Pest library

Must Know Info About Home-Invading Pests

It’s essential to know what attracts pests and the dangers they pose to you and your property in order to prevent and control them. Branded Pest Defense is Montgomery County’s reliable pest experts. We provide the essential information and services needed to keep your home safe against our area’s pests. The information provided in this pest guide will help you understand the insects and animals in the area, how they can affect you, and what to do about them.

Ants

Ants are social insects that live together in structured nesting communities. Their ability to communicate is rivaled only by the military. Ants successfully run colonies with thousands or hundreds of thousands of members and multiple nesting sites. They work cooperatively as a team to ensure their colony’s success.

There are more than 10,000 species living worldwide; most live outside away from people, the majority of species calling tropical forests home. However, many species have adapted to living in other environments, including inside our Texas homes and businesses.

The majority of ants we find inside our homes are considered nuisances and pose no significant dangers to people or our properties. However, some species of ants in Magnolia, TX, are dangerous.

Three of the most problematic ants in our region are listed below:

Fire ants: These ants are territorial and super aggressive. They will deliver painful stings to any person or animal who walks past their nest. Fire ant venom is potent enough to trigger serious allergic reactions in those susceptible.
Leaf cutter ants: These ants can damage trees and plants as they gather leaves and pine needles for their nests to cultivate the fungus these ants eat. Leaf cutter ants can quickly cause damage to our Texas yards.
Carpenter ants: The nesting habits of carpenter ants cause damage to wood and structural damage within our homes and businesses.

At the first sight of ants trailing through your yard or home, reach out to us at Branded Pest Control. We will accurately identify the ants on your property and limit the potential damage they can cause.

Ants are scavengers and therefore have a varied diet of sweets, proteins, and carbohydrates. Unfortunately for us, our yards, outdoor eating areas, garbage cans, kitchens, and pantries provide ants with access to the food necessary to feed their colonies.

When ants nest outside in our yards, worker ants leave the nest each day looking for reliable food sources. They will move into our homes through small cracks and crevices they discover as they search. After discovering food, they will lay down pheromone trails to provide a guide to the other members of their colony. The ant’s ability to communicate effectively means they can take over an outdoor or indoor space in the blink of an eye!

Some ants, like fire ants, prefer to nest outside in open sunny areas. Others prefer to nest outside in places that provide shelter and shade. Carpenter ants prefer to nest inside of wood damaged by water or decaying.

When weather conditions become unsuitable, there is a lack of food outdoors, or out of natural curiosity, ants regularly find their way into our homes. When ants find their way into our homes, they don’t hide their presence. They will trail over our floors, counters, and tables as they forage for crumbs and other food sources.

If ants decide to stay and build a satellite nest within your house, they generally build their nests inside insulation, wall voids, attics, and within vents or spaces behind cabinets.

We don’t want to help you just get rid of ants; we want to help you ensure they won’t return. Accomplish your goal of an ant-free property by partnering with us here at Branded Pest Control. We can provide general ant control treatments through our residential or commercial pest control services or targeted services to eliminate specific ants like fire ants or leaf cutter ants. We value our customers and take pride in offering the highest quality pest control possible.

Please reach out today to learn about effective ant control or other pest control in Magnolia, TX!

Use the following information to help prevent ants from easily moving into your Magnolia, TX home.

Install door sweeps on all exterior doors.
Makes sure screens in doors and windows and weatherstripping around them are completely intact.
Regularly inspect your foundation using silicone caulk or another material to seal any cracks or gaps.
Repair damaged siding or roof shingles.
Fill in gaps around pipes, wires, and vents entering your home.

To learn more about ants and implement a long-term solution to keep ants and other household pests out of your home, give us a call.

Bed Bug

Bed bugs are blood-feeding insects that can make people miserable and want to be anywhere there are people. Once these persistent pests find their way into your house, they breed quickly, spreading throughout your home.

