Mar 5, 2021, 08:29 AM by Fred Speer

Protecting your home from destructive termites is not an easy task. Termites are an aggressive and relentless pest. They eat 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and they often go undetected because they enter a home through its attic or the soil underneath it.

Termites can cause significant structural damage to a home in just a few short years. They can chew through wood, flooring, and wallpaper. How costly are termites? According to research from the National Pest Management Association, termites annually cause more than $5 billion in damage to structures in the United States.

Termite Awareness Week

March 7-13 is National Termite Awareness Week. Clark, your friendly pest control, grounds care, and termite control expert, would like to share some facts about termites that attack homes in California.

Below are the three termite species that present the greatest threat to California homes :

- Subterranean termites can be found in many areas of the state where moist soil is present. They are the most destructive termite species, and their colonies can contain upwards of 2 million members.

- Drywood termites are common in coastal regions and in the Central Valley.

- Dampwood termites can be found in the central and northern coastal regions.

What attracts termites?

You can unknowingly make your home more appealing to termites by doing the following:

• - Leave stumps and dead trees in your yard. Rotting wood material serves as termite fuel, and it can attract termites that can attack your home. Be sure to clear your yard of any unwanted wood.
  
  

• - Allow excess moisture from broken irrigation systems. Termites love moisture, and a broken sprinkler that creates overly wet soil, or waters wood siding, can attract termites. Also, clogged gutters can cause water to pool and make insulation vulnerable to these wood-destroying pests. Be sure to fix leaking irrigation systems and clean out your home’s gutters.
  
  
• - Use too much mulch. This ground cover is frequently overused near homes and against their foundations, and it can serve as a source of food for termites. Mulch also retains moisture, which attracts these destructive pests. Minimize the wood mulch you use, and keep it at least 15 inches from your home’s foundation.

For tips on preventing termites, read our February 12 blog

For maximum protection against termites, ask about Clark Pest Control’s exclusive Termite Infestation Protection (T.I.P.) program, which is designed to cover your home from future infestations and damages caused by all species of termites. We also offer home repair services for damages caused by termites and other wood-destroying organisms, along with installation of new and replacement insulation, home and business disinfecting services, bird and bat prevention, burrowing rodent control, lawn fertilization, weed control, and many other fine services. You can find them listed on our website at clarkpest.com.

Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when they service inside or outside your home.

If you want to protect your home from termites, call California’s trusted, friendly termite control expert, Clark, at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or send an email to clarkcares@clarkpest.com.

Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.