Subterranean Termites: Assessing Their Feeding Habits
Subterranean termites feed on cellulose-based matter, including wood and plant material. Typically, the whitish bugs chew on wood in contact with or above ground level (or partially underground). The subterranean termites are not picky eaters, feeding on most types of woods. In some cases, they are known to attack non-wood products that contain cellulose, such as cardboard and paper products.
Subterranean termites consume only a thin layer of wood or other materials when feeding, only between 1/32" and 1/8" deep (about the diameter of a dime). Feeding by the destructive bugs stops at about 10 to 12 feet below the ground surface.
If you look at an exposed piece of finished drywall, you may see small pencil lead-sized holes in parallel rows along the backside of the wallboard about one inch apart from each other. These are likely evidence of past subterranean termite activity. Contact a termite control company immediately.
Do Termites Eat Particle Board?
The short answer is yes. Termites need cellulose to survive. Particleboard contains a limited amount of it, so subterranean termites will have a go at it if they are hungry enough. However, it’s essential to note that the nuisance pest will prefer wood and cardboard over particleboard.
The termites can still damage and even destroy particleboard furniture if they have nothing else around to eat. In fact, depending on the quality of your particleboard, some kinds of termites are capable of eating through and digesting the material.
How To Get Rid Of Subterranean Termites Without Tenting
One of the best ways to get rid of termites in Gaithersburg is through whole-house fumigation, also known as “tenting.” Unfortunately, the process is time-consuming and may require you and your family to find temporary shelter elsewhere. Here are tips for eliminating the pests without tenting and avoiding the inconvenience.
- Heat Treatment
You can kill the termites within your premises by exposing them to high temperatures. Subterranean termites require high moisture levels to survive. Heat treatment will dry them out, eradicating them through dehydration.
- Termite Baits And Traps
Termite traps can poison entire colonies when the scouts or workers return to the nest with poisoned wood. The insecticide used is slow-acting, giving the foraging termites to bring the toxic chemicals back to the colony.
- Natural Insecticides
You can also use natural termiticides to eliminate a termite problem. Sprinkle boric acid on infested wood products or spray borate solutions into the nest’s mouth. You can also use diatomaceous earth, a desiccant that dries off the insect exoskeleton, killing the subterranean termites.
- Essential Oils
Essential oils can repel termites from your property. The most popular oil is the orange oil which produces a scent that creates discomfort for the burrowing termites, forcing them to abandon the nest.
Total Termite Control Made Easy In Gaithersburg
The most effective way to get rid of house termites is to use a professional pest exterminator. Absolute Home and Pest Solutions can provide experts that can assist in proper termite identification, check for evidence of termite damage, and offer effective treatment solutions.
Our professional exterminators have the experience and equipment to carry out termite eradication. If the infestation is extensive, we may need to use tenting for guaranteed results. Contact us today to learn more about our pest control services.