Bed bugs are small but not invisible; knowing what bed bugs look like can help you identify their presence sooner rather than later. Adult bed bugs grow between 3/16 and 1/4 of an inch long and have a flat oval shape, similar to an apple seed. They are reddish-brown, but after consuming a blood meal, their color turns a dark red. Bed bugs are wingless but have six legs and short antennae.

The bed bug’s sole source of nutrition comes from the blood of their warm-blooded animal hosts. Their preferred hosts are people, which is why bed bugs live where we live or spend a lot of our time.

Bed bugs bite through our skin to feed on our blood. Their bites can result in uncomfortable rashes and create openings that allow bacteria into your body and may cause a secondary infection.

If there is any good news when it comes to bed bugs, it would be that, unlike other blood-feeding pests, they aren’t able to spread pathogens that make people ill.

Though not particularly dangerous, homeowners should never overlook these pests. If bed bugs find a way into your house, you need to eliminate them as quickly as possible.

Bed bugs usually become a problem after you or a family member or visitor come into contact with them and introduce them into your home.

Some of the most common places to come into contact with bed bugs include:

Airports and other public transportation hubs.
Schools and dormitories.
Shopping centers and office buildings.
Hospitals.
Hotels and motels.
Libraries, movie theaters, and amusement parks.

Bed bugs primarily live indoors and move from structure to structure by hitchhiking. They will crawl onto our clothing or into bags or other belongings and move where we take them. Bed bugs are also regularly introduced into homes in

As nocturnal creatures, bed bugs rest during the day and emerge at night to feed. They like to hide in dark cracks and crevices. Some of their favorite hiding spots include seams of mattresses and upholstered furniture. They will also hide behind wallpaper and wall hangings. Cracks in wooden furniture, spaces behind cabinets, and wood trim are other favorite hiding spots.

Common signs of bed bugs include:

Finding a few bed bugs crawling around during the day (usually in the case of a large infestation).
Discovering dark streaks of bed bug excrement or drops of blood on mattresses, pillows, or bedding.
Noticing a sweet, musty odor in your home.

Not everyone has a physical reaction to bed bug bites, but those that do will notice their bites forming straight lines or zigzag patterns; they won’t be sporadic like mosquito bites.

Bed bug control with the help of a professional is always your best choice. Taking care of an infestation on your own is a frustrating, time-consuming task and, more often than not, will be ineffective.

The easiest and fastest way to remove all the bed bugs from your home is to partner with a professional. Here at Branded Pest Defense, our professionals know the habits and behaviors of bed bugs and will perform the effective services and treatments necessary to help you eliminate every bed bug adult, nymph, and egg from your home.

Use the following information to help prevent bed bugs from becoming a problem inside your Magnolia, TX home.

If possible, never purchases secondhand mattresses or box springs for use in your home.
Always inspect secondhand furniture and clothing for bed bugs before bringing them into your home.
In a public setting, be vigilant and keep your bags and other personal belongings away from other people’s things.
When traveling, keep belongings up off the floor of airports, and before bringing your luggage and belongings inside your hotel room, inspect it for bed bugs.
Clean up clutter inside your home and regularly vacuum, wash, and change your family’s bedding.

Cockroaches

Common roach species in our area are American cockroaches, Oriental cockroaches, and German cockroaches. Interestingly, American cockroaches are the largest home-invading roach, growing to two inches long. Oriental cockroaches are usually about 1 inch long, and German cockroaches are the smallest, ranging between 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch long.

German cockroaches are the most common home and business invading species in the world. They are also the most challenging to get rid of, so some companies won’t treat them.

No matter the cockroach species you’re dealing with, they threaten your health. These pests can cause contamination and create allergens with their saliva, waste, and shed skins. They can also spread cholera, dysentery, E. coli, gastroenteritis, giardia, listeriosis, salmonellosis, and typhoid fever.

Due to the dangers cockroaches pose, it’s essential to get rid of them as quickly and efficiently as possible, so the best thing to do is contact pest experts.

Cockroaches are attracted to homes with high moisture and plenty of food sources, which can be just about anything for these pests. Another reason a home can be more susceptible to a cockroach problem is if there are accessible entry points such as cracks in the foundation, missing or damaged screens or weatherstripping, and other weaknesses in the exterior.

