Termites can cause an incredible amount of damage to your property in a short amount of time, but you'd be surprised how many people figure they can 'fix' the problem by themselves.
They try to fumigate on their own and then a few weeks later stumble over more termites. Which means more time has been wasted and more wooden structure damaged. Why is seeking professional help necessary to fully ensure that a damaging termite infestation has been truly ended?
Because of the problems posed by the lifespan of termites and how they reproduce. You don't get the entire colony, especially the Queen termites, they might not be visible for awhile, but they'll still be there, breeding and reproducing quickly until they make their presence know again by tunneling through the wood of your house in new areas.
A termite infestation starts with the arrival of the King and Queen termites. The male fertilizes the female constantly, who will be frequently laying eggs that hatch into pale white larvae. Over several molting stages these larvae grow and are transformed into several different types of colony termites.
Workers are sexually undeveloped and are the most numerically evident. Their job is to do all the eating away at wood to construct all the tunnels and chambers that the colony needs as well as feeding and carrying for the young larvae that just hatched. The soldier caste of termites have far bigger heads than workers and their mandibles are larger, which aids them in combat with other insect species. The nymphs, or alates, are black colored and are born with two pairs of large wings. Their job is to reproduce and aid the colony in increasing in size.
A colony is adaptable in its makeup of the three types of castes that comprise it. Depending on the need of the colony, one type of termite can actually transform itself into another. That means if there is an attempt to exterminate the colony that kills most of the workers and soldiers but misses the Queen termites and the nymphs, some of the nymphs will begin changing into workers and soldiers until the new generations of freshly hatched larvae are ready to assume those roles.
You can see why this would mean an extermination effort that wasn't professional, that only got 90% of the termites, but missed the Queen and some others, would in the end be a futile effort.
Here's the last reason why you need professional help to ensure a termite infestation has been completely destroyed: While the other types of termites live just a year or two, the lifespan of the termite Queen is up to fifty years if the climate conditions are optimal. That Queen can lay up to 1,000 eggs a day if conditions are right.
With these facts about the lifespan of termites in mind, it's clear the best option when faced with a termite infestation of your home is to get experienced, professional pest control help to ensure 100% of the infestation is dealt with.
Showing posts with label termite treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label termite treatment. Show all posts
Friday, March 15, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Ins and Outs of Termite Fumigation
Termites are destructive and dangerous insects. If not taken due care of, they can cause extensive damage to wood and force you to spend large sums of money to make repairs on your home damaged by termites. If you discover you have termites in your home or office, take urgent steps to eliminate the problem with an efficient method of termite control such as termite fumigation.
Here is how to go about termite fumigation:
1. Make sure that you really have termites in your house. You might notice damage to door frames and moldings and consider them to be the work of termites. Although these are signs of being infested by termites, there are several other insects that imitate actions of termites. It is advisable to hire services of a professional pest control company to confirm your fears. Most companies will do this inspection free of charge, in the hopes that you will purchase their termite fumigation services.
2. Clear the place to be treated by chemicals of all pets and family members. Products that kill termites can prove dangerously toxic to humans and animals, so the family, especially children, should remain away from the fumes. If needed, board your pets to make them stay away.
3. Take adequate protection against the toxic chemical that you will be handling, in case you decide to fumigate the house yourself. Wear clothes that cover most of your skin. Use protective gloves, safety glasses to prevent chemicals from entering your eyes, and a mask to cover your mouth and nose to keep fumes from entering your respiratory tract.
4. Apply the product to the infested area. Generally these products must be diluted and used as per instructions, so read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the product that you have chosen. The best way is to spray it with a sprayer. Pest controllers' sprayers generally require between 100 and 200 gallons of solution. However if you are using a smaller spray, be ready to charge it again.
Preparing the house for termite fumigation is an activity that deserves special attention. Here is what to do to prepare your house for fumigation.
1. Remove any food from the cupboards and the fridge. Put the remaining articles in protective bags. There is no need to remove cans and bottles that are unopened.
