Formosan termites confirmed in Lexington, recent evidence discovers. During a routine pest inspection, just last June, Rodney Dorn, an inspector with a pest control company in South Carolina, stumbled upon something strange. A new breed of termites, one foreign to Lexington County. Curious about the nature and origin of these strange new pests, Dorn collected a sample and sent it to be examined at Clemson University’s entomology program. A little time later, it was confirmed, Lexington has a new pest in town.
What Are Formosan Termites?
Formosan termites are underground colonizers separated into three castes: workers, soldiers, and alates, also known as reproductive (this includes queens and kings also known as swarmers.) These six-legged pests are often referred to as “super termites.” Out of over 2,000 termite species, these are the most hostile, insatiable, and devious species known to science.
Ways to Deter Termites
Termites love three things: wood, water, and any combination of the two. That being said, here are some preventative steps you can take to keep termites as far away from your home as possible.
- Termites generally won’t start at the base of your home, this is why it is important to store any wood attractants, such as firewood, at least 20 feet away from the walls of your home.
- Termites will use soil as cover to tunnel up next to the base of your home, and from there use that same soil to make tunnels up to more points of entry along your foundation. For this reason, limit the soil’s contact with your exterior walls.
- Termites love humidity. Consider running dehumidifiers in more humid locations throughout your home to lower the appeal to termites.
Often areas will become attractive to termites due to a leak. Fixing leaky plumbing and broken gutters, and limiting air conditioning condensation can be a great way to deter termites. In addition, if you have any wood damaged by water, consider removing or replacing it, as it can also attract termites.
How a Professional Can Help
If preventative measures fail, or your home is already infested with termites, a professional is your best bet. Here in South Carolina, you won’t find a better pest control company than Spencer Pest Services. When it comes to termite prevention, we have it all: experienced termite technicians who are trained to spot termites and the problems they cause around your property, and Sentricon® System with Always Active™. If we find you have a termite infestation, we will set up bait stations around your home. This system works by first eliminating the base colony. We are so confident in this system that we offer a $1,000,000 repair guarantee against future damage caused by Formosan termites. If you are looking to protect your Lexington home from termites, it would be our pleasure to help, give Spencer Pest Services a call today.
