Q: When should I worry about termites?

Termites are a problem in 49 of the 50 states and work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Termites are most active during "swarm season," which can occur between March and October depending on location. Termites should also be a priority if you are remodeling, buying or building a home. Smart homeowners can protect their largest single investment through awareness and action.

Q: This has been a cold winter. Shouldn't all the termites be dead?

Unfortunately, the cold weather only makes termites burrow deeper into the warmth of your home. "Termites do not fair well in dry, cold weather; that's why they forage inside homes," says Byron Reid, PhD, a Bayer Environmental Science termite development manager. "While future weather conditions in top termite markets will be ideal for colonies to experience a population boom, it does not mean that homeowners will necessarily see the increase. Termites are silent destroyers and will be at work within the house. That's why it's so important to have a trained pest management professional (PMP) inspect your home."

Q: How will I know my home is infested with termites?

Termites are silent destroyers. Because you may never see these behind-the-scenes workers until it is too late, it is important to get an annual termite inspection much like an annual doctor's appointment. Termites are sometimes visible during swarm season, when clouds of flying termites ("alates" or "swarmers") can occur both indoors and outdoors. You may also find small piles of papery wings that these alates have left behind on windowsills or floors. Other warning signs include sagging floors, crumbling drywood, tiny holes in walls or other wood surfaces, and piles of sawdust-like wood residue. Bubbled paint or visible mud tubes over concrete and soil may also be signs that termites are present. Homeowners must be proactive, rather than waiting for these signs to occur.

Q: Will termites attack a new home?

Termites will eat anything made of wood, including a brand new home. Termite damage can begin immediately following construction. Wood treated with an insecticide like Premise protects the home from termites. Builders can also prevent termites by treating the soil beneath the concrete slab or foundation with Premise, creating a "Treated ZoneŽ" around the home.

Q: What can I do to prevent termites?

Termites thrive in moist conditions with plenty of wood. The following tips can help to minimize your risk for a termite infestation.

Q: What can I do to prevent termites?

Termites thrive in moist conditions with plenty of wood.
The following tips can help to minimize your risk for a termite infestation.Keep gutters free of leaves and other debris. Downspouts must drain freely and away from the house, at a distance of at least three feet.

• Do not keep wooden items close to the house. For example, firewood should be stored away from the home. Wood mulch can also attract termites to the home.
• Because termites need only the width of a piece of paper to access the house, make sure that all entry points, like cracks in the foundation or utility openings, are sealed. You should also caulk windows and doors, favorite stomping grounds for termites.
• As a rule of thumb, monitor those areas of the home that are chronically damp or where wood comes in contact with the structure.

If you are constructing a new home, ask Bug Away about pretreatment options.