Do Termites Live in Winter?
Two frequent questions homeowners ask are: “Do termites die in the winter?” and “Do termites go dormant in the winter?” Here are answers to these and other important questions about termites in homes during winter.
Most termites stay active all year long. So, homes often need termite treatment in winter. But, the cold season does modify the habits of subterranean termite colonies. These normally move deeper underground for warmth to survive the cold. In northern regions, signs of termites during winter can include damaged wood or the presence of mud tubes. In subtropical parts of the country, like southern Louisiana and Florida, where winter temperatures can stay 70 degrees or above, swarming termites can remain more active than in colder northern areas.
Click to jump to section:
- How Do Termites Find Food During Winter?
- Do Termites Lay Eggs During Winter?
- Are Termites Active In Homes During Winter?
- How to Tell If Termites are Active in Your House
- How to Get Rid of Termites in Winter?
- Call for Winter-Time Treatment of Termites in Your Home
How Do Termites Find Food During Winter?
During winter, termite species that move closer to the surface of the soil in warmer weather can be expected to dig their tunnels at deeper levels for their food searches. They are likely to avoid food sources that would require them to venture into the cold. The underground workers tend to do their foraging nearer to their nests during the cold season. They are likely to continue that activity through winter, but they may not be as active as in warm months.
Do Termites Lay Eggs During Winter?
Termite queens continue to lay their eggs at a steady rate virtually year-round in many areas of the country. Especially in warmer southern climate zones, the egg production rate is continuous, though there are seasonal changes in frequency. The total numbers of eggs queens produce vary between species and the ages of individual queens. In more temperate climate regions with colder winter temperatures, egg production may be suspended entirely during cold periods.
Are Termites Active In Homes During Winter?
Yes, discovering termites in a home during winter is possible, and it’s not uncommon. Some invasive species that are not as impacted by cold temperatures, like dry wood and subterranean termites can remain active all year long. A termite infestation that has settled into the comfortable shelter of your home’s walls and foundation and found abundant food in your house’s wooden structure can thrive in winter.
How to Tell If Termites are Active in Your House
Termites reportedly cause around $5 billion in property damage every year in the United States. This kind of damage is normally not covered by homeowners insurance. So, it’s important to think in terms of proactive termite control. Early signs of termites include:
- Pencil-shaped mud tubes (tunnels) that termites build for shelter to access food sources.
- Blistering across wood floors from termites burrowing (may look like water damage).
- Long grooves in wood surfaces due to termites chewing in search of cellulose.
- Discarded wings near access points from swarming termites arriving to colonize.
- Excrement resembling sawdust expelled by dry wood termites to clean their tunnels.
EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF TERMITES, they may be causing damage. Often, they infest homes without being noticed until major termite damage has been done. This is another reason to use proactive termite control measures. Contact your termite control specialist for guidance.
How to Get Rid of Termites in Winter?
An experienced termite specialist from Legacy Pest Control can thoroughly inspect your home and locate any active or formerly active termite colonies during any time of the year. We will provide the best plan for eradicating your termite infestation under your particular conditions.
For best results, the termite extermination plan will be specifically adapted for your home’s unique case. The best approach to exterminating termites in your home depends on your house’s structural layout and the extent of the termite infestation. So, Legacy termite elimination experts will create a customized treatment plan for the eradication of termites in your home.
Call for Winter-Time Treatment of Termites in Your Home
Our pest control experts are available to you 24/7 for emergencies involving any types of household pests, or to schedule an appointment. We offer single-treatment applications as well as a full range of residential and commercial pest control service plans.
Legacy Pest Control provides today’s state-of-the-art materials and processes for highly effective child-safe, pet-safe, green pest control services in Utah. We offer affordable prices for the extermination of termites and all types of insect pests and small rodents all year-round.
Call Legacy Pest Control, Logan, UT, at (801) 779-3131, or use our online form to request a free estimate bid!
Latest posts by Legacy Pest Control (see all)
- The Best Exterminator for Mice? Here’s Why Utah Residents Choose Us - February 9, 2024
- October Ant Infestations? Your Local Ant Exterminator in Utah has the Solution - October 17, 2023
- Commercial Pest Control in Utah: The Compelling Case for Legacy Pest Control - September 20, 2023