Places that are dark, damp, and close to food sources attract cockroaches when they get indoors. Bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and basements are common areas where cockroaches gravitate.

Because cockroaches are nocturnal pests, you might not see them in your home immediately, but you may see signs of their presence such as droppings, shed skins, chew marks on food packaging, and unpleasant odors.

To get rid of cockroaches in your home, work with our experts at Branded Pest Defense. Cockroaches are some of the common pests we cover under our residential pest control services.

We start with a home maintenance report, looking over the conducive conditions on your property, the interior and exterior of your home, the garage, windows, roof, debris, and foliage touching the house, leaks, and more. Our report will help us provide the best treatment.

Depending on your cockroach infestation, we can perform a one-time service. However, due to the nature of these pests, monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly services are more appropriate to keep them from returning.

Contact Branded Pest Defense to learn more about our home pest control and commercial pest control services in Magnolia, TX.

If you want to prevent future infestations of cockroaches in your Magnolia home, use these prevention tips:

Inspect your foundation and exterior walls for entry points, including damaged screens and uncovered drains and vents.
Reduce the moisture on the exterior of your home by cleaning up leaf litter and other organic debris and reduce moisture inside by repairing leaks and poor ventilation.
Use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
Keep your home clear of food waste and poorly stored food.
Reduce the clutter in your home to make it easier to clean and reduce places where cockroaches can hide.

For more prevention tips and assistance with cockroaches, call us at Branded Pest Defense.

Fleas and Ticks

Ticks are small arachnids with a flat, oval-shaped body and no wings. Ticks will vary in size and color depending on the species, but they will all become swollen after feeding.

In comparison, fleas are tiny reddish-brown insects that are also wingless but have powerful legs that end in claws allowing them to stay attached to a host.

Fleas and ticks can spread dangerous diseases to people and animals, so protecting you and your family from them is essential.

Flea infestations can lead to bubonic plague, murine typhus, tungiasis, tularemia, bartonellosis, and tapeworms. While tick-borne diseases include tularemia, Heartland virus, ehrlichiosis, Bourbon virus, south tick-associated rash illness, Powassan virus, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, B. miyamotoi disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, Colorado tick fever, and Lyme disease.

The diseases spread by a tick bite will vary depending on the species, but they usually need to be attached for 24 to 36 hours to infect a host.

If you have a pet, they might get fleas from coming into contact with another domestic animal that has them, but they can also pick them up from wildlife that comes onto your property. Wildlife, rodents, and birds can all bring fleas and ticks into your yard, where they fall off and wait for a new host to pass by.

The flea life cycle allows flea eggs to stay dormant until conditions are right, which means eggs can be in your home for some time before they become a problem.

If you have a flea or tick problem on your property, you may see signs of them in your yard, usually in areas with tall grass or overgrown foliage that provide shade. However, they may also be in areas of your home where other pests have infested.

At Branded Pest Defense, we offer services that specifically target fleas and ticks. For the interior of your home, we include rug and carpet treatments, and outside we treat the perimeter and focus on shaded areas.

For these services, we ask that customers vacuum all floors before treatments and two consecutive days after, have all pets shampooed or treated the same day as we visit, and remain away for at least two hours after treatment.

Learn more about our flea and tick control services by calling us at Branded Pest Defense.

If you want to get rid of fleas and ticks from your home and keep them from returning in the future, we recommend these tips:

Keep your yard maintained by mowing your lawn short, trimming foliage, and moving leaf litter and other debris.
Repair or replace damaged fencing to prevent wildlife pests from entering your yard.
Remove food sources from your yard, such as bird feeders, fallen fruit and nuts, and garbage cans without lids.
Inspect the exterior of your home for potential entry points where wildlife, rodents, or birds can get in.
Vacuum your home and clean pet bedding regularly.
Work with your veterinarian to have all pets on a preventative.

mosquitoes

The mosquito is a type of insect and, more specifically, a type of fly. They have a small body, six legs that dangle below them as they fly, and a proboscis, a long thin extended mouthpart. Males and females use the proboscis to feed on plant nectar, their primary food source.

