With record-breaking temperatures and dry conditions across California, even in coastal areas, drywood termite activity has been on the rise. Swarmer season for drywood termites typically starts in July. However, the drywood termite experts at Clark Pest Control – along with Clark, your friendly pest control, termite, and grounds care expert – have noticed swarmers starting in late May.
“The hot and dry conditions are driving increased drywood activity much earlier than normal,” says Larry Bragg, A.C.E., Corporate WDO Director for Clark Pest Control. “Drywood termites like to swarm when temperatures reach 90 degrees, and conditions have been ideal for that all summer.”
A backed-up gutter or over-watered wood siding is a prime attractant for these cryptic insects, which can be difficult to detect once they establish an infestation. One of the more common infestation points on the exterior of a home is where seams meet on wood.
Inspections are the key
Drywood termites, which are widely dispersed and whose colonies can take years to mature, live deep inside wood. Except during periods when they swarm, or when repair work is being done on infested homes, they are seldom seen. That makes the need for a professional termite inspection paramount.
To better protect homes from termites and other destructive pests, Clark Pest Control is taking the idea of termite inspections a step further by offering home wellness checks for new and existing customers. The wellness check will cover not only drywood and subterranean termites, but also rodent entry points and the insulation in your home.
“Customers hire us to be their pest control company – not just their termite or ant control company,” says Bragg. “Our new approach to performing a whole-house inspection offers an additional layer of protection against all types of pests.”
Clark’s expert and fully licensed inspectors will perform a thorough inspection of your home and provide a written report of the findings. If pests or conditions conducive to pests (e.g., wood in contact with soil, or openings in the foundation or on the roof that would allow rodent entry) are found, Clark will make treatment and/or repair recommendations.
“Customers are in complete control of what they do with the recommendations, and we have financing available should the recommendations require more extensive solutions such as a whole-house termite treatment, wood repairs, or insulation replacement,” Bragg adds.
For maximum protection against termites, Bragg recommends Clark Pest Control’s exclusive Termite Infestation Protection (T.I.P.) program, which is designed to cover your home from future infestations and damages caused by all species of termites.
Inspections pay off
Bragg cites a recent example where a whole-home wellness check paid off for a long-time customer.
The customer called initially because they had spotted drywood termite pellets on their fireplace and wanted an inspection. During the inspection, the technician opened the attic access panel and found two to three inches of rodent droppings in the attic. The droppings were the result of a severe roof rat infestation that damaged the insulation to the point where it needed to be replaced.
The inspector identified and fixed the hole in the roof where the rat was gaining entry (it had climbed up a lemon tree to a limb that touched the roof) and then Clark removed the damaged insulation, sanitized the attic, and installed new insulation. The customer will have the drywood termite issues taken care of next.
Not only did the homeowner receive the benefits of new energy-efficient insulation, but they also got rid of an unpleasant smell they were not able to identify, the source of which was the rodent droppings.
“If we had come out to perform a termite inspection only, we normally would not have found the issue with the roof rat, and it would have continued to get worse,” says Bragg.
Clark Pest Control is committed to safeguarding your home from pests during these challenging times. Our service technicians use such personal protective equipment as gloves, masks, and respirators, they practice social distancing, they call ahead to notify you before a service, and they adhere strictly to all Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines when servicing inside or outside your home.
Call California’s trusted, friendly pest control experts at (800) WE-NEED-YOU (936-3339) or email us at clarkcares@clarkpest.com to schedule your home wellness check and get ahead of termite and other pest issues.
Until next time, the pest management professionals at Clark Pest Control thank you for helping to keep unwanted pests out of your home.