Subterranean Termites - Formosan Map

Subterranean Termites - Contracts & Guarantee

Choosing a termite control provider in my mind should be based upon three things; Guarantee, Guarantee, and Guarantee. Now many of you will say there are other factors and yes I will agree that you are correct, but the contract and the guarantee it provides should be the most important since most termite control companies all roughly use the same products.

Below are my recommendations when having your home treated.

1. Contact at least 3 termite control companies. Ensure there is no cost for the estimate.

2. Ensure that each company not only provides you with a copy of their contract but a graphical inspection of your home which shows their findings. If a company will not provide you with a copy of their contract thank them and never call them back.

3. Ensure that the contract is a "lifetime Guarantee that covers re-treatment and repair". Many companies have termed contracts that expire in 5, 7, or 10 years. Termed contracts will require that you pay again to re-treat your home. These are often called booster treatments and is a way to show a lower initial treatment than a competitor that has a lifetime guarantee.

4. Ensure that the contract does not have any deductibles, co-pays, limitations and that the contract covers the structure as well as the contents of your home. Remember you are in charge!

5. Price is often a factor but the better the guarantee will often affect the price. When it comes to termite control guarantees you often get what you pay for! Do not fall into the trap of comparing prices, most of these companies use the same products. Bottom line, compare the guarantee not the price.

Subterranean Termites - Prevention & Treatment

Prevention

The most effective and economical time to implement termite prevention is during the planning and construction process. While I personally have very little faith in companies that perform pre-treats, I have often recommended that you work with your builder to ensure the company that is performing the pre-treat will provide you with a damage guarantee and not a service guarantee. A majority of structural termite infestations are associated with contact with the soil providing termites with food, shelter, moisture and entry into the structure that is very difficult to detect.



Wood, cardboard, paper and other cellulose materials in the soil can attract termites to a structure. These materials should not be buried in fills during the construction process. Mulch and wood chips can attract termites by providing both a food source and favorable moisture conditions. If mulch is used ensure that is does not come in contact with wood siding or framing of doors or windows. Firewood, landscape timers, compost piles and other cellulose material stacked close to a structure attract termites and provide a hidden entry point. to prevent infestation, the materials should be stacked as far from the structure as is practical.

Dense vegetation should not be allowed to grow against the siding and foundation of a building. Shrubs, vines, and trellises make inspection difficult and can trap moisture, increasing conditions favorable for wood decay and termites. High moisture conditions around a structure can contribute to a termite infestation. In additions to reducing vegetation in contact with the building, soil around a structure should be sloped so that surface water can drain.

Treatment
It would be difficult to list and describe every detail for the different treatments available for the management of subterranean termites. Soil treatment is the principal method used in control, and widely varying types of construction, make it necessary for termite management to think in terms of the principles of management involved in each situation and to adapt management methods to fit the situation. The first primary method used in the United States today is a liquid barrier treatment. I will go ahead and say right here up front that when I am asked which system I prefer I always recommend liquid. This is based upon my experience in the pest control industry and damage claims.

Liquid VS Bait
As with any technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to the use of termite baits compared to the use of liquid termiticides. One advantage to the baits is ease of use. The drilling of structural concrete is often not required with baits. Bait stations are placed approximately ever ten feet around the structure in the soil, whereas the liquid is placed continuously around the structure next to the foundation. The liquid will provide a better continuous barrier of protection around your home. The major disadvantage to bait is the length of time it takes a bait to eliminate a colony. For the most part liquids such as Termidor and Phantom will eliminate a colony within 90 days. Bait systems can take up to 24 months to achieve the same results depending on a number of factors. Also many bait contracts have a colony elimination period. Baits cannot easily be put under slabs or in wall voids where termites often occur. Thus damage may continue to occur until the colony is eliminated. Elimination of the colony may not actually be achieved; colony suppression is more likely, and this is satisfactory as long as damage does not occur.

In many cases, customers may find the idea of continuing damage to be unacceptable, and soil treatment may be desired. In a real estate transaction, it is difficult to issue a wood destroying insects report when termites might be active for an expanded period of time. Finally the absence of termite activity in bait stations may not mean the colony has been eliminated; since termites are sensitive to physical disturbance, it may mean that placing the bait in the station caused the termites to abandon the site and forage elsewhere.

Subterranean Termites - General

The management of termites is a major portion of pest control work in the United States. Termite managment specialists must be knowledgeable in building construction, termite biology and behavior. Due to the billions of dollars in damage that termite do I recommend that if you have a termite infestation that you contact a professional company that offers a guarantee.

Termites are the only members of the Isoptera family and are closely related to cockroaches. Termites harbor a one-celled ogransim in their digestive tract that converts cellouse into a substance the termites can digest. In nature, termites help convert dead wood and other organic materials containing cellulose to humus. Termites are social insects that are called castes.

At certain times of the year numerous small, immature, nymphal termites from mature colonies (usually 3 to 5 year) molt into alates, which are commonly known as swarmers. For most homeowners this is usually the first indication that termites are present. Evironmental conditions must be just right before termites will swarm. The temperature, mositure (both within and outside the colony), light conditions and even barometric pressure influence swarming activity. As a general rule, Eastern Subterranean Termite swarmers emerge on warm sunny days when the humidity is high. Formosan Subterranean Termite swarmers swarm in the early evening.

Termites require specific environmental conditions to survive. The soil in which they live provide these two important conditions, moisture and mud. While subterranean termites have preferences in the type of wood they eat, they will eat anything made of cellouse material. The Eastern Subterranean Termite prefers slash and loblolly pine, while the Formosan Subterranean Termite prefers sugar maple, slash and loblolly pine. The condition of the wood is also important. Decayed wood is eaten faster and preferred over sound wood. The average mature colony of Eastern Subterranean Termites contains about 60,000 to 1 million workers, while the Formosan Subterranean Termite colonly contains 350,000 to 2 million workers. Each termite can consume up to 3% of their body weight daily.