Did you know that termites never sleep? They work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, which is why they can quickly do so much damage to your home. Another not-so-fun fact about termites is that each colony has as many as one million termites in it, and if your home has one colony of termites, it probably has another two or three around it.
Interested in learning more about termites and their habits? Check out these Termite FAQs.
What is a termite swarm?
Termites live in colonies underground. Sometime during the year, the younger termites will simultaneously fly from their nest via mud tubes they’ve created to mate and locate a new nest site and new food sources. Termite swarms typically take place in the spring and early summer in Albany & the Adirondacks. If your home happens to be on or near a termite colony’s nest, they could swarm in your home.
What should I do during a termite swarm?
While termite swarms can be pretty unnerving when they’re happening, they only last about 30 minutes. Since termites don’t fly very well, many won’t make it to a new nest. If they enter your house first, all bets are off, and most won’t survive. All you have to do is wait it out, and the majority of the termites will die all on their own without any intervention on your part. Then, you just have to clean up the mess and call Nature’s Way so that we can stop a second swarm from occurring.
Do termites bite? Can they harm people or pets?
No, termites do not bite, and they can’t harm us or our pets. In fact, most people rarely encounter termites. Termite swarms are really the only time when you’re likely to see them. Even then, they’re just frantically trying to find a way outside.
Why don’t we just get rid of ALL termites?
While termites can and do destroy a home’s wood, they actually are important decomposers ecologically. In wooded areas, termites break down plant fibers and recycle dead and decaying trees into soil, so they’re actually vital to the health of woodlands and forests. It’s not their fault that we build our homes out of their food!
How many termites are there on earth?
Pest experts estimate that for every pound of human beings, there are 1,000 pounds of termites. So if you weigh 150 pounds, that’s equal to 150,000 pounds of termites – for just one person!
How long have termites existed?
Termites are FAR older than humans. They’ve also been around since long before the dinosaurs. Termites are thought to have appeared on the planet more than 250 million years ago. For comparison, dinosaurs existed no more than 230 million years ago, and the first humans showed up about 4.5 million years ago.
Are termites everywhere?
Pretty much. They’ve been found in all states in the U.S. except Alaska. There are more than 2,700 species of termites in the world, with 40 of them living here in the United States.
How long can a termite live?
The termite queen can live from 15-25 years. What’s more, she can lay an egg every 15 seconds. Worker and soldier termites, on the other hand, live just one to two years. Only the queen mates and lays eggs.
If you suspect you have an active termite infestation, or you simply want to protect your home from termite damage, Nature’s Way can help. We provide expert termite extermination and advanced termite monitoring in Albany, Saratoga, Queensbury, Lake George, and as far north as Plattsburgh and Lake Placid. We also provide free termite inspections. Give us a call at (518) 745-5958 or contact us online.
