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Termites are incredibly destructive pests that can turn your life upside down. They’re social pests that constantly work as a team to survive. Whether they’re searching for food, building tunnels, or reproducing, they’ll do it together. They’ll also work as a team when starting new colonies. Termites are destructive because they eat cellulose which is found in plants, cotton fibers, paper, and lumber. If you’re dealing with an oversized colony, you will find termite mounts on your property. When you see them, you know that the colony has overgrown its original underground nests.
Termites can also burrow into the wood surfaces they destroy. In the United States, the most common and destructive species is the Subterranean termite. It is responsible for most of the $2 billion in damage done to American structures annually.
Termites Live In Structured Colonies
Remember that termites live in structured colonies. The termite’s appearance depends on its class. Below, you’ll learn more about termite classes.
Queen
The queen termite is ultimately the most important member. During the early stages of an infestation, she will work with the king termite to reproduce and expand the colony. A queen termite can reach 4 inches in length. She is so large that she is going to have trouble moving through the tunnels. Several hundred worker termites will need to push her to her destination. On average, queen termites can lay 30,000 eggs or so each day.
King
The king constantly works with the queen. They are responsible for reproducing and expanding the colony. The king will spend his entire life reproducing with the queen termite.
Worker Termites
A termite colony would never survive without worker termites. They’re responsible for most important tasks, including building tunnels foraging for food and caring for termite eggs. They’re 10mm in length with soft bodies. They’re light without wings.
Soldier Termites
Worker termites and soldier termites look alike. However, soldiers are easy to spot because they have long, brown heads. You’ll also find that they have powerful jaws. When ants and other predators try to invade the termite colony, the soldiers will attack the predators. They’ll use their powerful jaws to defend the colony.
Winged Swarmers
Finally, the colony is going to produce winged reproductive termites or swarmers. You’ll find that there are male and female swarmer termites. They have wings and fly away from their primary colony so they can build colonies elsewhere. A termite colony can produce hundreds or thousands of swarmer termites.
Which Termites Invade Chicago Residences?
You might encounter other termite species in Chicago. However, you’re likely going to encounter Subterranean termites. They’re the most common and destructive termites in our area.
More About Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites have a lot in common with other termites. For instance, they live in structured colonies with classes. There are worker termites, swarmer termites, and soldier termites. The appearance of the termite depends on its class. Workers and soldiers are roughly the same sizes since they reach up to 3/8s of an inch. Soldiers have long, brown heads with powerful jaws. Swarmer termites are larger than both and can reach half an inch. The queen termite is the largest member of the colony.
Common Behaviors
Subterranean termites build underground colonies in Chicago. Alternatively, they can hide in moist areas above ground. When they need to reach food sources, they will build mud tubes that allow them to defend themselves from predators. These termites consume cellulose so they’re going to damage your property. When spring arrives, these termites will produce swarmer termites to ensure that they can move to new colonies.
Biggest Threats
In Chicago, Subterranean termites are the most destructive. They have powerful jaws that work like saws. They use them to slowly chew through wood. If the problem isn’t addressed immediately, the termites are going to cause severe damage to your property.
Flying Termites & Ants – Differences
Our area is home to flying ants and flying termites. Although they look the same, there are several differences. For instance, flying termites have two wings sets and both wings are the same size. Flying ants have wings of different sizes. You can also tell the difference by checking out the pest’s waist. If it is full and thick, it is a flying termite. Finally, flying ants have elbowed antennas but flying termites do not.
Unique Facts About Chicago’s Termites
- Termites are always hungry. They will eat the wood around your home 24 hours a day.
- A termite colony can easily survive for many, many years. They sometimes remain for 70 years.
- It is common for a termite colony in Chicago to have as many as 500,000 members.
- Termites are helpful because they remove deadwood from the planet.
- Most termites need access to water. If Subterranean termites do not have access to water, they will die.
- They build mud tubes to reach nearby food sources without being attacked.
- Ants frequently attack termites and termite colonies.
- Working with a professional is a surefire way to eliminate all of them.
- The world has more than 2,000 unique species.
- Roughly 40 species reside in the United States.
- Alaska is lucky enough not to have Subterranean termites.
- Subterranean termites cause the majority of the structural damage in America.
- Worker termites must eat cellulose, regurgitate it, and feed it to other members of the colony.
- Queen termites survive for 20 years or longer.
Primary Termite Dangers
You’re likely worried about termites making you sick. Thankfully, it isn’t going to happen. Termites can create numerous problems, but they’re not going to attack people or pets. Instead, they’re going to destroy your home and wood furniture. In some cases, they can damage a home until it is no longer stable. If this happens, you may need to move.
