TERMITES (aka subterranean slimeballs)

More than 365,000 homes in the U.S. are involved in a fire each year. More than 600,000 U.S homes suffer termite damage totaling over 1.5 billion dollars annually. This is more than the annual damage caused by all fires, storms and earthquakes combined. More than 2 million homes need termite treatment each year.

A subterranean colony may have 60,000 to 1.5 million termites, including several “castes,” each with distinct functions and behaviors. These include reproductive (queen, king, and winged swarmers), soldiers and workers. Workers are small (0.1-0.25 inches long), about 1/20th as numerous as workers, and have a large, dark head, with long strong, sharp-pointed jaws, which they use to attack intruders. Property owners seldom see workers or soldiers, but in the spring or fall they may see swarming “winged reproductives”, which can easily be confused with a winged ant unless you look closely.

How to Tell Termites from Winged Ants:

All termites have a “thick waist” where their abdomen is joined to their middle body region (thorax): but all ants have a “pinched-in-waist” at that point.

All Termites’ antennae look like “strings of beads,” but all ants have “elbowed” antennae.

Termite swarmers have two pairs of long, narrow wings with very few clearly visible veins, and both the front and back pair is nearly equal in size and length. Winged ants have two pairs of wings with several distinct cross veins, shaped like long triangles, with the back pair much shorter than the front pair.

TERMITES: Preventive Measures You Can Take q Stack all firewood, lumber or other wooden items several fee away from your building. q Keep all wood supports of porches, patios, decks or separate buildings more than one foot from contact with your home’s foundations; and use only pressure- treated wood for all construction, which contacts the ground. Even treated wood has a limited protection period. q Move all wood-containing mulch (even cedar or redwood) and decorative wood chips at least on foot away from your foundation. Sand and stones can be just as attractive an alternative and they discourage pest (including termite) harborage next to your building. q Repair leaking water lines or fixtures, especially if they wet any part(s) of your house. Repair any eaves, downspouts or roofs, which allow your house to get wet even occasionally. q Monitor moisture levels and take steps to reduce moisture build-up in any crawl spaces. q Relocate frequently watered gardens or flowerbeds as far away from you house as you can.

Protect Your Home With Hopper’s Premier Pest Plan Plus. For one annual payment you receive top to bottom protection from Eastern subterranean termites, ants, cockroaches, crickets, fleas (optional), mice, rats, scorpions, spiders and silverfish.

CALL BY MAY 31, 2003 AND YOU CAN SAVE TWO WAYS:

1. Up to $50.00 off any annual pest protection plan and 2. An additional $25.00 off for each new customer you refer to us any time during 2003.

Tell a friend or family member to give us your name when they call for their first service appointment and you both save! We’ll post a $25 credit on your account that will be applied to your next service. In addition, we’ll give your friend a 10% discount off their first service.

CALL TODAY AND SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT! TOLL FREE 1-888-863-0206 or (870) 425-4122 www.hoppertermite.com