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Summer Termites Hi everyone, this is Luis Gonzalez with Midway Pest Management, and welcome back to another episode of What’s Bugging You?
Today we’re talking about termite activity in Kansas City during the summer months, because while spring gets all the attention for termite swarms, July is when established colonies are working at full speed, quietly feeding on homes twenty-four hours a day.
The eastern subterranean termite is the species we deal with in the Kansas City area, and it’s one of the most destructive pests in the country. These termites live underground in colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands, traveling through mud tubes to reach the wood in your home. Warm soil temperatures in July and August keep workers foraging aggressively, and the humid conditions we get after summer thunderstorms make it even easier for them to stay active close to the surface.
The scary part about termites is how quiet they are. They eat wood from the inside out, so a wall stud or floor joist can be severely damaged while looking perfectly normal on the surface. Nationally, termites cause billions of dollars in damage every year, and homeowners insurance almost never covers it.
Summer is a great time to walk your property and look for warning signs. Check the foundation for pencil-width mud tubes running from the soil up to wood. Tap exposed wood in the basement or crawl space and listen for a hollow sound. Look for blistered or bubbling paint, sagging floors, and tiny piles of discarded wings on windowsills left over from spring swarms. Outside, pay attention to wooden fence posts, deck supports, and landscape timbers that contact the soil.
Prevention is all about breaking the connection between soil, moisture, and wood. Keep mulch at least six inches away from the foundation and no more than a couple inches deep. Fix leaky outdoor faucets and make sure downspouts carry water away from the house, since termites follow moisture. Store firewood off the ground and away from the structure, and remove old stumps and buried scrap wood from the yard.
If you spot any warning signs, don’t wait until fall. Professional termite control in Kansas City starts with a thorough inspection to map out activity, followed by targeted treatment options like liquid barrier applications or baiting systems that eliminate the colony itself. Annual inspections are cheap insurance compared to structural repairs, especially in a region with as much termite pressure as ours.
Remember, in the Kansas City area the question is rarely whether termites are nearby, it’s whether they’ve found your home yet. Even if you’ve never seen a single sign, a professional inspection every year gives you documentation, early detection, and real peace of mind about your biggest investment.
Thanks for tuning in to another episode of What’s Bugging You? If you need termite control in Kansas City, contact Midway Pest Management at 913-820-9737.