🪵 Pest of the Month · April 2025
🪵
April's Pest: Subterranean Termites
Swarm season is here — Bay Area colonies are actively spreading.
600K+
Bay Area homes at risk
$8B
in US property damage yearly
Silent
damage for months before signs appear
Seasonal Biology
Why Termites Are Active Right Now
April through June is peak termite swarm season in the Bay Area. As temperatures warm and humidity rises after winter rains, subterranean termite colonies release thousands of winged "alates" (swarmers) to start new colonies. You may see them near windows, lights, or find piles of discarded wings — a sign an established colony is very close to or inside your home.
Temperature Triggers Swarming
Swarms typically happen after the first warm rain of the year, usually when soil temps hit 70°F. In the Bay Area, that's March–May.
Moisture Attracts Colonies
Subterranean termites need soil contact and moisture. Wet wood from winter rains makes your home especially attractive this time of year.
Wood-to-Soil Contact is the Entry Point
Mulch, wood piles, fence posts, and deck supports touching soil give termites a direct highway into your home's structure.
Older Bay Area Homes Are Most Vulnerable
Pre-1980 homes with pier-and-beam foundations are disproportionately targeted. Limited subarea ventilation keeps wood moist year-round.
Inspect Your Home
Warning Signs to Look for Right Now
Many homeowners don't know they have termites until serious structural damage has already occurred. Know these six signals.
Swarmers (Winged Termites)
Small, dark-winged insects emerging from soil or wood near your home, especially in the morning after rain.
Discarded Wings
Piles of tiny wings on windowsills, near doors, or on the floor — swarmers shed them after landing.
Mud Tubes
Pencil-width tubes of mud on foundation walls, pipes, or wooden beams — subterranean termites' highways.
Hollow-Sounding Wood
Tap on baseboards, door frames, or beams. A hollow drum sound means termites have eaten through from the inside.
Sticking Doors & Windows
Wood distorted by termite damage and moisture expands, causing doors and windows to suddenly stick or warp.
Frass (Termite Droppings)
Small, pellet-like droppings near wood — more common with drywood termites nesting inside walls.
Identify the Species
Which Type of Termite Do You Have?
Bay Area homes can host three termite species — each with different nesting habits and treatment approaches. Correct identification is the first step.
⚠️ Most Common
Subterranean Termite
Size:1/8 inch (worker), 3/8 inch (swarmer)
Color:Creamy white workers; dark brown swarmers with grey wings
Key Fact:Most destructive termite in North America. Colonies can contain 1 million workers.
🪵 In-Wood
Drywood Termite
Size:3/8 inch
Color:Cream to light brown; reddish-brown head
Key Fact:No soil contact needed — lives entirely inside dry wood. Spreads through furniture and lumber.
💧 Moisture-Driven
Dampwood Termite
Size:1/2 to 5/8 inch (largest in CA)
Color:Brown to dark brown; large mandibles
Key Fact:Only targets very moist wood — fixing leaks and drainage issues is the first step to prevention.
🔍 Did You Know? — Termites Edition
They Never Sleep
Termite workers operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A large colony can consume a foot of 2×4 lumber in under 6 months.
Vibration Detection
Termites communicate using vibrations. Soldier termites bang their heads on tunnel walls to signal danger to the colony.
Ecologically Important
In nature, termites are essential decomposers that break down dead wood and recycle nutrients. The problem is when they choose your home.
Gut Bacteria Do the Work
Termites can't actually digest wood themselves — specialized microbes in their gut break down cellulose into usable energy.
The Queen Can Live 25+ Years
A subterranean termite queen lives decades and lays thousands of eggs per day. Eliminating the queen is key to colony collapse.
Bay Area's Climate is Ideal
The combination of coastal moisture, mild winters, and warm spring weather makes the Bay Area one of California's most active termite regions.
✅ What You Should Do
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Inspect Your Foundation
Walk your perimeter and look for mud tubes on the foundation, pipes, and wooden supports. Use a flashlight.
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Photograph the Evidence
Take photos of swarmers, wings, mud tubes, or damaged wood. This helps your technician plan the right treatment approach.
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Fix Moisture Sources
Repair dripping faucets, fix gutters that pool near the foundation, and improve crawl space ventilation to reduce termite appeal.
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Move Wood Away from Home
Relocate firewood, lumber, and mulch at least 18 inches from your foundation. These create direct soil bridges for termites.
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Call ATCO for an Inspection
The earlier a colony is found, the less structural damage occurs. Our Branch 2 licensed technicians inspect the entire structure.
⚠️ What to Avoid
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Don't Use Store-Bought Sprays
Surface sprays only kill termites you can see. The colony deep in your walls or soil continues undisturbed.
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Don't Disturb Mud Tubes
Breaking mud tubes without treatment scatters workers and can spread the colony to new areas of your home.
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Don't Wait for Visible Damage
By the time walls look damaged or floors feel soft, termites may have been active for 1–3 years. Don't delay.
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Don't Ignore Swarmers Indoors
Indoor swarmers mean the colony is already inside your structure — they do not fly in from outside after swarming.
How ATCO Handles It
Our Termites Treatment Process
40+ years of Bay Area experience means a proven, thorough process — not a one-size-fits-all spray and leave.
1
Full Structural Inspection
Our licensed technician inspects the subarea, attic, exterior, and interior — checking every wood member, pier, and beam for activity and damage.
2
Species & Severity Report
We identify the termite species present, map all active areas, and classify damage severity — so you know exactly what you're dealing with.
3
Targeted Liquid Treatment
For subterranean termites: we apply termiticide to the soil around your foundation, creating a long-lasting protective barrier.
4
Fumigation (if needed)
Widespread drywood infestations require whole-structure fumigation. ATCO coordinates the full process including scheduling and safety checks.
5
Preventative Bait Stations
We install in-ground bait stations around your property that intercept foraging workers before they reach the structure.
6
Follow-Up & Documentation
We re-inspect 30 and 90 days post-treatment to confirm colony elimination and provide a written service report for your records.
🛡️
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❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Termites
A liquid soil treatment typically takes 2–4 hours for a standard home. Fumigation requires 48–72 hours away from the property. Your technician will give you a specific timeline at the inspection.
For liquid barrier treatments, you can stay home but should keep pets and children away from treated areas until dry (usually 2–4 hours). Fumigation requires all occupants and pets to vacate for 2–3 days.
Three key differences: (1) Termites have straight, bead-like antennae; ants have elbowed antennae. (2) Termite wings are equal in length; ant wings are unequal. (3) Termites have a thick waist; ants have a pinched waist.
Liquid barrier treatments protect for 5+ years. Bait stations provide ongoing monitoring and interception. Annual inspections catch any new activity before it becomes a reinfestation.
Most standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover termite damage, as it's considered preventable through regular maintenance. This is why early detection and treatment is so important.
Spring is actually ideal — treating at the start of swarm season intercepts new colony formation. However, treatment is effective year-round since subterranean termites stay active in warm soil all winter.
Termites Season Is Here — Don't Wait for Damage
ATCO's Branch 2 licensed technicians serve the entire Bay Area. Get an expert inspection this April before the colony grows.