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attention, call 866-949-6097.
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Termites and Termite Prevention
Since termites are a constant threat to your home, here are some things you can do during the year to help maintain the effectiveness of The Orkin Man’s termite treatment plan.
What Can You Do to Help Protect Your Home?
Small steps make a big difference in termite prevention and sustaining an effective termite treatment plan. Start by eliminating moisture conditions and food around your home. These simple steps make your home a less attractive target, helping deter termites.
| About Termites | Types of Termites |
| Termite Damage
Termite Damage and Real Estate Transactions |
Property Damage
Pre-Construction Termite Control |
| Killing Termites
Do It Yourself Termite Control Alternative and Natural Termite Treatment Methods Boric Acid for Termite Control Effectiveness of Subterranean Termite Control |
Termite Facts |
| Life Cycle |
Pre-Construction Termite Control |
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Do It Yourself Termite Control |
Wood DamageThe pattern in which subterranean termites feed on a piece of wood is hard to miss. These cellulose-loving insects can leave nothing behind but the wood grain. However, termite damage is usually hidden, due to the insects’ habit of eating the wood from the inside out. |
Discarded WingsEven if you miss an exterior termite swarm, it may not be difficult to see that it took place. Soon after swarmers take flight, they shed their wings, leaving small piles of wings behind in spider webs and on surfaces around the home’s foundation. |
Termite SwarmersSwarmers from mature colonies typically spread their wings and leave their colonies in the springtime in order to start new colonies. Swarms on the exterior of a home may be missed by homeowners, as they are typically brief events during the morning or afternoon — a time when many of people are not at home. Formosan termites can also swarm at dusk. |
Mud TubesSubterranean termites build mud tubes (also known as shelter tubes) to serve as bridges between their colony and the wood they are feasting on. These tubes are made of tiny pieces of soil, wood and debris, and are used to protect the colony from predators and conserve moisture. |
Termite MoundsWhile termites in the United States cause billions of dollars in damage every year, no North American termite species is known to build mounds. Termites that construct their colonies above ground live primarily in Africa and Australia. |
Termite DroppingsBecause termites don’t have the luxury of indoor plumbing, drywood termites often leave behind frass or droppings. These tiny fecal mounds often mean the wood above is infested with termites. |
Termites are often called the “silent destroyer” because they may be secretly hiding and thriving in your basement or yard without any immediate signs of damage. While each termite species thrives in different climates and eats different types of food, wall termites require four things to survive — food, moisture, shelter and optimal temperature. Unfortunately, all homes, regardless of their construction type, can provide these ideal conditions for termite infestation.
Winged TermitesWinged termites have no apparent waist and straight antennae. Their wings are equal in size and are shed soon after they swarm. Winged termites usually swarm in the early spring when it is warm and rainy. |
Flying AntsFlying ants have narrow waists and bent antennae. They have two sets of wings, one larger than the other, and usually do not shed their wings. Depending on their species, flying ants may swarm at different times of the year. |
Carpenter AntsLike termites, carpenter ants are wooddestroying insects. Carpenter ants may or may not have wings, and those with wings tend to have the same basic characteristics as other flying ants. Compared to worker termites, carpenter ants are much larger in size, with hard — rather than soft — bodies, and a generally darker color. |
Did You Know? |
Your home and its surrounding environment can offer just the right combination of food, moisture and warmth to attract termites. A crack in the foundation as thin as an average business card (1/32”) is all the space termites need to move into your home. Areas of insufficient grading, which allow water to form in puddles around the foundation, as well as run-off moisture from air conditioning units and debris in crawl spaces, are all prime targets for termites. Regular inspections of your home by a termite specialist can help identify clues of termite invasion.
There are many different types of termite treatments available to homeowners, so how will you know which one is best for your home? This decision should be made carefully, following careful research of the options recommended by your trusted termite specialist. Because your home is unique, it is important that you work closely with your termite specialist to develop an appropriate and effective termite treatment plan.
Subterranean Termite Treatment OptionsLiquid Application with Repellent or with Non-RepellentThese types of treatments can be used inside and outside your home, and can also be injected directly into an infested area. Repellent products do not attract termites, but instead make an area unappealing to termites. If a termite does find its way through a repellent producttreated barrier, the termite will be controlled within minutes or hours after encountering the product. On the other hand, non-repellent products are not easily detected by termites, so the insects do not know to avoid the treated area. Forager termites are the first to confront these non-repellent products, which are then shared with the rest of the colony — effectively controlling the colony’s members. Liquid Application with Bait and Monitoring System This system uses a combination of liquid treatment at the entry points and infestation sites of a home, as well as termite monitoring stations at various locations around your house. If your termite professional detects termites, the monitoring stations are replaced with bait stations. Termites will then ingest the bait and share it with their nest mates, leading to effective control of the colony. Drywood Termite Treatment OptionsWood TreatmentOdorless and immediately effective, wood treatment offers protection against further termite infestations. This treatment can be applied directly to the wood or injected into bare wood. Entire Structure Treatment or Fumigation With the ability to treat every area of your home, entire structure treatment, or fumigation, is often recommended when multiple termite colonies are found in one structure. Fumigation involves a tent that envelops your home or business before termite specialists release gas, which spreads throughout your home to reach every crack and crevice that may be harboring termites. Since each infestation is unique, be sure to partner with your termite specialist to create a customized plan to treat your home. |
What Should I Look for in a Termite Specialist? You may realize that you have termites in your home after you identify certain warning signs. Similarly, you can also recognize a qualified termite specialist by certain signs. A qualified termite specialist should possess the following qualities:
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© Orkin, Inc. 2009