Females also use the proboscis to pierce the skin of people and animals to consume blood meals. Only females bite us and feed on our blood; the protein they receive from the blood is necessary for them to develop healthy eggs. Mosquito bites typically leave behind red itchy, uncomfortable welts on the skin of the person or animal bitten.

Mosquitoes have a short lifespan of only a few days; to ensure their success, they reproduce quickly and in large numbers. Having mosquitoes breeding and feeding on your property can make it impossible for you and your family to enjoy spending time outside.

Mosquitoes are tiny, frail insects that a fly swatter or newspaper can easily squish; how dangerous could they be? The answer to the question, “are mosquitoes dangerous” is always yes!

Despite being easily squished with a fly swatter or newspaper, mosquitoes are one of the world’s most dangerous creatures. Mosquitoes pose significant health risks because of the diseases and parasites they spread through their feeding habits.

While not every mosquito that bites you is disease-ridden, the potential is there, so the less contact you have with these pests, the better!

Unfortunately for Texas residents, mosquitoes naturally thrive in our region’s hot, humid climate. Mosquitoes are outdoor pests and can become a problem anywhere there is access to standing water or low-lying areas prone to flooding.

Places typically overrun by mosquitoes are wooded areas, marshes, overwatered yards or gardens, and natural or artificial pools or ponds.

If your home has or is near areas of standing water that provide mosquitoes with breeding sites, you will experience problems with these biting pests.

The mosquitoes are most active when temperatures outside are a bit cooler, at dusk or dawn. While some mosquito species are particularly aggressive and will bite throughout the day, most like to rest during the middle of the day to escape the hot temperatures and direct sunlight.

Mosquitoes will rest in our yards in places that provide them with shade and moisture, like under decks, tree canopies, shrubs, bushes, gardens, and in areas of tall grass.

When mosquitoes are active, you will see them swarming around food sources (you and your family) and their preferred breeding sites (areas of standing water).

Things in our yards that collect rainwater and offer mosquito breeding sites include buckets, flower pots, clogged gutters, water pooling on the top of trashcans or tarps, open trash cans, and yard clutters.

Let Branded Pest Defense provide the mosquito control services necessary to protect your outdoor spaces from biting, swarming mosquitoes. Whether you need a one-time treatment or want to implement a recurring mosquito control service to control mosquito numbers throughout the year, we have you covered!

Use the following mosquito prevention tips to make your Magnolia, Texas property less inviting to these biting pests.

Keep gutters clear of debris that can collect water.
Store containers that can collect stagnant water upside down when not in use.
Repair low-lying areas on your property that collect rainwater.
Regularly empty water from and re-fill with fresh water wading pools, birdbaths, and pet food bowls.
Don’t overwater gardens or your lawn.
Keep grass cut short, and don’t let landscaping plants overgrow.

Call Branded Pest Defense today to successfully help you reduce mosquito numbers on your property.

pantry pests

Common pantry pests in our area are Indian meal moths, weevils, and beetles.

Adult Indian meal moths range between 1/2 to 5/8 of an inch long and have wings with a reddish-brown pattern on the rear half. Weevils can’t fly and have long snouts and reddish brown to black bodies. Beetles can appear very similar to weevils, so it can be beneficial to get the assistance of a professional for identification.

While many people might assume pantry pests are dangerous because they infest food, the truth is they aren’t.

Pantry pests don’t spread diseases, bite, or sting, so while they can cause contamination, they are not dangerous to people in most cases. However, the larger the infestation, the more concern that can cause.

In any case, dealing with these pests can cause a lot of stress and even affect some people’s eating habits.

Although pantry pests can infest your home by getting inside through open windows, doors, and other entry points, this isn’t as common as you might think. Pantry pests often infest dry goods while being processed, packaged, or stored. So your products were likely already infested before purchasing them. When this happens, adult pests lay eggs in the food. As soon as the eggs hatch into larvae, they will start to feed on the products until they are ready to emerge as adults.

