Do Termites Survive in Cold Weather? Termites and Winter: Myth vs. Fact

Winter is a time for Mother Nature to kick back and rest. Trees lose their leaves. Flowers die away. Even people stop spending long hours outdoors. Because everything seems to slow down, it is easy to assume all creatures will do the same. Not surprisingly though, termites seem almost impervious to seasonal changes. They neither go dormant nor die out. Instead, they continue their destructive ways, following Mother Nature’s call to recycle and aerate the earth. When they enter your home, however, they become an unwelcome nuisance threatening the floorboards you walk on. A professionally conducted termite inspection in Pleasanton helps keep these pests from ruining your safe haven.

Where Termites Go and What They Do for the Winterf

It is unnerving to find termites in your home during the warmer seasons, but it is even more frustrating to discover them in the winter. Shouldn’t these wood-boring pests be hibernating somewhere and leaving your home alone? These bugs do not go dormant because the outside temperatures drop. Instead, they adapt. Here are some little-known facts about termites and winter:

• Termites are cold-blooded insects: They need their environment to provide the heat they need to survive. As the temperature outside drops, they will look for shelter, including in nearby structures. They are pretty good at finding cover, too.
• They can beat the cold: The subterranean species will burrow further into the ground, and drywood termites will burrow into wooden logs. If the temperature dips below freezing, the drywood species will most likely die, but the subterranean ones will keep going deeper until they are below the frost line.
• They will continue life as usual: Termites live to eat and expand their colony. They do this 24/7 without fail. Even the queen can lay up to 30,000 eggs a day. So, as long as they stay warm, they will continue searching for food, using exploratory mud tubes as needed, and propagating.

Tips to Stop the Infestation

Termites never take breaks. They will leave fecal matter around (also called frass), create hollow-sounding walls, and buckle floorboards with their round-the-clock eating. That means you should remain hyper-vigilant with regular termite inspections and these additional tips:

• Get rid of dead wood lying near your home
•  Remove any wood, including firewood, in the proximity of your foundation
• Stop water leaks immediately
• Ensure your crawl space remains dry
• Use a dehumidifier in damp basements
• Make sure downspouts drain water away from your foundation
• Keep gutters clean of debris
• Repair any roofs leaks as soon as possible

Keep Your Home Termite-Free with Help from a Dependable Pest Control Company

There is no rest for the wicked, or termites! They thrive in hostile conditions to ensure their species survives. Unfortunately, it may involve non-stop chewing on your Pleasanton home in the process. Besides stopping leaks and removing wood from around your foundation, enlist the professionals at Times Up Termite for regular termite inspections. Our technicians are trained to spot evidence of termites and offer you treatment options for eliminating them. One type of treatment is the eco-friendly, reduced-risk pesticide, Altriset, which is a good choice for homes with children, pets, or pregnant moms. We also recommend using Trelona bait traps by BASF to eradicate the wood-chewing insects. Learn more when you contact us today.

Call 510-568-7200 to speak with our team of experienced, licensed professionals at Times Up Termite, Inc. You can also contact us online to request a free termite inspection in Pleasanton.