Termites are insects that feed on wood and can be quite destructive to homes or other buildings. They are subterranean, which means they prefer the wood in basements and the underflooring. It is estimated that termites are responsible for more property damage in a year than fire and windstorms combined. Call UniversalPest.com today.
If you see flying ants with four wings of equal size, this is a termite. If they appear to be coming from the foundation of your home, wooden porches, or patios, it is likely that you have an infestation. Other signs include mud tubes around the foundation of a building.
When you contact your termite control company, you will begin discussing the various methods that can be used to rid yourself of these insects. There are two basic types of pesticides to be used on termites, liquid and bait.
Pesticides
Liquid pesticides are the traditional method for termite control. The liquid termiticide is sprayed under and around the structure forming a barrier. It will act as a repellant to keep termites from entering the building or as a lethal chemical that will kill them quickly. Depending on the way the building is structured, this can involve injections that require drilling through adjacent concrete.
Baits
Using baits is far less invasive. Hollow plastic cylinders with slits along the side are installed around the perimeter of the building. Then small amounts of food that is attractive to termites is added. This food has been treated with a slow acting insecticide. As the termite consumes the food and returns to the nest or infestation sites, the poison is spread to the colony. As the termites move from the cylinders to the nest, they leave a trail that will entice more termites and the process continues until the termites are all gone.
However, baiting is not without drawbacks. If the termites have enough food source in your house, it may take time before they locate the cylinders. It can also take time for the termiticide to take full effect on the entire colony. It may require return visits by the termite control company to refill the cylinders and check for activity. Meanwhile the termites continue to attack your structure.
There is another option. Fumigation is when the home is covered by an airtight tent that covers the entire building. A gas fumigant is pumped into the house and allowed to sit for a period of time. This gas permeates everything inside the tent: the building and contents. Humans and pets must remain out of the house for a minimum of 24 hours. The pesticide does not remain after the tent is removed and the building allowed to air out completely.
There are also treatments that create a barrier to prevent infestation in the first place. This frequently is applied during the construction phase of the house. After the house is built you can also use a barrier that involves excavation of a trench at least a foot deep and the use of chemicals to repel or kill termites. These are becoming more popular.