Their name lets you assume where you’ll find these pests in your home. You might see larvae in your products or adult pests emerging from damaged food packaging you purchased at the store.

For assistance with pantry pest problems, call us at Branded Pest Defense. We will schedule a home maintenance report to assess your pest situation and determine your best treatment options.

We are a family-owned-and-operated business, so we understand how important it is to get rid of pests quickly. And with experience in the industry since 1997, we know what works, so we can ensure you are getting the services and customer care you need. We have eco-friendly options available to give you peace of mind, so please inquire when you work with our service specialists.

No one wants to experience future problems with pantry pests. Because we are a family-operated business, we understand how important it is to get rid of pests quickly. To prevent one from happening in your home, try these tips:

Before buying dry goods, inspect the packaging for damage to avoid bringing infested products into your home.
Don’t mix new products with old products.
Use clear plastic or glass containers with airtight lids to keep pests out.
If you suspect these pests are in your home, throw away all open products in a garbage container outside your house.

Rodents

Two examples of rodents regularly becoming an issue for home and business owners in Magnolia is mice and rats.

Rodents are opportunistic critters; they will take advantage of any space that provides them with their basic needs. Unfortunately, rodents living near people often make themselves comfortable in our yards and homes, taking advantage of the food, shelter, and water sources our properties provide.

Rodents are dangerous. Rodents like mice and rats carry and spread bacteria and human pathogens that make people ill; they contaminate food sources and use their sharp front teeth to gnaw through wires and pipes, causing structural damage. Rodent infestations can also produce foul odors, stain surfaces, and damage personal items like clothing, shoes, and upholstered furniture.

In addition, having your indoor or outdoor spaces overrun with rodents is unpleasant and stressful. No one can feel comfortable sharing their spaces with beady-eyed rodents. Professional rodent removal, like our rodent control services, is the best way to take back your Magnolia, TX property from unwanted pests.

Texas provides a lot of open spaces for rodents to build large, successful populations. As we have come to develop more and more land for our own residential or commercial use, these animals have had to learn to adapt and live near people.

Fortunately for rodents and unfortunately for us, living with people can make their lives easier. Why fight out in a forested area or open prairie for their basic needs when they can have them handed to them?

Multiple food sources initially draw rodents like mice and rats to our properties like trash cans, outdoor eating and cooking areas, gardens, bird feeders, and pet food. Once comfortable, they will likely enter our homes searching for more food sources and safe nesting spots.

Rodents needs to be adaptable to survive, which is why they can easily make themselves at home near people.

Rats and mice typically nest outside in areas that provide lots of places to shelter and protect them from unsuitable weather conditions and keep them hidden from predators.

In our yards, spaces under woodpiles or other yard debris, sheds, garages, tree hollows, and overgrown gardens or areas of vegetation offer rodents appropriate nesting spots. If they move into our homes to nest, we usually find rodents nesting in wall voids, attics, behind appliances and cabinets, and cluttered storage areas.

Rodents are unpredictable and won’t hesitate to defend themselves by biting or scratching when they feel cornered or threatened. Never try to remove rodents from your yard or home on your own. Trust the experienced rodent control experts at Branded Pest Defense to safely remove problematic rodents like mice and rats from your property. We also offer exclusion services to help keep these wild animals from being able to re-enter your home in the future.

Call today for more information about working together to solve your Magnolia, TX, property’s rodent problems!

Use the following information to help prevent rodents from taking over your home in Magnolia, TX.

Keep lids on trash cans.
Avoid feeding pets outside if possible.
Remove bird feeders from your yard.
Eliminate standing water from your property that provides wildlife with a water source.
Fill in ground holes.
Remove unnecessary wood and rock piles from your yard.
Maintain your yard keeping the grass cut short.
Regularly inspect the exterior of your home, sealing any gaps or cracks you discover.
Places screens over vents, drains, and chimneys leading into your home.

spiders

Spiders are arachnids that come in numerous sizes and colors, among other factors but share common traits such as their hard exoskeleton and eight legs. Types of spiders in our area include wolf spiders, black widows, brown recluse spiders, and common house spiders.

