Making ready for termite season

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – While termites are active year round, most types of underground termites tend to swarm in Louisiana during the spring and summer months.

Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain reminds owners to remain vigilant and protect their property.

“We have a humid climate, especially at this time of year, and termite colonies are constantly looking for new sources of food,” said Strain. “Now is the time to take proactive steps to prevent termites from ruining your investments.”

Strain offers these tips to help protect properties:

• Fix any leaks in the roof, pipes and outside water taps in your house.
• Turn off the outside lights at night or use yellow lightbulbs to avoid attracting swarms of termites.
• Repair decaying wood on facades, soffits and wooden surfaces outdoors.
• Pick up any wood lying on the floor under and around your house.
• Store firewood outside your home.
• Clean the gutters of your home and repair any damaged sections.
• Cut branches and vines that may grow on your home.
• Do not let water flow next to the slab or under your house. Drain the water.
• Most importantly, you only use licensed and certified pest control experts for termite treatments.

In between professional inspections, property owners should look for tubes of mud on slabs, pillars, or walls, pinholes in wall panels, softness in flooring, or bubbles in paint or wallpaper.

You can call the LDAF at (225) 925-4578 to find out which companies are certified and licensed. Treatments and annual inspections by a licensed, insured, and affiliated pest control company are great prevention against termites.

Further information can be found on the LDAF website.

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