Elgin’s winters can get brutal. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures take over for months at a time. You might think that these harsh conditions would kill off termites, but unfortunately, that is not always the case. Termites are tough, and while they prefer warm weather, they can survive the cold.
Different types of termites have different ways of handling the cold. The most common type in Illinois, subterranean termites, are especially good at surviving harsh winters. They dig deep underground to escape the freezing air and keep their colonies safe. Termites are destructive pests, so you want to act as quickly as possible once you suspect you have them in your home. This means contacting a Pointe Pest Control professional team who can address the infestation for you. Read on to learn more about how termites survive Elgin’s cold weather:
They Build Underground Tunnels
One of the reasons subterranean termites survive the winter well is their ability to build tunnels far beneath the ground. While the surface freezes, the soil below stays much warmer.
Termites will move deeper into the ground when temperatures drop, staying in tunnels that act like natural insulation. They continue feeding and reproducing while being out of sight. So, just because you do not see termites in the winter does not mean they are not active.
They Stay Inside Heated Homes
Another way termites survive in Elgin’s winter is by hiding inside heated buildings. If a termite colony has already made its way into your home, they have no reason to slow down during winter. The wood inside your house stays warm and dry, making it the perfect place for termites to keep feeding. In fact, winter might make these pests even more dependent on indoor structures since the cold outdoors is too harsh for them.
Snow Can Protect Them
It might sound strange, but snow can help termites survive. Snow acts as a natural insulator, keeping the ground temperature more stable. The ground underneath stays just warm enough for termites to keep living in their tunnels.
Even when the air outside is below zero, the temperature underground where termites live might still be above freezing. That means winter does not necessarily wipe them out, instead it just forces them to go deeper.
Some Termites Enter a Slow State
Some termites, especially those living closer to the surface, will go into a slowed-down state called diapause. This is similar to hibernation in other animals. They do not completely stop moving, but their metabolism slows down so they do not need as much food. This helps them survive until temperatures rise again, at which point they become fully active and start causing damage like they never left.
So Can Termites Freeze to Death?
Technically, yes, termites can freeze to death. If they are exposed to extreme cold for a long time with no shelter, they will not survive. But in reality, this rarely happens. Because termites burrow deep into the ground or stay inside homes, they avoid being fully exposed to freezing temperatures. The few termites that do freeze are usually just surface workers, not the entire colony.
Since termites do not completely disappear in the winter, homeowners should not let their guard down. The cold might slow these destructive pests down, but it will not eliminate them. If termites are already in your home, they will keep causing damage no matter what the temperature is outside. Because people are not expecting termites in winter, infestations can go unnoticed until the damage is severe. By the time spring arrives, termites may have already weakened parts of your home.
