Brief Biology:

Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites, Dampwood Termites.

Dampwood Termites - If you have these types of termites in the home, you usually have an excessive moisture problem.  Leaky eaves or gutters, plumbing leaks or inadequate ventilation.  Dampwood Termites need a high moisture content to survive.  Dampwood Termites are usually found in wood buried in the ground.  Measure 3/4 inch and swarm year around and attracted to light.

Subterranean Termites are the most common and economically important wood-destroying organisms in the United States. 

Subterranean Termites build mud tubes above ground levels in search for food and water.  Subterranean Termites are social insects with castes.  Soldiers, workers, and reproductives.  Each colony varies on size approx 50-100,000 range.  Workers are 1/8 inch in length.  Workers are the most numerous in the colony, and those that actually eat the wood.  They search for food and water, repair damaged mud tubes, feed and groom other termites, and care for eggs and young termites.   They can gain access through expansion joints, voids, behind brick veneer or stucco, or cracks in the concrete.  Subterranean termites need to stay in close to their moisture source (ground), or if exposed to air or sunlight for too long, they will die.  Homeowners usually recognize signs of subterranean termite activity by visually spotting a mud tube or a termite swarm.

Termite Swarmer are winged termites, which you usually see in large numbers.  Swarming occurs in mature colonies that typically contain at least several thousand termites.  A swarm contains male and female reproductives that leave their colony, pair up, and establish a new colony.  A swarm is usually occurs when enviromental conditions are right.  Tempurature and moisture conditions are adequate, usually after a rain, and during the months of March, April, or May.  These swarms happen during the daytime, and the swarmers are attracted to light.  Swarms can occur inside the home in other months as well.  The presence of winged termites or dropped wings, usually around window frames and door frames are an indication of a termite infestation.

Drywood Termites are located near coastal areas.  If seen in a different state than the coastal states, usually these termites are tranported by furniture.  These termites do not need as much moisture to survive as their counterparts (subterranean termites)  Identification of infestation where fecal matter is squeezed from the termites and dropped out of the infested wood.  The colony size of drywood termites is significantly lower than subterranean termites.   Recommendations for minor infestations of Drywood Termites use a Dust Formulation or Aerosol.  For Large infestations call a professional pest control company for Fumigation. 

Treatment Methods:

Soil Treatments are creating a chemical barrier in the soil that is toxic to termites that come into contact with the treated soil.  Treatment must be applied as a contiuous barrier in the soil next to the foundation and crawl space interior perimeter and pillars.  Usually an effective termite barrier requires often 150 gallons of product depending on the size of home and type of construction (slab, basement, or crawl)

Termite Baiting Systems are designed to use wood or cellulose matrix with a slow acting toxic chemical for termites.  Termites will feed on the bait, tranfer active ingredient by grooming or trophallaxis, thereby reducing or eliminating the entire colony.

amd do it yourself pest control offers professional pest control products to the public.  We also have an eco friendly line for pest control.  free shipping on all products.