Pest control is something that every homeowner should be aware of. Especially here in Florida, where we have a history of nasty invasive species wreaking havoc on our homes and local ecosystems. Right now, there are two non-native species of termites that are spreading throughout the state of Florida and destroying property at a rapid speeds.
According to the Sun Sentinel, despite the ground floor of Chris Ellis' South Florida home being beautiful, the upstairs has been totally destroyed by termite damage.
"I have no upstairs at all," said Ellis. "Two bedrooms are gone. The floors are gone. I've never seen anything so destructive."
The Formosan termite and the Asian termite, two voracious types of wood-eating pests, will make their way into the homes of many South Florida residents. According to research scientists at the University of Florida, the Formosan and Asian termites arrived over the last few decades and have spread "exponentially" throughout the state.
"I didn't realize this little bug could be so destructive," Ellis added.
The damage that termites cause ends up costing homeowners thousands of dollars. According to the United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans spend more than $1 billion on Formosan termite control every single year. A person who discovers termite damage in their home will have to spend, on average, $3,000 to repair everything.
One of the best termite pest control methods you can practice as a homeowner is to make sure no piles of wood, rotten logs, and stumps or debris are in close proximity to your home. Termites eat through wood and swarm near broken down areas, so removing these potential hot spots for these pests can help you limit the damage to your home. In the same way that removing standing water will help stop mosquitos from breeding, removing wood piles will force termites to look elsewhere for a free meal.
Make sure to keep firewood and other wood piles at least 20 feet away from your home and five inches off the ground. Termites can thrive in your backyard while chowing down on firewood, then enter your home if you're not careful. If you see little patches of sawdust suddenly appearing under wooden structures in or around your home, you almost certainly have a termite problem.
The best way to prevent termite damage from occurring is to hire a professional exterminator who's experienced in bug guard and pest control methods. If you're in need of an experienced exterminator in Tallahassee, contact Dixon Pest Services today and fight back against termites and all other kinds of damaging pests.