What Are Common TERMITES IN JACKSONVILLE? - Pest Control Tips and Advice

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Are you concerned about termites in Jacksonville? Termites in Jacksonville are a huge burden on homeowners. In fact, termites are a major problem in Jacksonville, Florida. Because termites are some of the most destructive pests, homeowners must take these pests seriously. And the damage has already been done when a Jacksonville homeowner becomes aware of a termite infestation.

When dealing with termites in Jacksonville, you might wonder what to do when you find them and how to get rid of them.

One of the most common questions Jacksonville homeowners ask about termites is: “What are the most common types of termites in Jacksonville?” Another common question is: “How to get rid of termites in Jacksonville?”

Based on the research, termites are Jacksonville’s worst pests. Every Jacksonville homeowner should know the termite threat, the damage they can cause in Jacksonville homes, and how to get rid of them.

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Termites in Jacksonville

Jacksonville’s climate is ideal for termites. Jacksonville is home to three types of termites: Subterranean, Dampwood, and Drywood termites. Jacksonville homes are at risk of costly termite damage earlier each year than most other U.S. states. But the termite season in Jacksonville is almost a year-round problem. Subterranean termites cause the most damage to Jacksonville homes.

Termites Infestation in Jacksonville

Termites are common in Jacksonville. Subterranean termites cause the most damage in Jacksonville. Drywood and Dampwood termites are found in Jacksonville homes, but Subterranean termites are also common.

Common Termites in Jacksonville

Jacksonville is home to several termites such as subterranean, dampwood, and drywood.

What kinds of termites are in Jacksonville?

If you are a Jacksonville resident, you might want to know, “What types of termites are in Jacksonville?” Jacksonville homes are prone to the following types of termites:

Cryptotermes brevis termites or West Indian Drywood are the most prevalent in Jacksonville. These drywood termites live inside garages, walls, and attics, nesting within the wood structure of homes and other structures. Drywood termites are especially common in coastal areas.
Asian subterranean access Jacksonville homes through cracks in the concrete foundation. Termites can also enter your home through areas where wood is in contact with the soil. Asian subterranean termites are most common in Florida and are much more destructive than drywood termites.
Native subterranean termites can be found in Jacksonville and most other U.S. states.
Formosan termites cause enormous damage in Jacksonville. Each termite infestation can result in tens of thousands of dollars of damage to Jacksonville homes. Formosan termites are invasive termites that are more destructive than native subterranean termites. Formosan termites are native to Asia and transported to Jacksonville through railroad ties, wood mulch, and packaging materials.
Jacksonville Dampwood termite is also common in Jacksonville but is generally limited to the landscape. Under normal conditions, Jacksonville dampwood termites are normally unable to infest homes.

Termites in Jacksonville present huge challenges to homeowners. Termite prevention and termite inspections offer the most effective termite control measures.

Termite Types in Jacksonville

Native subterranean termites can do extensive damage to Jacksonville homes in a short amount of time. However, the invasive subterranean termites in Jacksonville, namely the Formosan Subterranean and Asian Termites, are a significant concern for Jacksonville homeowners.

The primary difference is the maximum colony size potential, which is far more critical with the Asian and Formosan subterranean termites than with Native termites. Formosan termite colonies contain millions of termites, including workers, soldiers, a king and a queen. An adult Formosan queen can lay about 3,000 eggs every day. Formosan termites leave their nests each spring and fly to new locations to start new colonies.

Termites Swarming in Jacksonville

Formosan termites infest the attic, wood found in crawl spaces, structural timbers, fences, sheds, walls, and even dead and live trees. These termites in Jacksonville are coming from the ground. Earthen tubes running up trees and walls indicate a subterranean termite infestation. In a matter of months, invasive subterranean termites can infest and cause significant structural damage to Jacksonville homes. Dead termites and discarded wings or swarmers are signs of a subterranean termite infestation in your house.

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What percentage of Jacksonville homes have termites?

According to some estimates, one in ten Jacksonville homes has termite damage.

How do I know if my house is at risk of termite damage?

A Dampwood or Subterranean termite infestation means that termites are actively building their nests in or on your house. This makes it difficult for you to see the termites.

Termite Damage in Jacksonville

Termites will destroy almost anything that gets in their way. If something contains cellulose, termites will devour it. Termites are as bad as they come.

What is a Drywood termite?

