Can termites from your neighbor’s house infect your home?
If you notice a big striped tent appear one day over a neighbor’s home, you might begin to worry about your own property. If your neighbor has a termite infestation, is your home at risk? That depends on a number of factors. If your neighbor has termites that is certainly not a guarantee that you also have termites, but your home may be at a slightly higher risk of an infestation for a certain number of reasons.
New Colonies
San Diego hosts both subterranean and drywood termites. Both types of termites expand and start new colonies by “swarming.” During this process, certain termites in a colony grow wings so that they can travel over short distances and begin new colonies. This usually occurs in the spring or fall after a rain. If you live next door to a home with a termite infestation or live in a condo complex with shared walls, it may be possible for swarming termites to end up on your property.
Identical Construction
Almost every house will get termites eventually. Usually a home starts to show signs of termites after about ten years. If all the houses in a community were built at the same time using the same materials, they may just experience infestations in the same time range. This isn’t a single colony hopping door to door. It’s just nature an inevitability.
Pest Control Techniques
If your neighbor has their home tented, it is probably a safe bet that the entire colony in their home will be destroyed. That means you are at a low risk of sharing some of their termites. However, if your neighbor uses repellent insecticides around their property, they may be inadvertently sending termites your way. Termites are simple creatures who forage for cellulose wherever they can find it. If they are repulsed at your neighbor’s property, they may turn around and start hunting for greener pastures (i.e. your house). If you find out that your neighbor has termites, ask what pest control method they are using.
Get a Termite Inspection
If you find out that your neighbor has termites, it may be a good idea to request a termite inspection just to be safe. It is important to find termites early to limit the damage they can do. If your home is more than 10 years old, you should get a termite inspection done every five years anyway. If you are past due for a termite inspection for your home in San Diego or San Diego County, call Wild Wild Pest Control for a termite inspection today.