I recently put down about 10 yards of medium bulk mulch made from shredded bark and leftover bits from logging. Now I'm noticing some flying termites and a few crawling around, especially near my home's foundation. There's not a huge number, but I can spot them if I'm looking closely. The mulch isn't touching the foundation; it's a few inches away, and my foundation is made of concrete with no exposed wood until the upper part of the house. Should I be worried about termite issues in my home? Is there anything I can do now to prevent them from becoming a problem? Also, do they usually die off in winter?
3 Answers
Termites are usually attracted to damp wood. If your walls are dry, you should be in the clear. Plus, if there’s no queen in the mulch, they can't reproduce, so their numbers will naturally dwindle. Don't stress too much about it!
Flying termites? Sounds like you've spotted some. They're usually easier to spot than the crawlers, but still, it's good to keep an eye on them. Just make sure you’re monitoring the situation as winter sets in; many will die off when it gets cold.
Yeah, I'm mainly seeing the flying ones. I'll keep watching them for now.
I'm not a pest control expert, but I recommend checking out sites like domyown.com for some Termidor spray. A perimeter spray can give you peace of mind and keep those termites at bay just in case!
I decided to go ahead with the perimeter spray. Thanks for the tip!
That makes sense! I ended up checking in with my exterminator, and he confirmed that without a queen it's unlikely they'll establish anything. He also said that as long as my wood is dry, I'm in a good spot.