Wanting to learn more about the pests that invade our homes and cause costly damage doesn’t always come naturally to homeowners. However, it is very useful to gain an understanding of how termites live and breed in order to choose appropriate termite extermination methods.
Here we’ll describe the basic life cycle of a termite and why spring the best time of the year is to pursue treatment options and combat infestations.
The Life Cycle of a Termite
A termite’s life begins with a mating ritual that takes place in flight, with swarming males and females leaving their colonies to reproduce. Newly established colonies have king and queen termites, and the queens can lay thousands of eggs each day. Colonies can grow very large, depending on how many eggs the queen lays. A termite queen can lay a million eggs during her lifetime if left undisturbed.
A new termite is born when the egg hatches and it begins to find its place in the social structure of workers, soldiers, and reproductive termites. Worker and soldier termites typically live for one to two years. Both male and female workers are sterile, wingless, and blind, and their job is to build nests, gather food, and care for others. Soldiers are similar to workers except that they are equipped to defend the colony. Queen termites that are well-protected in ideal conditions have been known to live for over a decade. The role of a termite may change over time as the needs of the colony change.
When Is Termite Season?
Although termites are active all throughout the year, termite season is considered to be between March and November in New Jersey. This is because the cold winter weather cause termites to be less active in this part of the country. Weather is a determining factor of termite activity, but their presence is also dependent upon finding a warm nesting area that is safe and protected.
It’s right around this time of year that subterranean termites begin to swarm, especially after warm and rainy weather. Termites swarm in order to begin mating and start new colonies. Homeowners who begin termite extermination and prevention strategies in the springtime can prevent breeding activities from occurring and stop termite activity before it worsens.
Bergen County Termite Control for Spring
Many homeowners make the mistake of waiting until summer to deal with termite damage that has already been done. However, it is much more effective and affordable to take precautionary measures in the spring to prevent swarming and fight infestations before they happen.
We specialize in Bergen County termite control and know what it takes to rid your home and property of these pests once and for all. Termites cause more property damage in the United States than fire and flood damages combined, so it’s a smart idea to have your property inspected whether you suspect an infestation or not. By taking action in the spring, you may be saving yourself thousands of dollars in repairs, as well as countless headaches and sleepless nights.