2. Get all the plants and animals out of the house. Ask your friends or relatives to take care of your pets for a while or leave them in a kennel during the fumigation. Put plants in the home of a friend, or just put them outside if the weather permits.
3. Notify your neighbors so that they can keep away their children and pets from fumes that rise during termite fumigation.
4. Removes all mattresses, pillows, and stuffed toys that you may sleep with regularly, especially babies' mattresses and stuffed toys.
5. Take your extremely valuable possessions with you out of the house and make a checklist of the ones that you have left behind. This will come in handy when you hire a professional fumigation company and unknown people will gain entry into the house.
Fumigation is an effective method for complete elimination of termites in a house, but the house must be properly set to ensure the safety of its occupants. Fumigation requires that the home is fully insulated and sealed before releasing poisoned gas to kill termites. You must leave the house for 24 hours or more after the fumigation process and only return when a licensed practitioner has verified the safety of the house.
Here is how to go about termite fumigation:
1. Make sure that you really have termites in your house. You might notice damage to door frames and moldings and consider them to be the work of termites. Although these are signs of being infested by termites, there are several other insects that imitate actions of termites. It is advisable to hire services of a professional pest control company to confirm your fears. Most companies will do this inspection free of charge, in the hopes that you will purchase their termite fumigation services.
2. Clear the place to be treated by chemicals of all pets and family members. Products that kill termites can prove dangerously toxic to humans and animals, so the family, especially children, should remain away from the fumes. If needed, board your pets to make them stay away.
3. Take adequate protection against the toxic chemical that you will be handling, in case you decide to fumigate the house yourself. Wear clothes that cover most of your skin. Use protective gloves, safety glasses to prevent chemicals from entering your eyes, and a mask to cover your mouth and nose to keep fumes from entering your respiratory tract.
4. Apply the product to the infested area. Generally these products must be diluted and used as per instructions, so read and follow the manufacturer's instructions for the product that you have chosen. The best way is to spray it with a sprayer. Pest controllers' sprayers generally require between 100 and 200 gallons of solution. However if you are using a smaller spray, be ready to charge it again.
Preparing the house for termite fumigation is an activity that deserves special attention. Here is what to do to prepare your house for fumigation.
1. Remove any food from the cupboards and the fridge. Put the remaining articles in protective bags. There is no need to remove cans and bottles that are unopened.
2. Get all the plants and animals out of the house. Ask your friends or relatives to take care of your pets for a while or leave them in a kennel during the fumigation. Put plants in the home of a friend, or just put them outside if the weather permits.
3. Notify your neighbors so that they can keep away their children and pets from fumes that rise during termite fumigation.
4. Removes all mattresses, pillows, and stuffed toys that you may sleep with regularly, especially babies' mattresses and stuffed toys.
5. Take your extremely valuable possessions with you out of the house and make a checklist of the ones that you have left behind. This will come in handy when you hire a professional fumigation company and unknown people will gain entry into the house.
Fumigation is an effective method for complete elimination of termites in a house, but the house must be properly set to ensure the safety of its occupants. Fumigation requires that the home is fully insulated and sealed before releasing poisoned gas to kill termites. You must leave the house for 24 hours or more after the fumigation process and only return when a licensed practitioner has verified the safety of the house.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Identifying Termites
How can I get rid of termites? This is one of the most popular questions that are usually raised when it comes to home improvement. Termites are a type of pestilence that everyone hates. They are very destructive and they do this in different ways. Termites love to nest and breed in moist areas, moving from one place to another. They can render useless whatever they come in to contact with. Be it windows, doors, wooden furniture or roof tops, termites are very ready to do some damage. In short, nothing escapes the wicked act of these tiny insects. However, there are various ways to deal with these insects, but you have to learn the termite identification process.
The termite identification process is a very important step to eradicate termites once and for all. Even though you want to hire professionals to help you kill termites, it is you who will identify it beforehand. Termites are composed of several groups, the soldiers, reproductive, and worker termites. They all have different appearances. The soldiers have mandibles while the reproductive have wings. However, worker ants have no wings and they are smaller than the reproductive termites. Worker termites are the most numerous and are the main wood eaters.
