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Pest Control 101 > Termites |
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TermitesTermites are active throughout the Winter and use Springtime as a time to send out swarmers. This "swarm" of flying termites indicates termite activity. Finding and treating termites early can save a lot of property damage, time, and money.Swarming termites are often mistaken for small ants. There are three key differences between the two: The termite swarmer appears to have two distinct body parts - a head which is attached to an oval body. The ant swarmer appears to have three sections - a head, a thorax, and an abdomen. Both are short; about 1/4" to 3/8" long. Both are dark in color. And, since many ants feed on termites, it is common to think the termites are part of the ant activity you recently noticed. Make note of where the swarming activity was most concentrated and so that when you treat the key areas are treated thoroughly. This is usually in one of several locations around the home. Porches, stoops, garage door jams, where garage slabs attach to basements, patios, any door entrance, furnace rooms, and crawl spaces with dirt floors. Termites do not like to expose themselves so they build dirt tunnels. These dirt tunnels may be easily seen on foundation walls. Keep in mind termites generally appear where it is damp and dark, but they will take advantage of whatever they can; including pressure treated lumber, decks, landscape timber, and even live trees!! In fact, it is not uncommon for an active termite population to kill a tree within a short period of time. Subterranean termites are the most common species of termites throughout the mainland United States. However the treatment methods, application techniques, and materials described below will work for all species. To a termite, anything with wood represents food. Once inside your home's frame, they will feed undetected in sill plates, wall studs, floor joists, or any wood they can access. This food will lure a continuous flow of worker termites to your house. Treatments to prevent a termite infestation usually include creating a chemical barrier in the soil around your house. The chemical will bind to the soil and provide 3 to 5 years of protection. This will keep foraging termites from finding your house and feeding on it. Use a professional quality Termiticide. Our Termiticide's label shows two application rates. Use the lesser rate and you should expect 3 years of protection; use the stronger rate and you should expect 5 years of protection. In general, don't wait longer than 5 years to retreat. The simple process of renewing the chemical barrier around the home insures you won't get renewed termite activity! This product should be applied after you have dug a trench around the home approximately 4-6 inches deep with a Trenching tool. Termiticide has low odor and is easy to work with. Apply the material to the trench using a garden Garden Hose Sprayer. These sprayers are easy to use. Simply pour the concentrate into the sprayer, dial it in to the proper number which depends on the concentrate being used, hook it to your garden hose, and spray. This sprayer works by sucking out the concentrate, mixing it with the water flowing from the hose, and spraying it where you direct the stream. Use this sprayer for treating trenches, but it can also be used if you are treating mulch piles, pine straw, wood chips, playgrounds, and other wood around the home where termites like to feed. If you have termite tunnels going up a tree, be sure to treat it at the base. Trees will easily die from the termites and are more sensitive than most people realize. More important, allowing a termite colony access to such a food source will keep them active close to your home which will inevitably lead to them getting inside. Try to treat the base of trees prior to putting down any wood chips, mulch, or pine straw so that the treatment will be more thorough and complete. If you already have wood damage or what might be current termite activity inside a wall, use some Baygon Invader HPX aerosol. This product comes in an aerosol can with a tube that lets you inject it deep into damaged wood cavities or tunnels created by termites. Baygon is easy to use, kills termites on contact and will last for several months in the wood. You may need to drill small access holes to place the tube for injection. If the wood is damaged, the Baygon will flow into the cavities and penetrate a foot or two. Drill your access holes 12" apart to insure proper coverage. If you have a large area of exposed wood you would like to treat, use Boracare. This product is in the Boron family so it is both low in odor and safe. It is clear, mixes with water, and is applied with a Pump Sprayer. Boracare has special carriers which enable it to penetrate untreated wood. Boracare works as a stomach poison. If termites try to eat treated wood, they will die. Boracare lasts a long time. A good treatment is expected to last several years and even longer when applied into protected wall voids where breakdown due to rain and sunshine will not occur. Both the Baygon and Boracare treatment options are great for subterranean termites which are in the wall as well as drywood termite activity. The rule is simple; if you have a small area to treat, the Baygon will be fine. If you have a large area like wood joists and the sill plates above a crawl space, use the Boracare. |
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