If you live in New Orleans, LA, you need to protect your home from drywood termites. These pests are different from subterranean termites because they don’t need soil to survive. Instead, they build new colonies inside wooden structures like furniture, walls, and attics. Over time, they cause serious structural damage that can be expensive to fix.
Here’s what you can do to keep this termite species out of your home.
Key Takeaways
- Drywood termites are a big problem in Louisiana, so getting a termite inspection every year can help prevent damage.
- Sealing small cracks, removing wood piles, and using treated wood can help keep termites from getting inside your home.
- Keeping your home dry, fixing leaks, and watching for flying termites can help stop an infestation early.
- Professional termite treatments like inspections, spot treatments, and fumigation are the best ways to protect your home.
Get a Termite Inspection
The best way to prevent termite damage is by scheduling an inspection at least once a year. A pest control company can check for the early warning signs, such as:
- Frass (tiny wood-colored droppings)
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
- Small holes or crevices in infested wood
- Swarmers (winged termites) flying around lights or windows
Catching an infestation early can save you from costly repairs.
Seal Entry Points & Remove Food Sources
Drywood termites can get into your home through small holes, cracks, and crevices in exposed wood, so sealing these openings is essential. Check around doors, windows, and attics, and make sure there are no gaps.
If you have damaged wood, replace it with treated wood to keep termites away. Store firewood, stumps, and mulch at a safe distance from your home, and keep wooden fences or decks from touching the structure.
Since termites feed on cellulose, reducing their food sources makes your home less inviting to a new colony.
Use Treated Wood & Preventative Treatments
If you’re building or remodeling, use treated wood to help stop drywood termite infestations. You can also apply borate to protect wooden structures.
For extra protection, you can get spot treatment or heat treatment. These professional treatment options help stop termites before they spread through your home.
Reduce Moisture in Crawl Spaces & Attics
Even though drywood termites don’t need soil, they still like warm, humid places. That’s why keeping your home dry is important for termite prevention.
Using dehumidifiers, fixing leaky pipes and roofs, and improving airflow in crawl spaces and attics can help. Too much moisture can also attract dampwood termites, which also feed on wet wood.
By keeping things dry, you make your home less inviting for these types of termites.
Watch for Swarmers & Other Signs of Termites
During the termite season in Louisiana (spring and summer), swarmers fly from old colonies to start new colonies. If you see these flying termites, it may mean there is an infestation nearby.
Other warning signs of drywood termites include:
- Termite droppings (fecal pellets) around window sills or furniture
- Warped doors and windows that are hard to open
- Soft or sagging wooden structures
If you notice any of these issues, contact a pest control company right away for termite control solutions.
Invest in Professional Termite Prevention
While some DIY methods may slow down these wood-destroying insects, professional drywood termite control is the most effective way to keep them out.
A pest management expert can:
- Perform annual termite inspections
- Apply liquid termite killers to prevent future infestations
- Provide spot treatment for minor worker termite activity
- Offer tenting or fumigation for severe cases
PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM DRYWOOD TERMITES TODAY
While homeowners can avoid damage from a drywood termite colony with these tips, nothing beats professional protection.
At LaJaunie’s Pest Control, our exterminators specialize in termite prevention in New Orleans and surrounding areas. We’ll help you find the best treatment options for your home.
If you need expert advice on how to get rid of drywood termites or a customized pest control plan, contact us today.