Lately, have you been asking yourself, “When is termite season?” If so, you should know that the 2023 termite season is nearly here! While Louisianians are known for being friendly to our guests, friends, and even strangers—there is one visitor that doesn’t deserve our Southern hospitality: TERMITES.
These tiny critters can cause some serious damage. But how do they get into homes and buildings? And why do they have a season?
We get a lot of people asking these kinds of questions and others. Thankfully, we also happen to have the answers! Arceneaux Pest Management Service was founded by Board-Certified Entomologist Joe Arceneaux. Louisiana has only 10 of these insect experts, so we’re proud that our founder is among them.
As experts in termites, termite inspections, termite treatments, and other forms of pest control, we’re accustomed to handling these sorts of requests, and we’re happy to answer them. That’s why we’re here to help you prepare with our 2023 Official Guide to Termite Season.
Guide to the 2023 Termite Season in Louisiana
When Does It Start?
With our warm, rich Louisiana weather, termites are in heaven here. They thrive in warm, moist environments (if that isn’t a typical Louisiana summer, we don’t know what is). In South Louisiana, especially New Orleans and the Baton Rouge area, this means we’ll begin seeing swarming from late March through July—just in time for hurricane season.
During this period, it will become increasingly common to see flying termites and swarms. You may even wake up to them covering the ground or crawling around vents. But remember, seeing swarms does not necessarily mean you have termites. It could simply mean you are near a nesting area.
However, seeing swarming termites does mean they are in the area and eating wood. So, when you spot these critters, it’s important to have a plan in place to protect your property.
Why Should I Care?
If you’re a homeowner or own another piece of property, it’s common to fear the idea of property damage. And if it doesn’t scare you, it should. This investment of yours could seriously suffer at the hands of something as small as termites if you aren’t careful.
But with regular termite control, you could save thousands of dollars in the future and keep your home secure. This is why it’s best to avoid cutting corners when it comes to protecting and maintaining the integrity of your home.
But how serious is this potential damage, and how much could it cost? Unfortunately, termites cause hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage each year in the Baton Rouge area and could cost you thousands if left unattended.
In fact, according to a study from the LSU AgCenter, termites impact Louisiana more than any other state. They’re capable of doing more than $500 million a year in damage! Are you willing to take that risk? Protect your home today with Arceneaux.
What Should I Look For?
Do you know where to start? Don’t worry, our professionals are here to help. Be aware of the following to get a better understanding of your current situation.
- Look for Damage. Soft wood or even rotting wood in and around the home is a huge indicator of a problem. If you find buckling wood, wood with holes in it, etc. with no clear explanation, this could be a sign of termite damage.
- Look for Evidence. Termites build infrastructure wherever they go. They use small mud tunnels (thin, packed, dirt trails along the foundation of your home, along the bricks, etc.) to travel and search for food. They also build mounds, which are the more obvious evidence of their presence. While these can be difficult to find, if you do find any, it’s a HUGE step in eradicating them.
- Don’t Be Alarmed. We’ve seen all kinds of termite situations, from the most proactive to, “You should’ve called us a long time ago.” In all of these cases, being alarmed or stressed out does not help. It only compounds your problems, and you don’t need that. Just because you’ve found damage, evidence, or termites themselves does not mean that you have thousands of dollars worth of damage.
- Be Proactive. One thing you can do to avoid attracting swarming termites is to keep your exterior and interior lights off until you need them at night. Lights attract swarming termites from a decent distance, so as much as possible, you want to avoid this.
5 Common Termite Questions Answered
Have questions about termites? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Find the answers to some of the most common termite questions with Arceneaux’s Official 2023 Termite Guide.
Question 1: If I Eliminate the Swarm of Termites Near or in My Home, Does That Mean My Home Will Be Safe?
Answer: No. While you may have eliminated the swarm, the nest and queen are likely safe elsewhere. This is why it’s important to have a pest control expert investigate and handle any potential termite problems.
Question 2: How Long Do Termites Typically Live?
Answer: When it comes to the rank-and-file termite soldiers and workers, their lifespans are relatively short at about one to two years. However, for queens, it’s a totally different story. Amazingly, they can live up to 25 and even 50 years! This is why it’s crucial to take care of the queen: they can keep replacing workers and soldiers for years and years.
Question 3: How Can I Tell If These Flying Insects Are Termites or Ants?
Answer: Carpenter ants can look very similar to termites. However, there are some key differences that can help you determine which one you are looking at.
For example, the ants should have a clearly defined abdomen while the termites should not. Both carpenter ants and termites have four wings in total. But the carpenter ant’s top wings will be larger than the bottom, while the termite’s top and bottom wings will appear equal in size.
Also, the ants will have a bend or “elbow” in their antennae while the termites’ antennae are straight. In addition, termite bodies tend to be light and cream-like in color while carpenter ants come in darker tones of black, red, or brown.
Question 4: How Long Does It Take for Termites to Eat Through Wood?
Answer: A 60,000-termite colony can eat the entirety of a single foot of 2X4 wood in approximately half a year’s time. While this may not seem like much at first, termites don’t eat a single foot of wood at once. Instead, they tunnel through wood, including the wood found in many home foundations. So, within that six-month period, they could be weakening the integrity of your home’s support structures.
Question 5: How Are Termite Infestations Treated?
Arceneaux Pest Management Service uses two main methods to deal with termite infestations. First is the Termidor treatment, which uses an essentially odorless, EPA-approved liquid termiticide that can also prevent future infestations. And second is the effective but slower Trelona Baiting System by BASF.
Once termites enter these systems, they then bring the bait that’s inside back to their colony. When the bait travels with the termite back to the colony, it begins to eliminate the colony over time.
Termite Inspection, Treatment, and Equipment
Our professionals are here to help ensure your home stays safe from termites. We begin every termite service with an inspection of your home and property. By looking for any signs of termites or damage, we can get a good idea of the current situation.
Specific treatments and equipment are used to address certain termite species and infestations. If your home is in the clear, then we want to keep it that way! Our professionals then go over the next steps and develop a prevention plan to help you stay bug-free.
Termite Warranty
We’re so confident in our termite control, we provide a termite warranty for qualifying homes. Did you know that the vast majority of home insurance policies don’t cover termite damage? Bogus, right?
To help give you peace of mind, we offer a yearly termite control service that you can make use of. And, we take that value even further and guarantee your home against damage for up to one million dollars. You have enough to worry about—let us handle the termite control.
Contact a Termite Company
For more than 19 years, Arceneaux Pest Management Services has been a leader in Louisiana pest control. Our thousands of customers appreciate our customer service, friendly staff, and guaranteed results. We offer a free termite inspection to customers in Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Prairieville, Walker, Watson, Livingston, Geismar, Gonzales, Central, St. Francisville, Zachary, Baker, Addis, French Settlement, and Sorrento. Get in touch or get a quote to see if we’re the right termite control company for you. We hope our 2023 Official Termite Guide has helped you prepare your home for these pests!