Worker termites are popularly called wood termites because they love living in woods. They can thrive in dead logs or branches. Wood is more like a precious commodity for termites because they have nowhere else to live, eat, and thrive.
The reproductive termites are also known as queen termites. Their main purpose is to reproduce for the termite colonies. An average termite queen will lay thousands of eggs every year and it would live for as long as thirty years. Perhaps this little knowledge about termites will help you during the process of termite identification.
Termites are different from flying ants. Although some termites have wings, there are certain differences in their physical appearance. You can see the difference between a flying ant and a termite if you look carefully. The antennae of ants are straight, while those of termites are in a beaded form. Termites have grayish white wings, while ants have transparent wings. There are other distinguishing factors between flying ants and termites.
If you are a busy person, it is important that you find a termite control company to help you identify and eliminate termites from your home. Termites can do more than damage your furniture. These termites dig holes through pieces of dry wood or furniture. When this happens, your home furniture will begin to look unattractive. A professional pest control company can use the process of fumigation to kill any insect that may be present in the home. This involves the use of chemicals, which is usually spread all over the dwelling to kill the infestation. This process of pest control must not be performed by a lay person, so call a professional fumigation or pest control company if you are finding it difficult to identify and kill termites.
The termite identification process is a very important step to eradicate termites once and for all. Even though you want to hire professionals to help you kill termites, it is you who will identify it beforehand. Termites are composed of several groups, the soldiers, reproductive, and worker termites. They all have different appearances. The soldiers have mandibles while the reproductive have wings. However, worker ants have no wings and they are smaller than the reproductive termites. Worker termites are the most numerous and are the main wood eaters.
Worker termites are popularly called wood termites because they love living in woods. They can thrive in dead logs or branches. Wood is more like a precious commodity for termites because they have nowhere else to live, eat, and thrive.
The reproductive termites are also known as queen termites. Their main purpose is to reproduce for the termite colonies. An average termite queen will lay thousands of eggs every year and it would live for as long as thirty years. Perhaps this little knowledge about termites will help you during the process of termite identification.
Termites are different from flying ants. Although some termites have wings, there are certain differences in their physical appearance. You can see the difference between a flying ant and a termite if you look carefully. The antennae of ants are straight, while those of termites are in a beaded form. Termites have grayish white wings, while ants have transparent wings. There are other distinguishing factors between flying ants and termites.
If you are a busy person, it is important that you find a termite control company to help you identify and eliminate termites from your home. Termites can do more than damage your furniture. These termites dig holes through pieces of dry wood or furniture. When this happens, your home furniture will begin to look unattractive. A professional pest control company can use the process of fumigation to kill any insect that may be present in the home. This involves the use of chemicals, which is usually spread all over the dwelling to kill the infestation. This process of pest control must not be performed by a lay person, so call a professional fumigation or pest control company if you are finding it difficult to identify and kill termites.
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Do-It-Yourself Termite Control
If
you notice any signs of termite infestation in your house, then termite treatment should be started as soon as possible. Termite infestation can prove
to be dangerous for your household as a swarm can easily destroy furniture in
your home. Here are do-it-yourself termite control tips for both home and
business owners.
First, watch out for termite tubes. The presence of pencil-thick tubes made of mud on the exterior surfaces of your home is a clear indication that there is a termite infestation.
The second step in do-it-yourself termite control is determining the type of termite swarm nesting close to your property and choosing the right method of treatment for that particular type of termite. There are three main types of termites: the subterranean, Formosan, and the dry-wood termite. The latter two are easily identified by their fecal pellets which closely resemble sawdust. The dry-wood termites are mostly found in the attic but can easily spread quickly to other parts of the house.
If, on the other hand, you notice mud tunnels made by termites on the walls or near the basement, you can be sure that a subterranean termite swarm is close nearby. These require moisture for survival and that is why they are mostly found underground, in damp locations or wet wood in the house. Subterranean termites are larger than the dry-wood ones. The Formosan termite is found in the southern parts of the US but is more common in parts of Asia. The identification of the termite type is important as control measures vary depending on the type.
