Today's Termites Equal Tomorrow's Tragedies

There are over 2,000 species of termites, grouped into six families that comprise the insect order "Isoptera". Only a minority of these species are considered frequent invaders of human dwellings. The most damaging types(roughly 20 species) belong to the subterranean group, which received its name due to their nesting habits. The total number of individuals in a colony of subterranean termites may total MORE THAN ONE MILLION! Workers are small, whitish-colored, blind and very sensitive to heat, cold, and dry air. Due to their sensitivity, they build shelter or mud tubes that have an atmosphere of nearly 100 percent humidity. If you see these mud shelter tubes, with a diamter similar to the size of a pencil, contact your pest control professional and let them know you have spotted the first signs of a termite infestation.

Two of these species, the Eastern Subterranean Termites, "Reticulotermes flavipes" (Kollar), and the Western Subterranean Termites, "Reticulotermes hesperus" (Banks), are by far the most common, widest distributed and most damaging in the United States. Subterranean termites commonly live underground or in protected areas like wood galleries. There is always at least one queen present and sometimes many more "secondary reproductives". Most people never see a queen, but may have seen swarmers or workers.

How Can We Help?

Currently there are three types of termite treatments available for use by the professional: soil treatments, wood treatments, and baits.

SOIL TREATMENTS are liquid termiticides diluted with water to ensure adequate coverage on the ground. The injection of this material into the soil creates a treated area surrounding your house that repels or reduces the population of the termites that forage within that soil, and provides your house with long-term protection (usually five years). This is the most commonly used system and may be used in combination with baits and/or wood treatments.

WOOD TREATMENTS involve treating infested or potentially infested wood with properly labeled liquids, such as those used in a traditional soil treatment, or borate materials. This treatment type protects the wood from infestation and reduces or eliminates the infestation in the wood at the time of treatment.

BAITS involve installing bait stations in the ground. Termites attack the wood in the bait station and carry the active ingredient throughout the colony. This in turn reduces the population of the colony while eliminating structural infestation. Baits are very popular since there is no interior drilling and the process is typically less bothersome for the homeowner.

Call us today and we'll be happy to discuss the treatments that we offer and the advantages each method provides.