Drywood termites are common termites in Jacksonville. They are similar to Subterranean termites, but they do not do a lot of damage. Instead, they build nest-like structures, called chambers, to burrow into the wood of the home.

Are there Subterranean termites in Jacksonville?

Yes, there are subterranean termites in Jacksonville. What’s worse is that subterranean termites are the most destructive of all termites in Jacksonville. The most common termite species in Jacksonville is the Dampwood termite. Dampwood termites infest damp wood.

How common is the Dampwood termite in Jacksonville?

The Dampwood termite is most common in Jacksonville and Northern Jacksonville. As of 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated that 75 percent of Dampwood termites in Jacksonville were found in Broward and Dade counties.

But the Dampwood termite’s range extends north to Jacksonville and west to the Big Cypress National Preserve.

Is the Dampwood termite a harmful termite species?

Dampwood termites can cause serious damage to Jacksonville homes, according to the Jacksonville Fumigants Program. Dampwood termites are usually found in Jacksonville.

How much damage do termites cause in Jacksonville?

Termites leave behind dirt in the form of crumbly soil, clay soil, dust, or sand. They can tunnel through natural or artificial materials like wood, plaster, and paper.

Termites also leave a black mark on the ceiling or ceiling tiles, carpeting, tile, or plaster. These marks are sometimes called “termite poop,” “dirt,” or “castings.” If you see a black mark on your home, call a termite removal service. Some experts suggest using paint that repels termites in a few days.

Flying termites in Jacksonville

Flying termites are a huge problem in Jacksonville. The swarming termites in Jacksonville are attracted to light. Flying termites land on or near houses to start an infestation.

How to keep flying termites away in Jacksonville during the swarming season?

During the early spring, flying termites may swarm. Termites swarm to establish new colonies in Jacksonville. These tips can help keep termites from swarming into your Jacksonville house:

Keep outdoor lights off during the night. Light can attract flying termites. Relocate lights to recessed areas. Keep lights away from windows and doors.
Have a pest control professional check your eaves and roof for gaps termites could use to get in your house. Repair gaps immediately.
Patch holes in window screens.
Check your roof for signs of rot, mold or water damage. Structures with frequent leaks or flat roofs can be at risk because the constant moisture in the structure termites love so much.

Termite removal options for Jacksonville homes

There are many options for termite removal in Jacksonville, and they are competitively priced. Often, the initial fee for termite services includes all of the scheduled service calls in a year.

How long does termite season lasts in Jacksonville?

Termites usually enter Jacksonville homes during March and April. However, Drywood termites start to become active from April through October. A new Drywood termite colony can start from as little as one single beetle. In the Drywood termite category, new colonies are formed by young individuals called beetles. If you’re trying to protect the value of your home, you should prevent termites in Jacksonville. You can do this by keeping your home damp. Use treated lumber, sealant, and a gap between the house and foundation. Remember, live areas are more vulnerable to termites, especially bedrooms.

What can you do to prevent termites in Jacksonville?

Termites can become more active as the summer months move on, so it is a good idea to start termite control in your home as early as possible. The secret is to spot the insects.

Remove termite food sources

Termites in Jacksonville eat the cellulose in wood and other paper items. So taking these measures to cut off access to possible food sources can help make your Jacksonville home less attractive to termites.

Clear dead trees and rotting wood in the yard to keep it away from your house.
Eliminate leftover construction wood and tree stumps around your house.
Don’t store cardboard boxes, paper packaging, magazines, and newspapers in your house for extended periods. Don’t leave paper products outside your house either.
Store important papers on the upper levels of your house.
Recycle wood and paper products.

Seal cracks and crevices caused by settling

The materials used to build homes in Jacksonville like PVC, concrete, wood, and metal shrink and expand over time. The settling process can lead to gaps and cracks. These can become easy entry points for termites. To keep termites out of your Jacksonville home, it’s best to seal these gaps as soon as possible. Keep termites from entering your Jacksonville home with the following measures:

Seal cracks and crevices around gas and water lines. You can use foam sealant or caulk. You can use stainless steel mesh to fill larger gaps before caulking.
Remove damaged or rotten wood. It’s best to replace damaged wood with termite-resistant materials such as pressure-treated wood or steel framing.
Ensure there aren’t any cracks or leaks in your plumbing to eliminate moisture that may attract the termites.
Patch any cracks in your house’s foundation using a concrete patching compound or cement.

