Termite infestations are uncommon in Las Vegas, but they can be destructive when they occur. Learn how to identify and effectively prevent them.
A Guide to Termites in Las Vegas
Termites may not rank as the most common pests in the Las Vegas area, but they’re certainly among the most destructive. A termite infestation can wreak havoc on a home, and the diminutive pests rack up an average of nearly $5 billion in property damages across the United States each year. In order to protect your property, you need to understand a bit about how termites behave and how you can identify them in your home.
Understanding Termites in Las Vegas
There are several species of termites in the United States, but the most common in the Las Vegas area are subterranean and drywood termites. Subterranean termites are not a common sight, but they have the potential to cause the most destruction. As the name suggests, they spend most of their time underground, building expansive nests and navigating through distinctive mud tubes that often connect to food sources like utility poles, fence posts, and wood-frame homes. Drywood termites, meanwhile, do not require contact with soil and instead like to hide within their chosen food source. If that food source happens to be your home, they can cause significant structural damage before you even discover the infestation.
How to Identify Termites
The easiest way to identify termites is to see them visually, which most often occurs when swarmers – relatively large termites with wings – begin to fly about in search of a mate to start a new nest. This doesn’t happen frequently, however, so your best bet is to look for other signs that a termite infestation is nearby. If termites have infested your home, you will likely find droppings nearby. Termite droppings appear as small, granular pellets that resemble sawdust from a distance. You may also notice weak spots in the wood wherever termites have set up shop. Outside the home, keep an eye out for mud tubes, which are thin tubes of mud about the size of a pencil.
Treating a Termite Infestation
Properly identifying a termite infestation can be tricky, and it’s ultimately best left to trained professionals. If you believe you have a termite problem in or near your home, don’t wait until the damage has already been done. Contact professionals who specialize in pest control in Las Vegas for expert inspection and extermination services to ensure that your home doesn’t fall victim to destructive termites.
