There are a number of bugs that can annoy or creep you out this summer if they manage to get inside your home. None are as troublesome as wood-eating or wood-destroying insects. There are several species of insects that either feed on or burrow into wood for their nests and these insects cost Americans more than a billion dollars annually. Here’s a list of the top wood-destroying insects in the Charlotte, NC area.
Termites
What kind of list would this be without termites? Termites have a bad reputation and a voracious appetite for wood, which they feed on all day, every day. Termites are organised and can turn a wall or roof into swiss cheese in as few as three months.
A termite infestation is a big problem and can cause wide and irreparable damage to structures, even leading to collapse if left unchecked. By the way, most insurance companies won’t cover termite damage, so the best thing to do is to be on the lookout for these little creatures and stop them before they cause too much damage.
Powderpost Beetles
Second only to termites in their wood-destroying power, powderpost beetles are actually a collection of several species of wood-boring beetles. It’s not the adults that do the damage, it’s the larvae, which feed on trees in the wild but can infest homes and cause severe damage. Once the larvae emerges from the holes as adults, they find a mate, burrow back into the wood, lay their eggs, and the process starts all over again. So you can see how a few powderpost beetles can quickly turn into a big problem.
Carpenter Bees
A little smaller than bumblebees and often confused with them because of their yellow and black hairs and bulbous bodies, carpenter bees don’t make traditional paper nests. Instead, they live solitary lives, burrowing into wooden structures to lay their eggs. Like bumble bees, carpenter bees are relatively harmless to humans but they can cause damage to your outdoor structures over the years. Each year, these bees will usually return to their same nesting areas to lay more eggs and chew more holes. The best thing to do is to fill in the holes with caulk or liquid wood so as not to invite other bees and to prevent water from getting inside and rotting the wood.
Carpenter Ants
We’ve all seen these guys crawling on our walls in the spring. Carpenter ants are a very common insect here in Charlotte, NC. They are attracted to moisture and rotting wood and can establish colonies in our homes when they find areas where water is leaking such as roofs or in basements. Once established, they will chew through the wood in your walls and floors as they expand their nest. If you are seeing a large amount of carpenter ants crawling around your walls, then you might have a colony living somewhere.
Take Preventative Action
To keep insects out of your home, make sure that debris is kept away from the foundation of your house and store firewood at least 20 feet away. Check that your house is moisture free and consider using a dehumidifier to keep your basement and attic dry.
Get Professional Help From Cramer Pest Control
At Cramer Pest Control, we are well-seasoned in battling termites and other insects in the Charlotte area. If you suspect you have a termite infestation, don’t hesitate to call. We will send out one of our Master Termite-Certified inspectors to evaluate the situation.
By using the TermaTrac Radar System we can actually see what is chomping on the wood between your walls. After that, we will come up with a strategy for getting rid of these pests once and for all.
Also, check out our perimeter pest control program to insulate your home from invading insects.
Just call (704) 763-0204 or send us a message.