Keep plants away from your Jacksonville house

Plants can beautify your yard, but they also provide pathways to your house. And, plants can also cover termites, making a termite infestation more difficult to notice. To better protect your Jacksonville house from termites, you should:

Trim all shrubbery near your Jacksonville house. At a minimum, make sure there are twelve inches of space between the exterior wall of your home and the shrubbery. Trimming shrubbery will allow damp areas to dry out quicker. At the same time, it will help you spot termite damage and termite tubes more easily.
Keep the grass in your yard short and raked often.
Replace wood mulch with pine needles since they are less appetizing to subterranean termites. You can also replace wood mulch with pea gravel or other non-organic materials as a barrier between the soil and your home.

Reduce soil-to-wood contact around your Jacksonville house

Subterranean termites present a huge financial burden on Jacksonville homeowners. Termites destroy the wood in homes and businesses. If you suspect a termite infestation in your house, you should contact a termite control company near your Jacksonville home. A termite inspection can assess your termite problem.

Formosan termites are some of the most destructive termites in Jacksonville. Their numbers are fewer than eastern subterranean termites, but they cause more harm to Jacksonville homes. The primary reason Formosan termites cause so much damage in Jacksonville is the size of their colonies. Formosan termite colonies can reach millions of termites.

Jacksonville termites also produce secondary colonies that can survive virtually anywhere there’s enough moisture. Termites are attracted to sources of damp wood and plumbing leaks. It’s not unusual for Formosan termites to destroy Jacksonville homes in a few months.

Keep moisture away from the foundation

Florid termites love moisture. The crawl space and the foundation can be damp areas, perfect for termites. To keep termites away, keep these areas dry by following the following tips:

Direct condensation from clothes dryers, air conditioners, and other appliances away from your house.
Use a dehumidifier.
Install vapor block barriers in your crawl space.
Make sure there are no roof leaks.
Adjust storm drains to empty at least a couple of feet from the foundation. Your soil drainage must minimize overly moist soil.
Direct water away from the foundation wall by adjusting downspouts and gutters.
Ensure that sprinkler heads are pointed away from the house’s foundation.
Fix any plumbing leaks in your home and crawl space.

How to prevent termite damage in Jacksonville?

Subterranean termites across Jacksonville are a major threat. Luckily Jacksonville homeowners can prevent or minimize termite damage by following effective termite prevention practices:

Check for termite-infested or rotted wood near your home. If possible, use a termite-proof stain or paint to discourage termites from nesting on your property.
Do not store firewood too close to your home. Wood should be stored no less than 20 feet from your house. Be sure that your only store wood at least eight inches above ground level.
Maintain a four-inch barrier between your house and mulch. It’s critical that only the concrete foundation touches the soil.
Wooden siding should be no less than 8 inches above the ground.
Eliminate cellulose-based debris from the foundation of your Jacksonville home, such as wood, mulch, cardboard, paper, and lumber.
Hire a pest control company to apply termite treatment.

How do you get rid of termites in Jacksonville?

Jacksonville homes are at risk of termite damage earlier each year than other U.S. states. But the termite season in Jacksonville is almost a year-round problem. Subterranean termites cause the most damage to Jacksonville homes. Therefore, it’s critical to get rid of termites in Jacksonville fast.

Subterranean termites are the worst type of termites in Jacksonville. Soils in the western part of the state are their primary breeding ground. The termites emerge in the spring and begin working on the soil. When they are finished, they return to the soil, hibernating through the winter. The termites that hibernate are not active during the winter.

Hibernation is short-lived, however. The soil temperature reaches into the high 70s Fahrenheit during the winter months. When the soil warms up during the summer, the termites become active.

Schedule regular termite inspections

While there are steps you can take to prevent termites in Jacksonville, it’s best to have your house inspected for termites annually by a trained termite control professional. The pest control company should be able to identify early signs of termite infestation in your home or locate points of access that aren’t immediately apparent to you.

How to keep termites away in Jacksonville?

Are you concerned about termites in Jacksonville? Termite control professionals know how to check your house and surrounding areas for termites. A termite control expert can provide you with a strategy to help remove termite infestations. They can also help with termite prevention measures.

Can concrete block (CBS) homes get termites?

Unfortunately, even concrete block homes get termites. If you live in a CBS house in Jacksonville, termites are still a threat. Termites get inside the house through cracks. Once inside, they can consume any wood they find inside the house.