New York is the city that never sleeps. However, the temperate, humid climate means that termites also never sleep here. These pesky creatures are active throughout the year and all around the state. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about termites in New York, from their types to treatment and prevention.
Key Takeaways
Termites are active throughout New York: The humid climate of New York makes it a perfect place for termites to thrive.
All the major termite types are here in New York: These include Eastern subterranean, dark Southeastern subterranean, desert drywood, Southeastern drywood, and Western drywood termites.
Termites like heat and rain: They usually swarm on warm days after rain. The exact time can vary depending on the type.
Signs of termite infestations: Mud tubes, clicking sounds, buckling floors, hollow-sounding wood, bubbling paint, hard-to-open doors and windows, holes in wooden structures, swarmers, discarded wings, and termite droppings indicate termites’ presence.
Prevention is key: Regularly inspect your property, install a termite barrier, fix moisture issues, use termite-resistant materials, don’t let wood come in direct contact with soil, and keep your yard clean.
Exterminating termites is costly: The average cost of termite treatment in New York is $1,045.
Are There Termites in New York?
New York is one of the most diverse places on earth, from the towering skyscrapers and rich culture of Manhattan to the world-famous beaches of Long Island and the stunning beauty of upstate New York. Popular New York events bring in millions of tourists yearly.
But the humid continental climate also makes it ideal for termite infestations. From New York City and Long Island to the Finger Lakes and Central New York, termites are active throughout the state.
Lower New York falls under Termite Infestation Probability Zone No. 2 (moderate to heavy), which means the chance of termite infestation is pretty high. Cooler regions like Syracuse, Buffalo, Rochester, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario fall under TIP Zone #3 (slight to moderate).
So, as a New York homeowner, you need to understand termites and inspect their property regularly to prevent expensive repair bills.
Types of Termites in New York
Eastern subterranean and dark Southeastern subterranean termites are the most common in New York.
Desert, Southeastern, and Western drywood termites aren’t native to New York but are common throughout the state.
Eastern Subterranean and Dark Southeastern Subterranean Termites
Eastern and dark Southeastern subterranean termites are the most common in New York. They live underground and use mud tubes to travel to their food sources, typically the wooden structures in your home.
These termites form the largest colonies that contain tens of thousands to millions of members and can cause significant damage to your home in less than five years.
Scientific name:
- Eastern subterranean termites – Reticulitermes flavipes
- Dark Southeastern subterranean termites – Reticulitermes virginicus
Appearance:
- Workers have a cream color body with slightly translucent skin.
- Soldiers have a light brown body and yellow-brown head. They differ from workers by larger mandibles and darker heads.
- Swarmers are dark brown and have brownish-grey wings. The front wing is slightly larger than the rear wing.
Size:
- Workers are 1/8-inch long.
- Soldiers are 1/4-inch long.
- Swarmers are 3/8-inch long, including wings.
Desert, Southeastern, and Western Drywood Termites
Photo Credit: Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0
Desert, Southeastern, and Western drywood termites aren’t native to New York but are common throughout the state. They may have reached here from wooden objects transported from other states.
Scientific name:
- Desert drywood termites – Marginitermes hubbardi
- Southeastern drywood termites – Incisitermes snyderi
- Western drywood termites – Incisitermes minor
Appearance:
- Workers have a cream color body with slightly translucent skin.
- Soldiers have a brown body and reddish-brown head. They have larger mandibles than workers.
- Swarmers have a dark brown body with greyish-black wings. The front wing is slightly larger than the rear one.
Size:
- Workers are 5/16-inch long.
- Soldiers are 3/8-inch long.
- Swarmers are 1/2-inch long, including wings.
Termites in Different Regions of New York
Here are the termites found throughout New York, from Eastern Adirondacks and Western Adirondacks to Central New York and Finger Lakes to Western New York, New York City, and Long Island:
- Eastern subterranean termites
- Dark Southeastern subterranean termites
- Desert drywood termites
- Southeastern drywood termites
- Western drywood termites
When Do Termites Swarm in New York?
Termites usually swarm on a warm day after rain. The exact month or season can vary depending on the species:
- Eastern subterranean termites swarm in daylight during spring, often after rainfall.
- Dark Southeastern subterranean termites swarm in daylight during spring and early summer, often after a rain.
- Desert drywood termites swarm in the evening during summer and early fall.
- Southeastern drywood termites swarm in the evening during late summer and early fall.
- Western drywood termites swarm in daylight during late summer and early fall.
