Termites…They Are Good And Bad

There’s no mistaking that termites are good for the environment…but they are not good once they find a structure to invade!  The benefits of having termites on this earth are aplenty report Monmouth County, NJ termite exterminators.  Termites dig in the earth which allows rainwater to drain properly, especially in dry climates.  Termites help to halt soil erosion.  Birds, lizards, and in some cultures, even humans, think termites are a good meal.  Termites eat wood that hits the surface of the ground which in turn helps to keep the spreading of forest fires to a minimum in some areas.  The places that they carve out in wood often provide shelter for other types of animals.

Some home and business owners make the mistake of seeing termites while working on the landscaping and think that they encountered ants.  Often called “white ants”, termites are extremely different in how they live and what they actually consume.  Termites and ants also look extremely different from each other.  The biggest difference between the two insects is that carpenter ants do not consume wood, they carve through it.  Termites on the other hand will eat both damaged and sound wood sources.

Termites don’t have the stomach for all types of wood as it turns out.  In the United States, parts of redwood and cedar are resistant to termite invaders.  Some other countries have wood sources that are toxic to the wood devouring pests.  Wood that has been pressure treated is also termite resistant.  Pressure treated wood lasts longer than untreated wood and prevents decay, which in turn prevents termites.

If you want to keep your Monmouth County, NJ home safe from termite invasions, a trusted termite exterminator will be able to locate the pests and provide the appropriate treatment plan.