Wolf spiders have an unsettling appearance with their brown hairy bodies, 1/4 to 1 1/2 inch size, and grey markings. The brown recluse spiders are about 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch, with light brown bodies, uniformly colored legs, and a dark brown violin pattern.

Black windows can range between 1/2 to 1 1/2 inches and have shiny black bodies and reddish hourglass markings. House spiders are various small species ranging in color. They are usually born inside and never make their way outdoors.

While house spiders thrive indoors, wolf spiders, brown recluse spiders, and black widows don’t but will come inside when following their prey.

Most spiders are not considered dangerous to people who aren’t allergic to them. But two species, the black widow and brown recluse, can be a threat to anyone. These two species are the only ones considered medically dangerous to people in North America.

Bites from a black widow or brown recluse usually occur accidentally when someone steps on them or sticks their hand too close. However, a bite from a black widow or brown recluse is rarely fatal due to access to medical attention and anti-venom.

While spiders can wander inside through open doors and windows or hitchhike their way in on plants and packages, they can become a bigger problem when there are conducive conditions that attract them. For spiders, the presence of prey pests can make your home an ideal place for them to find food.

Where you find spiders can vary depending on the species because some prefer to build their webs in secluded areas, while others build them in open spaces, and some don’t make webs at all but live in burrows and actively hunt for their prey.

However, typical places to find spiders inside are door and window frames, under furniture, corners of rooms, cabinets and closets, basements, kitchens, and other areas that attract prey pests.

The best way to get rid of spiders from your Magnolia home is with help from pest professionals. Branded Pest Defense offers residential pest control plans to get rid of spiders and prevent them from returning.

While one-time services are available, we recommend monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly treatments to keep your home protected year-round.

Call Branded Pest Defense to request a quote or to get started with one of our pest control services.

To prevent future infestations of spiders in your home, use these tips to help deter spiders and the prey pests that attract them:

Store firewood away from your home and remove unnecessary rock piles and debris.
Check packages and potted plants for pests before bringing them inside.
Knock down any webs you see.
Keep your home clear of food debris.
Secure garbage with tight-fitting lids.
Reduce moisture in your home and yard.
Seal cracks and gaps in your home’s exterior.
Repair or replace damaged screens on windows and doors.

stinging insects

Wasps, hornets, and carpenter bees are insects that sting and that have adapted to living successfully with people and regularly nest and forage for food in our Magnolia, TX yards.

While an essential part of the ecosystem, stinging insects are problematic pests when they decide to nest near people or, worse, in our homes. Stinging insects swarming around our yards and houses make us uncomfortable, not only because they can sting but because they can take over our properties in large numbers.

Stings delivered by stinging insects are not only painful, but the venom injected with each sting is potent enough to trigger allergic reactions. Depending on the person and the amount of venom injected, responses to a sting can range from localized swelling to breathing difficulties to life-threatening anaphylaxis.

However dangerous stinging insects are, it is important to remember that they are eco-important. Stinging insects, when living away from people, should always be left alone. Stinging insects help to pollinate plants, and predatory species like wasps and hornets control populations of nuisance and destructive insects.

If you have a problem with stinging insects in your yard, know that you are not alone. Stinging insects are regular visitors to our Texas properties because they provide them with their basic needs. Unfortunately, our Magnolia yards provide stinging insects with food, water, and suitable nesting spots.

Stinging insects are most active in Texas from early spring to the late fall. They tend to become more aggressive and problematic in the fall when their populations are highest and there is more competition for food sources. The more on edge stinging insects are, the more likely you trying to share your yard with them will result in a painful sting.

Predatory stinging insects will spend their time wherever they have easy access to their insect prey. Stinging insects frequent our yards, gardens, trees, shrubbery, and grassy areas.