Signs of Termites in New York
Knowing termite signs is crucial to protect the structural integrity of your home. Here are the signs of termite infestation:
- Mud tubes: Subterranean termites use mud tubes to travel to their food source. These pencil-sized tubes are narrow and dark brown and run along walls, foundations, and wooden structures.
- Clicking sounds: When you disturb a termite colony, soldier termites bang their heads against the wall, which sounds like clicking.
- Buckling floors: Termites love feeding on untreated wooden floors. If you have such a floor and suddenly notice it’s warping or becoming uneven, there’s a high chance of termite activity beneath.
- Hollow-sounding wood: Tap a wooden structure with a screwdriver. If it sounds hollow, there’s a high chance termites have eaten the wood away.
- Bubbling paint: Bubbling or warping paint indicates termite activity in the wall.
- Hard-to-open doors and windows: Termites feed on the wood and cause structural damage, making it difficult to open doors and windows.
- Holes in wooden structures: Termites create a small hole in the wood to infest it. Multiple pin-sized holes in wooden structures are a clear sign of termite activity.
- Swarmers: Winged termites near light sources indicate a termite colony nearby.
- Discarded wings: Winged termites shed their wings after mating. Look for piles of discarded wings near light fixtures, window sills, or other light sources. They indicate termites have established a colony nearby.
- Termite droppings (frass): Termites are obsessively hygienic. Worker termites push out termite droppings (frass) as part of colony maintenance. Tiny, wood-colored droppings at the base of the wall or on top of baseboards indicate termite activity.
How to Get Rid of Termites in New York
If termites have entered your New York home, here’s how you can get rid of them:
Termite Bait Stations
How they work: Termite bait stations contain cellulose to attract them and insect growth regulators (IGRs) that eliminate termites by disrupting their molting process. Molting is when they shed their exoskeleton to grow. This treatment is effective against subterranean termites.
Sentricon is a widely used termite bait station. The active ingredient, Noviflumuron, works slowly, so termites get enough time to spread it to other colony members. Termite bait stations require quarterly monitoring to be effective.
How to apply them:
- Excavate a hole every 10 foot around your home’s foundation. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for how wide and deep the hole should be.
- Install bait stations in the holes. Level it with the ground and fill the sides with soil for a tight fit.
- Repeat around your entire house.
Liquid Termiticide
How it works: Liquid termiticides create a barrier against termites. Even if termites cross the treated area and make their way into your home, they will die soon after. Liquid termiticides work against subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites.
Termidor is a commonly used liquid termiticide. The active ingredient, fipronil, acts slowly, so termites get enough time to take it to their colony and spread it to the colony members.
How to apply it:
- Dig a seven-inch-deep and wide trench around your home’s foundation.
- Mix liquid termiticide with water and apply it in the trench at a ratio of four gallons per 10 linear feet. Evenly distribute the solution across the trench.
- Refill the trench with soil.
- Repeat around your entire house.
Foam Termite Treatment
How it works: Foam termite treatment can eliminate termites from areas that are difficult to reach. The foam expands nearly 30 times its initial size in seconds to fill gaps and eradicate the entire colony. Foam termiticide works against subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites.
How to apply it: Spray foam termiticide in areas where you suspect termite activity.
Termite Fumigation
How it works: Termite fumigation, also known as termite tenting, is a complex treatment to eradicate severe termite infestations. It involves erecting a tent around your house and pumping sulfuryl fluoride gas into it. This colorless and odorless gas to kill drywood, subterranean, and dampwood termites.
Only licensed professionals are allowed to use sulfuryl fluoride gas. Also, since this gas is toxic to humans, you should vacate your home during the treatment.
How is it done?
- The pros erect a tent around your home.
- They pump sulfuryl fluoride into the house. It penetrates and kills termites from every crack and crevice.
- After the termites are eliminated, professionals remove the tent and use fans to circulate fresh air throughout the structure.
- A licensed pro will collect an air sample from your house and analyze it with special equipment to ensure it’s safe to return. The acceptable sulfuryl fluoride level is one part per million or less.
Note: The treatment can take up to three days, so arrange an alternate accommodation. Don’t forget to take food items with you when leaving your home.
Heat Termite Treatment
How it works: Heat termite treatment, also known as thermal remediation, is a non-chemical alternative to fumigation. It’s effective against subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites. In this treatment, termite pros use powerful heating equipment like industrial heaters to raise the temperature in your home to 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit to eliminate termites.
