Termite Species & Treatment Options in Texas
Few things strike fear into the hearts of homeowners, quite like the threat of termites. A single termite might not look particularly destructive, but a colony of termites can cause hundreds – even thousands – of dollars in damage in a short amount of time.
Here in Texas, termite activity ramps up in springtime. As the weather warms up, termite populations across the Lone Star state surge and begin searching for new structures to invade. Make sure your home is not one of them!
Here at EnviroCon, we have decades of experience protecting homes just like yours by using the latest termite control methods. Below, our expert entomologists discuss everything you need to know about termites in Texas -- from the most common species, signs of an infestation, treatment options, and more!
What Termite Species Are Found in Texas?
Texas is home to two main types of termites: Formosan Subterranean termites and Southeastern Drywood termites. Below, we’ll discuss the differences between the two species and what you need to know about each.
Formosan Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are responsible for most termite damage in the United States. These termites live in the soil, building large nests around your home and then connecting them to cellulose food sources like trees, wooden fences, and the timbers of your home.
Several species of subterranean termites exist, but the most common in Texas is the Formosan Subterranean termite. This type of termite is the most aggressive, known to destroy wooden structures faster than any other subterranean species. This is due to the fact that their colonies multiply faster and grow to be much larger than other species of termites.
A nest of Formosan termites can contain millions, and these infestations are difficult to control without professional help.
Southeastern Drywood Termites
Unlike Formosan termites, Drywood termites don’t tunnel into your home through the soil. Instead, they set up nests directly inside dry wood materials inside your walls, roof, and foundation.
Drywood termite colonies usually contain a few thousand members, and they aren’t only attracted to rotting wood around your home--they can infest and consume healthy wood within your structures as well. These termites swarm in Texas from early spring to fall.
What Are the Signs of a Termite Infestation?
Commonly referred to as “silent destroyers,” a colony of termites can chew through the wooden structures of your home undetected, racking up significant property damage before you even realize there’s a problem.
If you notice any of the following around your home, call your local pest professionals to determine the extent of the problem and recommend the best course of action. The most common signs of a termite infestation include:
- Mud tubes in the foundation of your home, created where Formosan termites tunnel to reach food sources
- Soft wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Small piles of droppings that resemble sawdust near a termite nest
- Discarded wings near doors or windows, indicating areas where swarmers have entered your home
How Can I Get Rid of Termites?
When termites have made themselves right at home inside your home, time is of the essence! These destructive insects can cause significant and expensive damage very quickly.
The most important thing to keep in mind when treating a termite infestation is that if you don’t reach the source of the infestation, your treatment won’t be effective. Termite colonies are quite large, and it requires complete extermination to stop an infestation in its tracks. In fact, in most cases, DIY treatments can do more damage than good. For a serious termite problem, you deserve a serious solution – and that’s why termite treatments are best left to the professionals.
There are a number of different treatment options that pest control professionals use to prevent and remove termite activity from your home, including:
- Soil treatments: This involves applications of liquid termiticides into the soil around your home, creating an invisible barrier that repels termites from being able to gain entry into your home’s foundation.
- Wood treatments: This involves the applications of liquid termiticides into the affected wood in your home, eliminating active termite colonies.
- Bait systems: This involves the installation of cellulose baits around your home to attract termites, giving them poison that they will then bring back to the rest of colony -- killing them off one by one. Bait stations allow you to track and treat termites on your property before they have a chance to move into your home.
- Fumigation: This is the use of powerful gas to eradicate active termite colonies inside your home’s structures. This process often involves tenting and treating your entire home. Keep in mind, this is the most invasive of the treatment options and usually requires you to vacate your home for days at a time.
Think You Have Termites? EnviroCon Can Help!
Here at EnviroCon, we offer highly-effective non-fumigation treatments for homeowners in the greater Houston metropolitan area. Our termite treatments are designed to be as convenient and hassle-free as possible for your family, quickly exterminating your termite problem without putting your family in harm’s way. Many people are interested in doing termite control on their own, and they are often afraid of termite bites. But that's not what you should be worried about. DIY termite control is definitely an option, but it's very easy to not entirely wipe out the termite colony, which means your treatment is worthless. That's why we often recommend working with a professional such as EnviroCon!
Our non-fumigation tactics don’t produce toxic fumes, and our termite exterminators only apply chemical treatments in places where your pets and children can’t reach. Our goal might be to remove termites from your home and keep them from returning, but our number one priority is to do so with the health and well-being of your family, your pets, and your property in mind.