Termite Travel Planning

Ever wonder how termites get into your home? We’re here to tell you about termite travel planning so you can cut them off before they show up as unwanted guests in your Scottsdale home. The most common way termite colonies travel is when homes in a neighborhood are treated, displacing them to another area where they have a fresh supply of food, water, and shelter.

Termite Meal

Stop speedy termite travel by not having firewood, tree stumps, and wooden decks in your yard. If you have a stack of firewood, we recommend keeping it at least 20 feet from your home. While you may have termites in your woodpile, at least it’s a longer trip for them to get to your home. Using pre-treated wood and non-organic building materials will also prevent or deter termites from stopping at your house.

Termites Love Mulch

While this could be included as part of the meal, we think mulch deserves its own spot in this post. Mulch is organic material placed in gardens to help keep soil moist, the perfect environment for termites and other pests.

Because it contains the organic material that termites crave, we recommend keeping mulch at least six inches away from your home and no more than four inches thick. Termites can easily live in the moist atmosphere below the mulch, making their way into your home through the tiniest of cracks.

The Termite Swarm

Termites have been known to travel in a swarm. They look similar to flying ants and are an indication that there is a termite infestation in or very close to your home. Swarms occur when a colony gets so big that it splits into two or more colonies. Once the swarm has settled, the termites shed their wings and reproduce, causing more damage.

Termites On The Move

When moving out of your home, it is possible to carry termites and other pests with you especially in boxes that have been stored in your basement or garage. Drywood termites can travel in wood they have already infested but the more common termite in Scottsdale is the subterranean termite that nests in soil. It is much less likely that you will take this type of termite with you and if you do, they won’t survive without moisture.

If you’ve seen signs of infestation (or you’re just concerned), contact Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination to make sure you’re not taking unwanted guests to your new home.