Subterranean termites are the most damaging insects
of wood. Their presence is hard to notice and damage usually is found before the
termites are 
seen.
Prevent infestations because if they occur they will almost always need
professional pest control service.
Generally, the first sign of infestation is the
presence of swarming termites on the window or near indoor light. If they are
found inside the house, it almost always means that they have infested. Other
signs that may be found are termite wings on window sills or in cobwebs, and
shelter tubes which are tunnels constructed by the termites from soil or wood
and debris.
Usually, wood damage is not found at first, but
when it is found it definitely reveals a termite infestation. Anywhere wood
touches soil is a possible entry into a home for termites. Examine wood which
sounds dull or hollow when struck by a screwdriver or hammer. Inspect suspected
areas with a sharp, pointed tool such as an ice pick to find termite galleries
or their damage. 
Control measures include reducing the potential
infestation, preventing termite entry and applying chemicals for remedial
treatment.
Inspect thoroughly to determine if there is an
infestation, damage, and/or conditions that could invite a termite attack or the
need fo remedial control measures. The tools and equipment needed for an
inspection include a flashlight, ice pick or sharp-pointed screwdriver, ladder
and protective clothing.
Outdoors
Check the foundation of the house, garage and other
buildings for shelter tubes coming from the soil. Look closely around porches,
connecting patios, sidewalks, areas near kitchens or bathrooms and hard-to-see
places. Check window and door frames and where utility services enter the house
for termite infestation or wood decay. Also look behind shrubbery or plants near
walls. Pay special attention to areas where earth and wood meet such as fences,
stair carriages or trellises. Open and check any exterior electrical meter or
fuse box set into the wall, a common point of infestation.
Indoors
Carefully check all doors, window facings,
baseboards and hardwood flooring. Discoloration or stains on walls or ceilings
may mean that water is leaking and can decay wood and aid termite infestation.
It is very important to inspect where plumbing or utility pipes enter the
foundation or flooring. Also examine the attic for shelter tubes, water leakage,
and wood damage.
.
| Prevention
Many termite problems can be prevented. The
most important thing to do is deny termites access to food (wood), moisture and
shelter.Follow the sugestions below.
- have at least a 2-inch clearance between the house
and planter boxes or soil-filled porches
- elimiate all wood-to-soil contacts such as
trellises, fence posts, stair casings and doorfacings (they can be put on
masonary blocks or on treated wood)
- separate shrubbery from the house to help make it
easier to inspect the foundation line
- use wolmanized wood (pressure-treated wood) so that
rain will not rot it
- seal openings through the foundation
- remove wood scraps or stumps from around foundations
- have at least 12"-18" clearance between floor beams
and the soil underneath
|
Termite treatment often requires specialized equipment.
Therefore, it is recommended that you always use the services of a pest control
operator because he is familiar with construction principles and practices, has
the necessary equipment and knows about subterranean termites.
Exterminating
Termites
If you think you have a termite infestation in your
house, you need to call a structural pest control company to conduct a
professional inspection. To find a company, ask friends or coworkers for
recommendations, or check the yellow pages. If the inspection finds evidence of
drywood termites, you have several options, depending on the degree of
infestation. Fumigation and heating of the entire house are the only options
that ensure eradication in the entire structure. If the infestation is contained
in a small area, local or spot control may be effective. However, hidden
infestations in other part of the structure will not be
eredicated.
Total (Whole-House)
Eradication
For the heat method, pets, plants, and
other items that might be damaged by high temperatures must be removed. The
house is then covered with tarps, and hot air is blown into the tarp until the
inside temperature reaches 140 to 150F and the temperature of the structural
timbers reaches 120F. The time to complete this procedure varies greatly from
one structure to another, depending on factors such as the building's
construction and the weather conditions. The procedure may not be practical for
structures that cannot be heated evenly.
Local or Spot
Control
Local or spot control methods include
the use of pesticides, electric current, extreme cold, localized heat, microwave
energy, or any combination of these methods. Local or spot control also includes
the removal and replacement of infested structural timber. These methods are
intended to remove or kill termites only within the specific targeted area,
leaving open the possibility of other undetected infestations within the
structure. These treatments are NOT designed for whole-house eradication. Any
pest control company that claims whole-house results with local or spot control
methods is guilty of false advertising and should be
reported.
Local or spot treatment with
pesticides involves drilling and injecting pesticides into infested timbers, as
well as the topical application of toxic 
chemicals. The electric current method involves delivering electric
energy to targeted infestations. For the extreme cold method, liquid nitrogen is
pumped into wall voids adjacent to suspected infestation sites, reducing the
area to -20F. The localized heat method involves heating infested structural
timbers to 120F. The microwave method kills termites by directing microwaves
into termite-infested wood.
If you see the following signs
in your house, you might have termites:
sawdust-like droppings
dirt or mud-like tubes or trails on the structure
damaged wood members (like window sills)
swarming winged insects within
the structure, especially in the spring or fall
