Termites Control

Termites Control

Behaviour

Termite Flock Map

Subterranean Termites

What should I be mindful for?

Mud tunnels - They are most likely to attack from beneath the structure, gaining access through the smallest cracks and imperfections in the foundation. Subterranean termites build shelter tubes made of mud, dirt and debris in order to travel to and from the food source without being seen. These tubes are about the size of a coin and are usually found on exterior and interior walls leading up to the entry points of the building.

Formosan Termites

Formosan termites are one of the most aggressive and destructive types of termites. Like other termites, these termites are known for destroying wood by boring tunnels through walls. Just one Formosan termite colony can potentially contain more than 10 million individual termites taking up residence in a plot of soil.

What should I be mindful for?

Mud tunnels - Formosan termites may create mud tunnels above the surface to avoid exposure to light. These termites generally live underground and tunnel through the soil in search of food.

Drywood Termites

These types of termites nest in the dry wood primarily found in wood structures, frames, flooring and furniture. They receive all of their nutrition from wood and, unlike other termites, do not require moisture from soil. Drywood termites can create multiple colonies within a home. While they are uncommon in cooler climates, they can survive in northern climates under the right conditions.

Drywood Termites construct a virtual city within the wood. They carve out galleries in wood beams and use tunnels to move from place to place. They also swarm annually to start new colonies.

Drywood termite infestations may only become apparent after a colony has burrowed so deeply into an infested item that the veneer cracks and the maze-like tunnels beneath become visible. Such damage is common in antique furniture pieces.

What should I be mindful for?

Wood Cracks - The swarming termite can enter a structure by penetrating the smallest crack of imperfection in the wood.

Attic and eave areas - These are prime targets for swarmers in search of a nesting location, as are windowsills, baseboards, beams and door frames.

Furniture and construction materials - They can be introduced into an environment through infested furniture or construction materials.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood Termites infest wood with high moisture content, creating tunnels while eating across the grain of the wood.

What should I watch out for?

Vulnerable wood - Wood in contact with the ground or with a high moisture content is vulnerable to attack.

Logs, stumps, dead trees, leaky pipes or gutters - These can also provide favorable conditions for Dampwood termites.

Common Signs of Termite Infestation

Termite Infestations

Termite infestations can compromise the structural stability of a home, and cause thousands of dollars in damage, without anyone even knowing. Thus, it’s important to get a termite inspection done by a licensed pest professional every one to three years to keep the property safe from termites. However, there are also some red flags signalling the presence of termites that homeowners can keep an eye out for on a regular basis. Here are the top five signs of termite infestation to look out for in your home.

Hotspots for termite infestation

These are too small for humans to see, found mainly in places such as baseboards, interior walls, window sills, under wooden floors, crawl spaces, and soffit areas. Occasionally, you may find signs of termite infestations in easier to reach places as in door frames, wooden furniture, door frames, and window frames. Termites aren't limited to wooden delicacies inside your home either; decks, patios, porches, tree stumps, sheds, and garages are also termite hotspots.

The first and most obvious sign of termite infestation are small, clear insect wings found scattered throughout the home's exterior and sometimes in the interior. Termites create new nests by flying to nearby locations; once they've landed at the perfect structure, they'll shed their wings and begin to reproduce.

The next sign of termite infestation may catch the eye of home or business owners that spend a lot of time outside—mud tunnels. These pencil-sized tubes are found protruding from exterior walls and provide termites with protection and moisture.

Termite Inspections

Termite Inspection

A termite inspection is exactly what it sounds like—an investigation to see if there are termites in or around your home. Like the extermination itself, a termite inspection typically isn’t a job for DIYers—it is a job best done by professionals.

A trained inspector (will) see things that you might miss.

Some of the things termite inspectors look for during an inspection include:

• Indentations in drywall, doors or window and wall facings
• Wood that sounds hollow when you knock on it
• Termite excrement (officially called frass, it resembles wood shavings)
• iny mud tunnels, usually near the foundation wall or any crack in the structure of the home (termites can build a whole system of interconnecting tunnels under your home)
• Actual termites

Termite inspectors will also check for signs of “swarmer’s.” These are the members of the colony that have wings. The insects will swarm, that implies leaving the original nest, when it’s time for them to venture out and start their own colonies. If termites are swarming, inspectors will either see them flying around or they will see little piles of termite wings in places like window sills and crawl spaces (when they drop their wings, that means they have found a mate).

The Indoor Inspection process

The inspector starts from the front door, checking thoroughly every room for evidence of infestation or decay damage. A special sounding tool is being used by the inspector for checking doorframes, gently probing suspicious areas to detect if wood has become hollow.

Next, he checks the wall surfaces, exit holes ceilings, floors, baseboards, dropped wings on door frames and window sills for any slightly raised areas in paint or under wallpaper. Any raised point indicates termite activity. He or she will also check for and. Afterwards, an examination is performed to examine cracks in cabinets as well as interior door and window frames.

The Outdoor Inspection process

The exterior inspection is being performed by the inspector by walking in a close proximity to the perimeter of the structure.

All wood to earth points of contact are thoroughly checked.

A detailed examination is done including mud tubes, drainage patters, sidings, windows and frames, downspouts and gutters

How to Get Rid of Termites

While you should leave termite removal to the professionals, knowing the methods they will use can help you in understanding how to kill termites, the best ways to treat the problem and help prevent it from recurring.

One popular method on how to get rid of termites involves treating the soil around your house with a termite insecticide, such as imidacloprid or fipronil. Wood can also be treated directly if termites are inside.

Termite baits are strategically placed around your yard to lure termites in. Once there, the termites are covered with a slow-acting insecticide or insect growth regulator. They then return to the colony and poison the other termites.

• Foam agents can be injected into areas liquid pesticides can't reach.
• Dust agents can be applied in areas where foam or liquid aren't practical.
• Fumigation kills all of the termites in an area but won't prevent their return.
• Don't disturb soil once it has been treated with termite-preventing chemicals.

Termite Prevention