What are Termites?

A termite is a small wood destroying insect. They feed on wood mainly containing cellulose such as fiberboard and paper. They also feed on fabrics which are either cotton based or made of plant fibers. Statistics have it that in termites destroy materials worth an estimated 5 billion dollars per year in the United States. This is because they are able to execute their destruction without being noticed. That is why if you live in the US, there will always be need to have your home evaluated by a professional at least once a year if there are no signs of termites but immediately if you notice any insect you would suspect is a termite. If you are in Philadelphia and you notice the need for examination, you can check on termite control Philadelphia service providers to give you a professional service.

Types of termites:

There are at least three types of termites and it is important to have an understanding of them before you even go for termite control Philadelphia service providers.
Ground and subterranean - these are also known as subterranean termites. As the name suggests, they live and move under the surface of the soil. Their movement is through tunnels which they dig day and night in search of a wooden structure. They are potentially the most dangerous as they can eat up 15 pounds of wood every week. They can thus bring down a wooden structure without ever appearing on the surface. They just eat up the material from the bottom until the upper part remains suspended on nothing. To eliminate this type you need termite control Philadelphia services that can spray every tunnel and rid your home of termites. Failure to spray the tunnels while spraying other suspect areas leaves out some of the termites.

Drywood:

This type of termites lives above the soil. They like living in the house on furniture and on trees near houses. They live here in colonies which are able to attack a tree and bring it down within a few years. Damage may not be visible in the initial year but can be seen as it progresses. This therefore means that you don't have to have noticed termite activity to know they are there. They could have landed in your house a whole year past but the effects be very minimal. Termite control Philadelphia services are the best to help you detect termite activity before it leads to loss.
Formosan - this is one of the uncommon termites family in the US and as such termite control Philadelphia services would be most ideal in identification. They live underground and can be very destructive on wooden structures especially y those with a base touching the ground or those with a wooden foundation.

Termite colonies:

Termites live in colonies. Each colony is made up of either white or cream colored termites. It has a particular social order and structure akin to ants where there is a king and a queen and others. The king and queen are large and are responsible for reproduction, majority are workers whose responsibility is to get food for the king and queen and also work on pathways for the rest to pass. The soldiers protect the colony from outside dangers. These are the ones which can sometimes bite.
Termites are very good at avoiding detection and you need the services of termite control Philadelphia to really identify them and eliminate them in time before they cause much damage. You can however suspect their presence by the clues they leave wherever they pass. Some of these are:
Small holes in wood surfaces
Mud tubes
Structural weaknesses
Swarmer sightings especially in early spring after a rainfall
Dead termites and shed swarmer wings

Although termites are so destructive, you don't have to be worried because termite control Philadelphia services are widely available and you can call them any time to check whether your home is infested and take the necessary steps to eliminate them and advice you on how to maintain your home.