Eliminate Termite Colonies
Don’t delay trying to fix this problem. Waiting is only going to make matters worse. Furthermore, you must remember that the termites are slowly destroying your property. Get rid of them or they’ll cause significant property damage. Termites can travel up to 300 feet to access food. They’ll stealthily move through underground tunnels to reach food sources. Therefore, it can be difficult to know where the primary colony is located. Unless you treat all tunnels and tubes, the termites will survive. It is best to hire a professional exterminator. Doing so is the best and safest way to fix the problem.
DIY Methods
You can find certain over-the-counter products that claim to eliminate termites. These products might work. Nevertheless, getting rid of termites won’t be easy. You must know where they’re hiding, or your solutions won’t be effective. Furthermore, you need to worry about the health risks. Be cautious because some pesticides are dangerous. Team up with a professional to eliminate the risks involved.
When Can You Begin?
Contact our Chicago pest control office right now. After your initial call, we’ll get back to you within 24 to 48 hours.
Does Termite Insecticide Contain Environmentally Unfriendly Chemicals?
It depends on the formula. Every pesticide brand utilizes a specialized formula, some of which contain chemicals, while others contain natural toxins. To protect the environment and our clients and their families and pets, we refuse to treat occupied properties. The exterminator will explain our termite management protocol during the initial consultation.
Our pest control product line consists of EPA-approved brands. The federal government agency, Environmental Protection Agency “EPA”, is responsible for protecting American consumers and the environment from dangerous pesticides. The agency requires all manufacturers to complete the pesticide approval process. Manufacturers that fail to successfully complete the process will be prohibited from producing and marketing their pest control products within the US borders.
What Is The Most Strategic Termite Prevention Solution?
A pest prevention strategy does not need to be complex to offer maximum protection. It just needs to be strategic and geared toward the client’s termite extermination needs and preferences. With the combined effort of the client and our extermination team, termites will become a thing of the past. While the insects will not be extinct, they will no longer be problematic for you and your family.
- Seal all access points into your home with a waterproof sealant, foam insulation, metal screen, or custom-fit metal sheeting
- Repair and update leaky gutters and downspouts
- Install dehumidifiers and vents in damp areas – basements and crawlspaces
- Never store lumber or firewood within 20 feet of your home
- Routinely inspect the exterior of your property for signs of termites
- Take advantage of our free termite consultation and inspection services (available via appointment only)
About Our Termite Control & Removal Services In Chicago
Termite infestations are genuinely not that easy to deal with, which is why many Chicago home and business owners turn to us. We offer termite control and removal services at competitive prices. We utilize special techniques that allow us to eradicate the termites and prevent them from returning. Unlike some exterminators, we dig deep until we get to the root of the problem, which is most often rotten wood. However, the first step is to determine if you have a termite problem. Once a problem is detected, we need to determine its severity and then find a treatment that will completely eradicate it.
The Inspection
Eradicating termite infestations begins with a thorough inspection. This process is not as simple as one might think, since termites can infest areas that are hidden from view. In some cases, the homeowner will discover a few termites around their home and immediately contact our office. We then dispatch a technician out to the home to complete the inspection. The technician will inspect the entire home from the roof to the crawlspace, looking for signs of a termite infestation. If termites are present, we then start working on a solution.
Treatment Options
Mild termite problems can be treated with insecticides Moderate and severe cases will call for more drastic measures, such as a combination of treatments. This combination may include insecticides and traps or insecticides and boric acid. Again, the solution will depend on the severity of the infestation.
The technician will work with you to devise a treatment plan that is specifically designed for your Chicago home or business. This plan will include information about the type of treatments being utilized, number of treatments required and a treatment schedule. The key to eradicating the infestation is to work as a team. We never take it upon ourselves to choose a treatment plan without the homeowner’s
insight or permission.
Service Continuance
At the end of the treatment, the technician will perform another inspection. This time he/she will be looking for signs that point to a recurring problem that may require further treatment. In most cases, the initial treatment plan works efficiently, but there are times when more strategic interventions are needed.
If no termites or damage is detected during the second inspection, we have done our job correctly. Afterwards, we will continue to work with you to make sure the termites do not return. We will also educate you and your family on how to prevent this issue from reoccurring.
Why Pick Our Company?
We have decided that our top priority should be providing the consumer with a great experience at a good price. We believe that we’re able to do just that.
- Our prices are always reasonable.
- We promise that we’ll get rid of the problem for good.
- We are happy to educate the consumer so they can prevent future infestations.
- We can work on your schedule.
- Our team can get rid of the problem quicker than most.
- We’re ready to go around the clock.
Call Our Office Today
When you’re ready to deal with that problem, you need to call our Chicago office. We are standing by waiting for you.
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