Hogarth's Pest Control specializes in all types of industries, residential and commercial.
Termites have infested the earth since the time of the dinosaurs and can cause devastating structural damage. These pests have been dubbed “silent destroyers”— thanks to their ability to chew through wood, flooring, and even wallpaper completely undetected. Termites have earned the title of one of the most successful groups of insects on Earth. Their colonies range from a few hundred to several million, and their queens are the longest living insects in the world, existing anywhere from 30-50 years. There are 3 main types of home-invading termites, damp wood, dry wood, and eastern subterranean.
Damp Wood Termites
It is uncommon to find the damp wood termite in Michigan. When they do appear, it’s typically through shipments of lumber; however, they are unable to adapt to the colder environment and quickly die off. It is most common to find these termites along the Pacific Coast, the Gulf Coast to Florida, and the Southwestern U.S.
Drywood Termites
The drywood termite is rare to find Michigan and, like the damp wood termite, only arrives through the shipment of lumber and furniture from the West Coast. These termites are most commonly found in the Southwestern part of the U.S. As their name suggests, mainly thrive in dry wood such as foundations and window and door frames.
Eastern Subterranean
The Eastern subterranean are wood destroyers that go through a complete metamorphosis. They can have wings or be wingless, forming free-standing mud tubes in basements or crawlspaces on the interior or exterior of the foundation. This is a colony species that nest under the foundation and tunnel up to the house as a result. They can enter through a crack 1/32 inch wide. They require moist soil conditions and can communicate through their pheromones and trophallaxis. It typically takes 2-3 years for a new colony to become established and they usually lay 6-12 eggs to batch.
Termites are not a native issue to Michigan, however, we do have some insects that are similar. For instance, the untrained eye, swarming and/or flying ants may appear to be termites. Many customers in Northern Michigan often think they have termites, however in most cases they have ants.
