JULY 30, 2016TERMITE TYPES AND PREVENTATIVE MEASURES
Termites have been around since the dinosaurs, when all they did was devour trees in the forest. But now, they eat away at homes to the annual cost of $5 billion in treatments and damages just in the U.S. They are a 24/7 pest, meaning they toil 24 hours a day, putting at risk the biggest investment most people make in their lifetime, their homes and property.
The two most common types of termites are “drywood” and “subterranean”. Both types eat cellulose for nutrition. Cellulose is found in wood and wood products. Both types have the “flying termite” or “winged reproductive”. These winged termites are new kings and queens attempting to establish a new colony. They may also be referred to as “swarmers”. Ant colonies also send “swarmers”, which have nearly the same appearance as termites, but may be identified upon closer inspection.
Human Interaction
Because of their wood eating habits, sometimes do great damage to unprotected buildings and other wood structures. Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until the timbers are severely damaged and exhibit changes. Once they have entered a building, they do not limit themselves to wood, they also damage paper, cloth, carpets, and other cellulose materials.
They usually avoid exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions. They tend to remain hidden in tunnels in earth and wood. Where they need to cross an impervious or unfavorable substrate, they cover their tracks with tubing made of feces, plant material, and soil. Sometimes these shelter tubes will extend for many feet, such as up the outside of a tree reaching from the soil to dead branches. Termite barrier systems used for protecting buildings aim to prevent concealed termite access, thus forcing the termites out into the open where they must form clearly visible shelter tubes to gain entry.
Drywood termite colonies develop slowly. The entire colony may take five years or more to mature. Drywoods are secretive insects and are difficult to detect, as they live deep inside wood and except during periods when they swarm or when repair work is being done on infested homes, they are seldom seen. Colonies are typically small, usually fewer than 1,000 termites and can be widely dispersed.
During a visual inspection for termites, inspectors look for feeding damage, shed wings, fecal pellets, and kickout holes, which are small holes the size of a BB shot through which they push fecal pellets out of the wood. Fecal pellets, hexagonal in shape, are diagnostic for drywood termites. However, whether the infestation is currently active or what the extent of the infestation is cannot be determined from pellets alone. Cleaning the pellets around a kickout hole and checking a few days later to see if new pellets have appeared can help to determine if an infestation is active. Building vibrations and movements may cause some pellets to appear. If an active infestation of drywood termites is found in your structure, it should be treated.
Drywood infestations are difficult to deal with. Most of the time, infestations are localized, as colonies live entirely with a particular piece of wood. But sometimes the infestation is not noticed until the colony has matured and produced alates that have already begun new, undetectable colonies in wood nearby. Localized treatment of the first colony then does nothing about the second or third that may be developing. Treatments are divided into several types: whole structure; compartmental, such as an attic; and local, such as a window sill. They range from fumigation and excessive temperature to wood injections and localized electrocution. Each method has its own pros and cons. Preventative treatments are generally made only when there has been a prior treatment for an infestation.
Termite Prevention
What can you do to protect your home and buildings?
Small steps can make a big difference in termite prevention and sustaining an effective termite treatment plan. The following simple steps can make your property a less attractive target and helps deter termites.
Eliminate Moisture Problems
o Repair leaking faucets, water pipes, and a/c units
o Divert water from foundation
o Keep gutters and downspouts clean
o Remove excessive plant cover and mulch
o Get rid of standing water on roof
o Keep all vents clear and open
o Seal entry points around water and utility lines and pipes
o Divert water from foundation
o Keep gutters and downspouts clean
o Remove excessive plant cover and mulch
o Get rid of standing water on roof
o Keep all vents clear and open
o Seal entry points around water and utility lines and pipes
Remove Food Sources
o Keep firewood, lumber, or paper away from foundation and crawl space
o Get rid of stumps and debris near house
o Place screens on outside vents
o Check decks and wooden fences for damage
o Wood on your home should not be in contact with the soil
o Get rid of stumps and debris near house
o Place screens on outside vents
o Check decks and wooden fences for damage
o Wood on your home should not be in contact with the soil
Termite Warning Signs
o A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around your home
o Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings)
o Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
o Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawlspaces
o Discarded wings from “swarmers.”
o Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings)
o Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
o Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawlspaces
o Discarded wings from “swarmers.”