Wasps and hornets will build their nests in places that shelter them from harsh weather and predators. Some favorite nesting spots include:

Spaces under decks, porch ceilings, and roof eaves.
The corners of doorways and windows.
Woodpiles and rock piles.
Tree hollows and tree stumps.
Ground holes.
The inside of wall voids, attics, and chimneys.

Carpenter bees don’t create traditional nests that we associate with stinging insects. Carpenter bees are a solitary species, and the females build individual nests within pieces of wood, preferring to nest in pieces of untreated softwoods like cedar and pine.

Carpenter bees regularly invade wooden structures in our yards, including fences, decks, wooden play structures, and outdoor furniture. In our homes, the females will create their nests in wooden shingles, roof soffits, and trim. Though solitary, many females often construct their nests in the same spots.

If stinging insects are living or foraging for food on your property and making you and your family uncomfortable, don’t try to take care of the problem on your own. Trust the professionals at Branded Pest Control to identify the type of stinging insect present, and perform the services necessary to remove them and their nests. We have the tools and experience to safely remove these dangerous pests from your property.

Remove stinging insects the safest way possible; partner with the stinging insect control experts — Branded Pest Defense. Call today for more information about controlling carpenter bees, wasps, and hornets.

Use the following information to reduce foraging and nesting sites for the stinging insects that call Magnolia, TX home.

Keep trees, shrubs, and bushes well pruned.
Remove fallen trees and other yard debris from your property.
Limit the number of flowering plants you place near your windows and doors.
Keep lids on trashcans and recycling bins.
After eating outside, immediately take inside leftover food and wipe down surfaces to remove sticky spills.
Fill in ground holes.
Wooden structures on your property should be stained, painted, or otherwise treated.

termites

Several termite species infest homes, but the most common are subterranean termites. Like other species, subterranean termites live in colonies, with individuals taking up specific roles.

Termite swarmers are flying reproductives, with queens much larger than males and the rest of the colony. Once they land, they drop their wings. Workers are about 1/4 of an inch long and cream-colored. They also have powerful mouth parts that allow them to chew through wood. Soldiers are usually between 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch long, cream-colored, and have large, rectangular heads.

Worker termites take care of everything from building tunnels and getting food, while soldiers hit their heads against wood to alert the rest of the colony when they sense danger.

While termites are destructive, they are not dangerous to people’s health as they don’t sting, bite, or spread diseases. However, they can create dust and allergens that instigate asthma and allergies.

As mentioned above, the cost of termite damage can be high, and dealing with the financial burden from an infestation of these pests can cause a lot of stress.

Termite infestations can happen to any home if the proper conditions are present. For subterranean termites, this means water-damaged, rotting, and decaying wood. Wood that is in direct contact with soil can also attract termites. So other than a home’s foundation, old fencing, play sets, sheds, stumps, logs, and dead trees can cause termites to make themselves at home on your property.

Subterranean termites don’t live inside the wood they feed on; instead, they live underground. They don’t live inside wood as other species do because they require constant contact with soil to maintain their high moisture needs.

To get to a food source, subterranean termites build mud tubs out of dirt, saliva, and frass. You’ll often find these mud tubes around the foundation of buildings and low exterior walls.

If you see signs of termites or are worried about them, don’t wait to get professional assistance, as the infestation will only worsen.

Get professional termite control in Magnolia, TX from Branded Pest Defense. Our control services utilize liquid termite treatments and baiting systems depending on your property’s specific needs.

A Termidor-certified professional will perform your termite control services to ensure the proper implementation of the product for efficiency.

We also offer pre-treatments during the building process, and WDI reports for buying and selling.

Contact our experts at Branded Pest Defense to get started with the treatments you need for a termite-free home.

Keep future infestations of termites from happening by making your property less conducive to these pests. You can do this by using these prevention tips:

Remove organic debris from your yard, especially close to your home’s foundation.
Create a barrier between dirt and the foundation using crushed rocks.
Keep your gutters clear of debris and ensure downspouts are guiding water away properly.
Repair any leaking pipes and faucets, ensuring you dry or replace any water-damaged wood.
Reduce moisture by checking for ventilation problems and using dehumidifiers.