What You Need To Know About Formosan Termites In San Antonio

Formosan termites are one of the most common and destructive types of termites found in Texas. These tiny bugs live in extremely large groups that can quickly take over your property if you do not act fast to eradicate populations on your property. This is why San Antonio pest control is so important. 

At EnviroGuard, we know what signs to look for when tracking Formosan termites, and we have a good understanding of how the climate and other factors in this area affect their habits and behaviors. Here is a look at everything you need to know about Formosan termites on your property. 

How To Identify Formosan Termites

Formosan termites often get mistaken for subterranean termites. Both of these species will build elaborate underground nests that can house several thousand termites at one time. They also both tend to have pale off-white colored bodies that are long and oval-shaped. 

Formosan termites do have a few unique characteristics that set them apart from their subterranean cousins. For example, Formosan termites tend to be larger and usually measure around a half-inch long. Also, the Formosan soldier termites have rounded heads that are tapered off at the end, which is much different from the rectangle-shaped heads of the subterranean soldiers.

Why Formosan Termites Are So Destructive

Formosan termites are known to be one of the most destructive types of termites in this area. Each termite by itself is not able to destroy wooden surfaces at a faster rate than other termites. However, Formosan termites tend to live in much larger termite colonies, with hundreds of thousands, if not several million, termites living in one colony. The sheer numbers allow them to destroy wood at a much faster rate. 

Typically, if your property was infested by another type of termite, it would take a few years before you saw any structural damage to your home or property. But, with Formosan termites, some homeowners have reported seeing structural damage in as little as six months. 

Ways To Avoid Formosan Termite Infestations

Formosan termites love to invade properties that have warm and moist soil. While it may be impossible to completely eliminate all moisture from your property, there are some things that you can do to help keep the Formosan termites at bay, which include:

• Make sure that your gutter system is working properly and doesn't have any holes or damage in the system.

• Don't stack firewood near your home.

• Reduce the moisture in your basements and crawl spaces by adding a ventilation system.

• Avoid using mulch around your home.

Formosan termites like moist and dead wood. They don't like to travel too far away from their underground colonies to get to a food source. They prefer wood surfaces that make direct contact with the ground. This is why it is important to put your home, storage building, or wooden staircase on a concrete slab or another structure that elevates the wood off the ground. 

The Best Way To Combat Formosan Termites In San Antonio

There is no DIY treatment that is able to eliminate all Formosan termites if you have a severe termite infestation on your property. The only way to ensure that all termites are eradicated is to call a professional termite control specialist. 

At EnviroGuard, our goal is to keep your San Antonio home safe from destructive pests. We offer a wide range of termite control treatment options. Each treatment plan is designed to target termites at various stages of life and is effective when used indoors and outdoors. Give us a call today to schedule your free inspection.