There’s no chemical involved in this treatment. So, termites may come back if not completely eliminated. We recommend combining this treatment with liquid termiticide or bait station treatment for long-lasting results.
How is it done?
- Termite pros use industrial heaters to raise the temperature in your home to levels lethal to termites.
- The heat penetrates and kills termites from every crack and crevice within 35 minutes.
- The entire treatment takes about eight hours, and you should vacate your home during the process for safety concerns.
Boric Acid
How it works: Boric acid contains hydrogen, boron, and oxygen and kills termites by disrupting their digestive system. It works slowly, so termites get enough time to spread it to their colony members.
How to apply it:
There are two ways you can apply boric acid:
- Powder: Use a powder sprayer to spray boric acid to areas with termite activity.
- Solution: Add two teaspoons of boric acid to a cup of water. Stir until boric acid dissolves. Use a spray bottle to apply the solution.
Boric acid isn’t a long-term treatment. Reapply the solution every 10 days until termite activity stops.
How to Prevent Termites in New York
Prevention is better than cure. Here’s how you can keep termites at bay:
Regular Inspection
Termites cost U.S. homeowners an average of $5 billion in repairs every year. If you don’t identify and treat termites on time, they can severely damage the structural integrity of your property. We recommend inspecting your home for termites at least once a year. Termite inspection costs about $135.
Install a Termite Barrier
Termite barriers prevent termites from accessing and infesting your property. They are of two types:
- Physical barriers like stainless steel mesh prevent termites from entering your property, as these pesky creatures can’t chew through stainless steel. Termimesh stainless steel mesh is the most popular and is installed during construction or afterward. Physical barriers can easily last over 30 years.
- Chemical barriers like liquid termiticide and bait stations are actually chemicals used to treat termites. However, they are also effective barriers to prevent termites from entering your home. Liquid termiticide lasts five years, but bait stations require quarterly monitoring to be effective.
Here’s a detailed guide on termite barriers.
Fix Moisture Issues
Termites thrive in moist environments. Here’s how you can make your home less attractive to termites:
- Fix leaky pipes
- Proper drainage
- Ensure good airflow in the attic and crawl space
- Use exhaust fan in kitchen and bathroom to reduce humidity
- Install a dehumidifier in the basement to control moisture
- Inspect and clean your gutters at least once a year
- Check that downspouts channel water away from your home’s foundation
- Grade the soil away from your house for proper drainage
Use Termite-Resistant Materials
Termite-resistant materials aren’t termite-proof but can significantly reduce the chance of termite infestations. For example, you can use concrete for foundations and walls and prefer metal furniture over wood.
Keep Wood Away From Soil
Wood that’s in contact with soil is a buffet for subterranean termites. Remove dead trees near your home and keep firewood and lumber off the ground and away from your house so the infestation doesn’t spread.
If you prefer wooden fences and decks, we recommend installing them in concrete to prevent termites from eating the wood below. Also, slightly elevate them off the ground to minimize contact with the soil.
Keep Your Yard Clean
If termites have entered your yard, it’s a short haul to your house. Here’s how you can prevent termites from your yard:
- Fix leaking sprinklers and other leaky pipes
- Remove tree stumps (Stump removal costs $175 to $516.)
- Remove dead trees (Tree removal costs $385 to $1,070.)
- Use termite-resistant mulch
- Trim vegetation
- Grow termite-resistant plants
Click here to read a detailed guide on how to get rid of termites from your yard.
Cost to Exterminate Termites in New York
The national average cost to treat termites ranges from $275 to $863, with most homeowners paying $558. In New York, the average cost is $1,045. The cost can vary slightly depending on the termite infestation.
The cost of repairing termite damage ranges from $550 to $3,000. Homeowners’ insurance usually doesn’t cover termite damage.
FAQs
Do termites pose any health risks to humans?
Termites don’t transmit any disease to humans directly. However, they may cause skin allergies and respiratory issues.
Are eco-friendly treatments effective against termites?
Eco-friendly treatments like thermal remediation and boric acid work against termites but aren’t as effective as chemical treatments.
Do termites infest new constructions?
New constructions aren’t immune to termite infestations. We recommend pre-treating your home for termites to protect it from these pesky creatures.
When to Hire a Professional
Termites are active throughout New York and are known to cost homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. If you spot any sign of termites in your home, call a pro immediately. The sooner you act, the lesser the damage.
Pest Gnome connects you with the best termite specialists near you who can help you with everything related to termites, from inspection to treatment and repairs.
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