate. To endure the winter, they get a variety of survival techniques. This guide will look at where termites retreat during the cold season and how they manage to stay warm.
Quick Summary: Throughout the winter, termites are less active than they are during the remainder of the year. However, they are still active. Termites don’t sleep over the winter as some other insects do. Alternatively, they seek refuge in their nesting to survive the subzero cold.
Read more about termite movement in the cold season.
Several bugs are only an irritation, while others pose a threat to your wellness. And some cause harm to your house and valuable property. When they’re bothersome, sicken you, and cause damage to your home, neither of these parasites is enjoyable to have within your house. Fortunately, many bugs are migratory, meaning they either move on with the months or remain but slumber.
Several pests are incredibly resilient and persistent and can infiltrate houses all year. The termite is a such bug that does more damage than any other. Termites are among the most destructive type of woodwork; however, are they seasonal? Let’s look at whether are termites active in the winter.
Are Termites Active In The Winter?
Although the answer to whether are termites active in the winter is a resounding yes. But even though termites are still active throughout winter, this doesn’t guarantee their ability to withstand the cold. Termites are cold-blooded bugs that rely on their surroundings to offer them the warmth they need to stay alive. Unless they seek protection, termites will perish when it gets under freezing.
Termites could continue to move, feed, and build their colony as usual once they locate a location to live. Subterranean termites thrive in the outdoors by tunnelling deeply into the soil. Their motions will slow down when temperatures drop to the extent that they can seem to be deceased or immobile. Generally speaking, they are still living. However, dry wood termites would cease to exist as the temperature drops. They may dig into timber logs.
Subterranean termites are the most widespread kind. These termites enlarge their tunneling systems as the earth freezes. The “area” of the settlers eventually included a portion below the freezing line. For the majority of their life, termites reside in these caverns. But, workers come and go to link the tunnel to its wood-based food supply.
Indoor Activity
Termites don’t usually discover your house during the cold season and settle in. Most of the time, they were literally inside your home. While dwelling outside is less appealing due to the lower temperatures. Termites would remain in your house as long as it is comfortable and springlike.
Approximately 75°F is the optimal temperature for termite growth, which is cosy for any household in the cold season. However, please don’t set the temperature to 50 in the hopes that they will go. Termites may find timber, water, and temperature in your household, making it the ideal wintertime retreat for them. With these fantastic facilities, it would be challenging to frighten any termite away from your house.
Early Signs
Even in the middle of the cold season, termites remain a menace, which is awful to acknowledge. Being watchful throughout the year is essential for keeping your house secure from them and seeing whether are termites active in the winter. Luckily, termites can get controlled.
You can prevent anything from snacking on your property this wintertime if you maintain a watchful lookout and take the above actions. Check for mud tubing, termite tunnels, and other termite infestation indicators. Another indication that you could have an invasion is the presence of termite wings that gets abandoned while travelling to a new settlement.
Activity
Only the workers bore into hardwood within a termite settlement. In addition to looking for feed, the termite workers dig into the earth to increase the colony. Whenever they come to food, they consume it completely, leaving hollowed-out tubes in their wake. The timber consumed by termite workers is brought back to the community and used to nourish the castes responsible for reproduction and soldiers.
The wooden buildings that termites eat might suffer severe harm. The wood deteriorates over time from their constant eating, and the tubes they leave behind affect the stability of the timber. Reproduction termites regularly produce new workers to grow the population. These employees would continue consuming and looking for meals. The more an invasion exists, the more extensive and severe the hardwood damage caused by termites.
How To Prevent Termites Entering Your House?
Termites may only enter your house by climbing a heated wooden foundation. Termites could travel a short distance thanks to their tunneling systems, but only inside their colonies. Wooden buildings close to the earth should be removed or protected. Ensure the wood is at least 18 inches from the ground whenever feasible. Eliminate any wood waste, such as sticks, woody biomass, or timber piles, from the area around your property.
You can do a lot to prevent termites from your home by making it impossible for them to obtain food. You could lower moisture in sensitive places like cellars by caulking draughts, fixing leaks, and dehumidifying. Ensure that your drainage and basement pump effectively remove dampness from the structure. The more uninhabitable you’ll make your house, the lesser inclined termites will be to invade it.
Bottom Line
In the winter, termites prefer to remain near your house, making it easier to find nests. As a reason, termite treatments and assessments get best performed in the winter.
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