Termite FAQ

Termites come in about two-thousand flavors, 50 different types in North America alone. In common are their hard heads that have a mouth they use to destroy things. People mistake them as relatives to ants. Actually they are very close relatives of cockroaches.

There’s a lot to learn from this tiny beasts. Here the top eight fFAQs for your garden variety termite:

What’s a Termite?

We already know they live on wood. We can trace the insect back to about 20-million years on our continent.
There are three types of termites: Subterranean, drywood and dampwood. Subterranean are small and common. Drywood eat wood above soil level. Dampwood are huge, like a ½ inch or bigger huge.

They Eat What?

While we say they eat wood, actually what they need is cellulose. But, as you know, cellulose is primarily what wood consists of.

Do I Have a Termite Problem?

It’s hard to fight something that you rarely see. In autumn and spring, though, you might spot what is called a “swarmer.” These are what the colony coronate as queens and kings. As in medieval times, these leaders plod away from the gang to find new colonies. Most of them fail, but about a percent of them succeed.

What you’re looking for, when the royalty beats the odds, are tubes the size of a pencil, or pellets that appear to be peppercorns. See any of those around the house, call a pro. You may have a problem.

The Treatment

This is why you need to bring a pro into the mix. There are many variables to weigh: Which of the three kinds of termites do you have? Have you counted the pellets and tubes? How many are there?

If these objects appear around a tree stump or a wood pile, probably nothing to worry about.

Inspections take very little time and don’t cost an arm-and-a-leg. In some cases, you may pay nothing at all.

Options

This is another question to pose to your chosen contractor. The degree of infestation, species and the extent of the problem will determine the chemical or non-chemical ways the professional will use to rid your abode of termites.

Safety

State and federal law regulate the use of pesticides for you, your house and the professional’s safety. Here’s a warning: If you see an infomercial on the TV, get a telemarketing call or buy something online, be suspicious and careful. As we said before, different strokes for different folks. Each infestation is different.

Can Inspection and Treatment be a DIY Project?

In a word, no. Inspections are not all-that-simple. And getting rid of the tiny monsters can be dangerous. Leave this kind of job to a pro. And incidentally, the most effective treatment materials are not licensed for non-professional use.

Prevention

Termites prey on wood so, if you have any wood collecting outside your home and near your house’s structure, get rid of it. Furthermore, that means any cellulose materials that are in contact with the soil need to be dumped, too. You also want to fix any leaks or dry-up any pools of water. Do a walk-around your house and property, looking for pellets and tubes that are termite hatchlings.

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.