If you live in the southern United States or in Hawaii, then your area likely has Formosan termites. Formosan termites have been imported into the USA on products shipped from China where they are a native species. These invasive termites are very aggressive and voraciously eat anything containing cellulose fibers - including your home. Since this type of termite can do a lot of damage to your house before you ever see the telltale signs of their presence, it is important you take as many prevention steps as possible. To this end, here are some tips to help you protect your home and other wooden structures from Formosan termite damage:

Prevention Tip: Know the Signs of a Formosan Termite Infestation

Your home can become invaded by Formosan termites without your ever knowing. This means that you need always to be looking out for the telltale signs of an infestation, including:

• sawdust around wood piles or foundations
• wood that sounds hollow when you knock on it
• long wings shed under lights and around doors from reproductive termites

If you see any of these signs, you need to have your home inspected as soon as possible by a pest control professional.

Prevention Tip: Remove All Excess Cellulose Fibers Around Your Home

While it isn't reasonable to remove any of the wood from your home to prevent a termite infestation, it is necessary to remove the excess cellulose fibers lying around your garage and yard. To do so, get rid of:

• piles of old newspapers
• overgrown or dead landscaping
• fallen leaves or needles

In addition, make sure your wood pile is up off of the ground and covered with a tarp since it is a huge food source for hungry Formosan termites.

Prevention Tip: Remove All Excess Moisture from Inside and Outside of Your Home

In addition to cellulose fibers for food, Formosan termites need water in order to set up their colonies. By removing any humidity from your home using a dehumidifier and eliminating any areas in your landscaping that are perpetually wet, you can go a long way towards making your property inhospitable for termites.

Prevention Tip: Schedule a Termite Inspection Every Few Years

Finally, while most homeowners believe a termite inspection by a professional pest control technician is only necessary when you sell your home, nothing could be farther from the truth. You should actually schedule an inspection every few years. More frequent inspections will help you stop infestations early and will prevent the excessive damage Formosan termites will do to your home in short order if they set up housekeeping.

To learn more, call a termite removal company near you.