Termite Control Methods Fundamentals Explained

Removal can be achieved using a broom or vacuum.Fig. 2: Winged termites emerging indoors are a telltale sign of infestation.Q: How will I know if my home is infestedA: Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment. Since the swarmers are attracted to light, they often are seen around windows and doors.

Termites have straight antennae, a uniformly thickened waist, and wings of equal dimensions. Conversely, ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists, and forewings which are longer than the hind wings.Fig. 3: Termite swarmers are often confused with winged ants.Swarms of termites emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, etc. outside in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not necessarily mean the home is infested.

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Termites construct the tubes for refuge as they travel between their underground colonies and the structure. To help determine if an infestation is busy, the tubes might be broken open and assessed for the presence of little, creamy-white worker termites. If a tube happens to be vacant, it does not necessarily mean that the infestation is inactive; termites often abandon sections of tubing while foraging elsewhere in the structure.Fig.

5: Termite colonies contain many employees that consume wood and smaller numbers of soldiers (center) with jaws modified for defense.  Termite-damaged wood is hollowed out along the grain, with pieces of dried mud or dirt lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other types of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) will not have this appearance.

Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.Fig. 6: Termite-damaged hardwood has dirt lining the feeding galleries.Oftentimes there will be no clear indication of infestation. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for decades, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions.

Confirmation of termites often necessitates the keen eye of a professional -- however, even the most experienced inspector can miss signs which are hidden.Fig. 7: Termites are mysterious. This damage was detected when a vacuum head broke through a baseboard.  Q: Can I handle the house myselfA: Its best not to for home infestations.

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A knowledge of building construction is needed to identify critical areas where termites are more likely to enter. Many of these potential points of entry are hidden and hard to get. Termite control additionally uses specialized equipment such as powerful masonry drills, large-capacity spray tanks, and long metal rods for injecting soil.

A possible exception could be if a mailbox or other little wooden object not connected to the home was infested. "Do-it-yourself" products, offered to homeowners in retail stores or bought over the internet, will rarely eradicate an existing termite problem.Q: How do I select a termite company Why is there such variance in priceA: These are complex questions.

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Membership in their nation pest control association and/or National Pest Management Association suggest the company is an established company with access to technical and training information needed to do the work correctly. As with any support, references are very helpful. Consider calling a few companies. Requesting inspections and quotes from more than one will help confirm the existence of a termite infestation and allow you to compare services.Companies offer you different forms of treatment methods and warranties.

Some companies will also fix damage occurring after their treatment, even though dating onset of termite damage is a hard thing to determine. In some cases, no warranty will be provided if wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heat ducts, or inaccessible crawl spaces make it impossible to treat in accordance with industry standards.Take your time when selecting a company.

Avoid firms that attempt to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with specials or scare tactics. The overall quality of the project depends less on the sales person than the individual who ultimately does the job. A safe and effective termite treatment requires an experienced technician, not someone hired a few weeks ago.Q: Which treatment procedure is effectiveA: There are two general kinds of termite treatment -- liquids and baits.

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Their purpose is to extend a long-lasting barrier in the soil that prevents termites from entering and infesting buildings. In most scenarios, termites within the building die off as well, since they cannot return to the soil for supplemental moisture. Most former liquid termiticides were repellent rather than fatal to termites foraging in the soil.

Such products are usually more dependable click for info controlling infestations in the first attempt.Fig. 8: 2 treatment options for termites: liquid application (abandoned ), baiting (right) The other treatment class is baiting. Termite baits consist of cellulose-based meals combined with some slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The baits are installed below ground out in the lawn in cylindrical plastic stations.