Do Outdoor Lights Attract Termites? (Important Facts!)

Termites are pests that can cause serious damage to homes and businesses. They eat wood, paper, and other cellulose materials. If termite infestations are left untreated, they can destroy wooden structures within a matter of months.

Outdoor lights are an integral part of modern life. They provide light at night and allow people to enjoy their outdoor spaces during the day. However, these lights can also attract termites. In fact, there are several ways that outdoor lighting can attract termites.

Termites are attracted to lights. They will crawl towards the light source and then dig tunnels under the house. If you notice termite activity around your home, contact an exterminator immediately.

In this article, I will discuss the different types of outdoor lights and explain how they affect termite activity. I will also give you some tips on how to prevent termite infestation.

How Does Outdoor Light Affect Termite Activity?

The most common way that outdoor lighting affects termite activity is through attracting insects like ants and cockroaches. Insects usually find food sources where there is plenty of moisture. This includes moist soil around plants, under decks, and even inside houses. When termites see insect prey nearby, they move towards the area to feed. Thus, outdoor lighting attracts termites to your home.

Another reason why outdoor lighting could lead to termite problems is that it provides shelter for termites. It has been observed that termites prefer dark areas over bright ones. So, when you install outdoor lighting, make sure that it does not cast shadows onto walls or ceilings. Also, don’t place outdoor lights close to trees or shrubs since those places tend to get wet easily.

Also, it gets confused and loses its sense of direction. This causes it to move towards the nearest object where it feels safe. It might end up entering through cracks in walls and ceilings. Once indoors, it starts feeding on food sources found there.

The brightness of the light attracts bugs and insects. Insects become attracted to the light itself rather than the food being served at night. 

Tips On How To Prevent Termite Infestation With Outdoors Lighting

If you want to avoid having termite problems caused by outdoor lighting, here are some useful tips:

1) Install outdoor lighting away from tree trunks and bushes. You should also keep the distance between outdoor lights and buildings/houses to ensure safety.

2) Make sure that outdoor lighting fixtures are placed far enough apart so that they won’t create shadows.

3) Keep outdoor lighting clean and free of debris. Cleaning up spills immediately helps eliminate pests attracted to the mess.

4) Avoid placing outdoor lighting near windows and doors. Windows and doors provide entry points for termites.

5) Don’t leave water containers outdoors overnight. Water left outside tends to attract mosquitoes and other flying insects. Mosquitoes carry diseases like malaria and West Nile virus.

6) Check regularly for signs of termite presence. Look for telltale signs including damp spots on floorboards, damaged woodwork, and rotten wood. These symptoms indicate that termites are present.

What Are The Different Types Of Outdoor Lighting?

There are many different kinds of outdoor lighting available today. Some of them include:

Solar-powered lamps

These solar powered lamps use sunlight as energy source for illumination. These lamps have no moving parts or batteries. Instead, they convert sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic cells. Solar-powered lamps do not require any maintenance and operate all year round without needing any power supply.

LEDs

Light emitting diodes is another type of outdoor lamp used in various applications such as streetlights, garden lights, etc. LEDs offer better performance than incandescent bulbs because they consume less energy while producing more lumens per watt compared with traditional bulbs. LED’s last longer too.

CFLs

Compact fluorescent lamps, which were once considered environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional incandescent bulbs, have been replaced by LEDs due to poor durability and efficiency issues. CFLs contain mercury, so it is important to dispose of them properly after usage.

Halogen Bulbs

This kind of bulb uses halogens instead of filaments to produce heat. Halogen bulbs emit high levels of ultraviolet radiation, which may be harmful if exposed directly to skin. Therefore, it is recommended that users wear protective clothing when working near these bulbs.