TERMITES

 

 

 BASICS

WHY ARE TERMITES SO DESTRUCTIVE? TERMITES ARE LONG-LIVED, THE COLONY IS SELF-PERPETUATING, AND TERMITES HAVE A CONSTANTLY  AVAILABLE FOOD SOURCE.

TERMITES ARE  SOCIAL INSECTS , ALL THEIR EFFORTS ARE DIRECTED TOWARD THE SUCCESS OF THE COLONY. THEY ARE PROTECTED FROM THEIR ENEMIES AND TEMPERATURE EXTREMES BY THEIR CRYPTOBIOTIC (HIDDEN) MODE OF LIFE.

THE DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF TERMITES IS ALSO RELATED TO THEIR LARGE COLONY SIZE. A MATURE COLONY OF EASTERN SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES CAN CONTAIN ABOUT 60,000 WORKERS.

 

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES

SUBTERANEAN TERMITES ARE THE MOST DESTRUCTIVE  AND WIDE SPREAD TERMITE GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES. SUBTERRANEANS EXCAVATE PASSAGE WAY THROUGH THE SOIL TO REACH CELLULOSE MATERIAL. WOOD CAN BE REACHED BY CONSTRUCTING SHELTER TUBES OR BY MOVING THROUGH CRACKS IN A FOUNDATION OR A SLAB.

 

TREATMENT

 

TREATMENTS INCLUDE TERMICIDES APPLIED TO THE SOIL OR BAITS

 

 

 DRY WOOD TERMITES

DRY WOOD TERMITES LIVE ENTIRELY  IN DRY SOUND WOOD. UNLIKE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES THEY REQUIRE NO CONNECTION TO THE SOIL AND NO ABOVE GROUND WATER SOURCE. ALL THE MOISTURE THEY REQUIRE IS OBTAINED FROM THE WOOD THEY CONSUME. DRY WOOD TERMITES ATTACK STRUCTURAL TIMBERS, WOOD WORK, FURNITURE AND WOODEN ARTICLES.  

NEW COLONIES ARE FORMED WNEN SWARMERS ENTER BUILDINGS THROUGH ATTIC VENTS, CRACKS IN SOFFITS, FACIA BOARDS, WINDOW FRAMES AND ROOF SHEATHING.

 TREATMENT

TREATMENTS INCLUDE.  SPOT TREATMENTS WITH TERMICIDES,    BAIT STATIONS, COMBINATION TREATMENTS OR FUMIGATION.