Termites Have An Appetite For Life

It is a very depressing moment in a homeowner’s life when the pest control company issues the heart stopping diagnosis, “You Have Termites”!  What runs through the mind at that point is, where did they come from, how could this happen, why my house, how much is this going to cost me?  The answers to these questions are: they tunneled in or flew in, your house is aging and providing the resources necessary to feed them and maintain their species.It can cost you a lot to get rid of termites.
Each year approximately 600,000 homes across the U.S. require treatment for the control of these insects and damage repair. Across our nation homeowners spend upwards of $5 billion annually.
All areas of the U.S are ripe for subterranean termite habitation. Weather conditions, plus food and water sources determine whether their populations will be minimal or extremely heavy.  The coastal areas of the Southeast and Southwest have the added threat of drywood termites.
In a recent study, California has 3 cities on the Top 50 Termite Cities list.  Los Angeles ranking # 2, San Francisco #9 and San Diego coming in at #11.
In California’s forests, woodlands, and deserts termites commonly feed on dead and dying trees, tree stumps, grasses, bushes, or other pieces of dead or decaying wood. Termites can be highly beneficial as they break down woody debris, return nutrients to the soil, and provide an energy-rich food source to a multitude of predators. Fortunately, or unfortunately, these same areas have been plowed under or built over to make way for human habitation.

Home building has risen by necessity and these wood laden structures have become the alternative food source of the termite.  Technically termites don’t know the difference between a tree and a million-dollar house.  What they know is, dinner is served!
Termite pests in California include subterranean, drywood, and dampwood species. Dampwood termites derive their name from the fact that they live in moist wood, especially in stumps and fallen trees in forests. Drywood termites are common and can survive in very dry conditions, even in dead wood in deserts and do not require much moisture or contact with soil.  Subterranean termites are very abundant in most parts of California, even at elevations above 8,000 feet, and live and breed in soil, sometimes many feet below the ground.
Termites are 24/7 eaters and, as long as there is cellulose (a component of all wood and other plant-based materials) available they will literally eat you out of house and home.  But wait, researches are now looking into what else they might be willing to consume besides your home.  Check out this link to the NPMA (National Pest Management Association) website where scientists are finding out what else termites will eat.  Their new series is now ready for viewing and it’s called, Will They Eat It?   
If you are not interested in what they eat, and you just want to get rid of the termites, contact a professional pest control company.  Corky’s Pest Control has solutions for all your pest needs especially termite extermination and termite damage repair.