A termite infestation can mean bad news for the entire neighborhood. Depending on the species that infested a particular building, all the neighbors in the area may be at risk for infestation.
Do termites spread from house to house?
Termites infest buildings in two ways, depending on the species. Drywood and dampwood termites will send out winged termites or swarmers from a mature colony to set up in new pieces of wood. When someone in the neighborhood has one of these species in their home, swarmers will fly out several times a year and they may infest a building in the area.
Subterranean termites on the other hand build one central colony underground and infest various pieces of wood in the area. This makes it much more likely that there are several homes in the neighborhood with an infestation from a single colony. On top of that, if a chemical barrier is used to treat the infestation, the specific home will be protected, but the colony will remain intact, and the termites may start looking for a new source of food and infest a home in the vicinity. To completely kill such a colony, a baiting system will have to be used.
How to prevent infestations from spreading
If someone in your neighborhood recently had a termite infestation, your best bet is to call over a pest control team to perform an inspection in the home. This is especially important if the neighbor was dealing with subterranean termites, and the colony is still alive. In any case, regular termite inspections performed on a yearly basis by a pro are the best safeguard against termite damage.
Some prevention methods that can be installed against subterranean termites include the chemical barrier and the baiting system. A chemical barrier will keep your home protected for up to eight years against any subterranean termites trying to reach it, and a baiting system will kill subterranean termite colonies that pop up in the surrounding area.
Whenever there is a termite infestation in your neighborhood, your home may be at risk, and you should get in contact with your neighbor and find out more details. If you then notice signs of infestation in your own home, then it’s time to call over a pro. Contact us today if you suspect that you have a termite infestation or if you would like to set up an appointment for an inspection.
