Rafiki Pest Control LTD
Termites are not as common as your average pests like roaches and bed bugs. However, a termite infestation is a homeowner's worst nightmare! These cryptic pests are considered to be the most destructive pests in the world, causing more than $1.5 billion worth of damages each year!
There are numerous termite species in Kenya, but only a handful can wreak havoc on the structural integrity and aesthetic appearance of your home. These soil-dwelling insects silently chew the significant parts of your house and cause a whole lot of damage without you suspecting their presence.
Unfortunately, termites have colonized many homes. They are quickly becoming specialists in living with humans and can go for many years undetected. Home and business owners should work closely with a professional pest control company in Nairobi to get regular termite inspections, effective treatments, and reliable termite prevention programs.
What Times Of Termites Invade Homes
There are multiple termite species in the world. But Nairobi homeowners often deal with two main termite species- subterranean termites and drywood termites.
It's critical to identify the exact termite species invading your home as each species has unique biology and behavior that determine the type of treatment to be used.
Subterranean Termites
This species commonly invades homes. Subterranean termites are responsible for the majority of termite damage in Kenya. They live in the soil and build massive nests to accommodate their large colonies.
Subterranean termites build mud tubes to provide moisture and protection from dehydration while they make their way back and forth between their nests and a food source (aka the wood in your home/office).
They feed on various wood materials like trees, fence posts, and the wooden structures in the house. Subterranean termites can build many colonies near a building, and they can all feed on the same house simultaneously, which explains the massive damage.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites can also be quite destructive once they invade a home. However, they do not cause as extensive damage as subterranean termites do. Drywood Termites are partly caused by dry wood termite colonies being relatively more minor; hence, they cause damage at a much slower rate.
Drywood termites typically live in wood as their biology allows them to survive without any contact with soil. They infest numerous types of wood, including the ones used in construction, wooden furniture, wooden walls, hardwood floors, and dead trees.
Because they live inside wood and silently eat away at your wooden structures, dry-wood termites are challenging to detect until the damage becomes severe and visible. One of the earliest telltale signs of a dry wood termite infestation is unexplained piles of pellets (termite droppings) on the surface, known as frass.
What Kind Of Damage Do Termites Cause To A Home?
Termites severely impact the structural integrity of your home. They have special enzymes and bacteria in their guts that allow them to digest the cellulose in wood and wooden products quickly.
Unfortunately, termite damage can go unnoticed for many years, allowing the pests to continuously eat away at your most valuable investment without your knowledge. It can take up to 3-8 years for termite damages to show, depending on the level of the infestation.
Some damages caused by these silent 'assassins' include:
- They can chew through all kinds of wood and severely destroy wooden structures, flooring, furniture, and other wooden items.
- They can also chew and cause all kinds of damage to plastics, fabric, paint, wallpaper, and more.
- A severe termite infestation will damage your hardwood floors and walls. Underground termites are the most undesirable as they cause this kind of damage to the structural integrity of your home, making it wholly inhabitable and risky to live in.
It's important to note that the extent of damage depends on the size of the termite colony and the duration of feeding. Rafiki pest control experts are qualified and licensed to inspect homes and businesses to identify possible termite issues and treat them before they become problems.
The 5 Biggest Signs Of A Termite Infestation
As mentioned, termite infestation signs are hard to detect and can take up to 3 or more years to become apparent. Therefore, it's vital to get a comprehensive termite inspection by a licensed pest expert every 1-3 years to prevent the chances of termite damage.
Below are the five most significant signs of a termite infestation that you should keep an eye out for:
- Mud tubes: Subterranean termites build visible mud tubes from their colony to the food source. You'll often find mud tubes near the foundation of your home.
- Swarmers: Swarmers are reproductive and winged young male and female termites. They emerge from their nests in the springtime in search of a suitable mate and a new place to start their colony- and this place can be your home. Swarmers often discard their wings near windowsills, which is often the first sign of a termite infestation.
- Damaged wood: Termites are silent eaters, destroying wooden structures from the inside out. Damaged wood produces a hollow sound when tapped on its surface.
- Frass: Drywood termites clean their nests by pushing their fecal pellets (digested wood) out through the small kick-out holes in the wood. Finding these pellet-shaped or powdered droppings directly underneath the kick-out hole is an obvious sign of an infestation.
- Bubbling paint: Paint blisters/bubbles or uneven paint signify that the paint has lost its adhesion to the surface, which could mean two things- moisture or heat build-up or termite damage.
Professional Termite Control In Nairobi
Our certified termite management professionals use an integrated pest management plan to exterminate termites effectively and efficiently. We will use a combination of highly effective treatments and baits to get rid of the destructive invaders, depending on the termite species and the severity of the infestation. Our solutions create a compelling and long-lasting chemical protection barrier that prevents termites from accessing your home.
