Termites are a problem for homeowners throughout the world, due to their destructive tendencies and being notoriously difficult to discover until it’s too late. If you own a home, especially in an area with a history of termite infestations, you owe it to yourself to learn about these pests, including what attracts them to an area, how to detect a colony, and how to practice effective termite control. To help their customers stay informed, Danny’s Termite & Pest Control in Lancaster, KY, have decided to share a few interesting facts about these creatures.

Termite Control Professionals Share 5 Notable Facts About Termites

1. Termites Communicate Through Sound

Termites communicate with each other in many ways, but one you can take advantage of is their use of sound. When termites detect danger, they alarm each other by banging their heads against wood—which is surprisingly loud, coming from insects that small. If you want to hear it for yourself, knock on a wood surface where you suspect termites live, and listen for a tapping sound.

2. Termites Are Attracted to Moisture

It is well-known termites eat wood, but wood alone is not enough to attract them. Termites require moisture to digest wood, and they are more likely to infest a home surrounded by moist or rotting wood. To stay on top, inspect your property after heavy rainfall for any standing water or waterlogged wood. If you use wood mulch, be sure to replace it once a year—do not simply add new mulch on top, or you could entrap moisture in it.

3. Termites Love All Plant Products

It’s not just wood that termites love to eat, but all products derived from it, such as paper and cardboard. They also love plants in general, and will eat dead leaves, clippings, and more. For effective termite control, it is crucial to regularly declutter your property.

4. Termites Eat Each Other’s Feces

Termites don’t just munch on wood—they also eat each other’s fecal matter. This enables them to share all the necessary microorganisms for digesting wood with each other. And, since they lose these microorganisms each time they molt, they frequently need to “replenish” them by eating more fecal matter.

5. Termites Make Great Dads

This fact might not be that helpful to you as a homeowner, but it might still interest you to know that termite colonies have not only a queen, but a devoted king, who actually sticks around to help care for and nurture their young. This is unique in the insect kingdom, since many insect fathers either don’t stick around or die shortly after fertilization.

If you’re concerned you might have termites, get in touch with Danny's Termite & Pest Control. They have over 50 years of experience ridding residents of central and eastern Kentucky of termites and other pests. For questions about termite treatment, give the family-owned business a call at (859) 792-1245 today. More information about termite control and other services is available on their website.