Termites are always on the lookout for new sources of food, and this exploratory behavior may lead to neighborhood-wide infestations. Different species will also have different ways of spreading through an area, and in this article, we’re going to take a look at how these different termites spread from home to home.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites build underground colonies that are independent of the wood that they infest. In other words, these termites have a central hub where they can expand almost indefinitely, and they can deploy a large workforce to any new piece of wood that they consume. On top of that, they will consume multiple pieces of wood in an area, so if there is a large subterranean termite colony in your neighborhood, it’s very likely that it has infested several homes.
Subterranean termite colonies can be controlled in two ways – baiting systems and chemical barriers. Baiting systems will actually destroy the colony responsible for an infestation, but they can take months to be effective. Chemical barriers on the other hand have an almost instantaneous effect, but they leave the colony intact. If a chemical barrier is used by someone in the neighborhood to deal with a subterranean termite infestation, the colony will survive and it will start looking for new sources of food, which will increase the odds of a new home being infested.
Drywood/dampwood termites
These termites will build their colonies inside the wood that they consume, which means that it can take quite some time for them to catch speed and cause a lot of damage. It also means that the only way to infest new homes is through swarmers, which are winged termite queens that fly out of mature colonies. While these termites can also spread through a neighborhood, it is rarer for them to do so.
What do you do if your neighbor has a termite infestation
If one of your neighbors has recently dealt with a termite infestation, it’s better to be safe than sorry and have your home checked as well. You can also opt for a regular, yearly check-up procedure from your local pest control company to catch any termite infestation before it gets too big and does a lot of damage to your home.
For more information on how termites spread, or if you suspect that you have an infestation, do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.