As you're interested in the best do-it-yourself termite control measures, it is imperative for you to undertake a study on the available options. You can do an online check on the appropriate termite treatment method. The most common methods of termite control include fumigation, liquid treatments, termite baits, and borate.
Liquid pesticide is the oldest method used for termite extermination. The pesticides are either in two forms: repellent and non-repellent. Repellents prevent entry of termites in your property whereas non-repellents kill termites that have already infested your premises. Liquid pesticides for termite control, also referred to as 'termiticides,' are pumped in the cracks of buildings and on the ground.
Termite baits are a much newer concept in termite extermination. Other than being environmentally friendly, this method is very effective. This is how it works: the bait, which consists of a number of plastic stakes, is inserted in the ground at strategic points around the property. The stakes contain growth inhibitors which result in eventual death of the termite.
Preventive measures such as borate treatment should also be considered. In borate treatment, sodium borate is mixed with water and then applied on all wooden surfaces. The chemical kills the protozoa present in the digestive tract of the termites. Consequently, they die of starvation.
Unlike other termite extermination methods, fumigation is meant to combat dry-wood termites. The method is also best left to professionals. However, here’s a quick termite tip: divert water away from your property to prevent it from accumulating around your home's foundation. This way you'll make it less prone to termite infestation. Clear all vegetation, shrubs and stumps around your property - there should be no direct contact between wood and soil.
Those are the do-it-yourself termite control measures home and business owners should take to protect their property.
First, watch out for termite tubes. The presence of pencil-thick tubes made of mud on the exterior surfaces of your home is a clear indication that there is a termite infestation.
The second step in do-it-yourself termite control is determining the type of termite swarm nesting close to your property and choosing the right method of treatment for that particular type of termite. There are three main types of termites: the subterranean, Formosan, and the dry-wood termite. The latter two are easily identified by their fecal pellets which closely resemble sawdust. The dry-wood termites are mostly found in the attic but can easily spread quickly to other parts of the house.
If, on the other hand, you notice mud tunnels made by termites on the walls or near the basement, you can be sure that a subterranean termite swarm is close nearby. These require moisture for survival and that is why they are mostly found underground, in damp locations or wet wood in the house. Subterranean termites are larger than the dry-wood ones. The Formosan termite is found in the southern parts of the US but is more common in parts of Asia. The identification of the termite type is important as control measures vary depending on the type.
As you're interested in the best do-it-yourself termite control measures, it is imperative for you to undertake a study on the available options. You can do an online check on the appropriate termite treatment method. The most common methods of termite control include fumigation, liquid treatments, termite baits, and borate.
Liquid pesticide is the oldest method used for termite extermination. The pesticides are either in two forms: repellent and non-repellent. Repellents prevent entry of termites in your property whereas non-repellents kill termites that have already infested your premises. Liquid pesticides for termite control, also referred to as 'termiticides,' are pumped in the cracks of buildings and on the ground.
Termite baits are a much newer concept in termite extermination. Other than being environmentally friendly, this method is very effective. This is how it works: the bait, which consists of a number of plastic stakes, is inserted in the ground at strategic points around the property. The stakes contain growth inhibitors which result in eventual death of the termite.
Preventive measures such as borate treatment should also be considered. In borate treatment, sodium borate is mixed with water and then applied on all wooden surfaces. The chemical kills the protozoa present in the digestive tract of the termites. Consequently, they die of starvation.
Unlike other termite extermination methods, fumigation is meant to combat dry-wood termites. The method is also best left to professionals. However, here’s a quick termite tip: divert water away from your property to prevent it from accumulating around your home's foundation. This way you'll make it less prone to termite infestation. Clear all vegetation, shrubs and stumps around your property - there should be no direct contact between wood and soil.
Those are the do-it-yourself termite control measures home and business owners should take to protect their property.
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