The subterranean termite is the most common termite infesting homes and businesses in the Northeastern U.S., so we’re focusing on subterranean termite prevention in this article. Termites cause nearly 3 times as much damage to wooden structures and crops as fires in the U.S. Put more exactly, fires account for about $11 billion annually in structural damage. Termites account for about $30 billion! So, “Termite Prevention Basics” begins with how to prevent the subterranean termite.

Subterranean termites, as the name indicates, live under ground and do not like to be exposed to the light. They’ve developed an ingenious method of staying underground, yet managing to get into the structure of a home. To do this, subterranean termites create a mud tunnel connecting their underground habitat with the structure they want to enter. In this way, they can literally enter a wooden structure without leaving their natural earthen habitat.

And here is the basic clue to preventing subterranean termites: Keep things dry. No moisture = no mud = no tunnel = no slick freeway entrance into the structure of your home or business = no expensive termite damage.

You see, whereas carpenter ants eat the kind of food we humans eat, and only create galleries for living in the wooden structure of a home, termites eat wood. Carpenter ants will usually leave the wooden structure fairly intact, minus their smooth galleries. Termites will turn the wooden structure into a crumbling mess, and, if untreated, actually bring the entire house down!

Termite Prevention Basics – Avoid the Moisture That Attracts Termites

Consider and systematically eliminate the many ways that moisture can get into or under your home. Here are a few examples, but be creative and thorough as you consider your own home. We’ll start from the roof and work our way down:

• Leaky roof, missing shingles, poor moisture barrier under the shingles.
• Leaky gutters sending rain run-off down your homes siding and into the wooden framework.
• Leaky plumbing. Inspect all pipes regularly. Do you have a boiler? Inspect that system also. Drippy faucets, running toilet, drain pipes – include these.
• Trees and shrubs rubbing up against the side of your house, or overhanging your home, dripping…water!
• Mulch touching the siding of your home. The mulch gets soaking wet during the rain. Guess what happens to the siding? The termites may not even need much of a mud tunnel to enter into your home.
• Poor drainage: Does the ground around your house slope towards your house? Reverse the slope. Sounds like a big project, but not as big as replacing your home!
• Check the garden hose connection for leakage.
• Next time it rains, watch where the rain water flows. Make sure it flows away from your home.

Termite Prevention Basics – Seal Any Openings

In their winged reproductive phase, termites mate, fly to a location where there is moist, welcoming wood (they can sense the presence of moist wood–probably smells like your favorite meal). Then they enter the building, quickly drop their wings, and burrow into the moist wood to lay eggs and create a new colony of wood eating termites.

Where are openings likely to be found? Again, let’s start from the roof and work our way down:

• Missing shingles.
• Openings in your homes siding, from warped or broken siding.
• Poorly caulked window and door frames.
• Cracked foundation.
• Again, be creative. If there’s an opening or crack, no matter how small, it’s a great entrance for a winged termite.

Note: If your home is completely sealed and you notice termite wings on your windowsill or around your home, it may be an inside job! The colony may already be present in your home.

Termite Prevention Basics – Now, Inspect Your Property

Don’t stop with your home. Inspect your property, and any adjacent wooded areas. Here’s what to look for:

• Wood piles: Keep them 20 feet from your home and garage, and out of direct contact with the ground. Create a moisture barrier or raise them up on some kind of water-proof support. This includes both firewood and lumber.
• Do your neighbors have termites? If so, it’s only a matter of time before they find their way into your home.
• Dead rotting trees, tree stumps, roots. These create perfect conditions for a termite colony which can then send winged emissaries into your home to create colony #2 or more.

Note that in nature, termites are doing a great service by breaking down dead wood so that it can re-fertilize the soil. You just don’t want them doing this with your home…which they will if they get a chance!

Termite Prevention Basics – Regularly Inspect Your Home or Business for Termites

No preventative measures are completely fail-safe. It’s best to inspect your home and property at least annually for the presence of termites. Look for their mud tubes, for crumbling wood and for termite wings. We suggest hiring a professional termite control expert like ApolloX Pest Control. A professional is trained and experienced to recognize signs of termite infestation that you might miss. And, if the infestation is there hidden away, and you leave it unattended for any period of time, there could be big damage – much more expensive than the cost of a professional termite inspection.

Call ApolloX Pest Control Now

(888) 499-7378

Termite Prevention Basics – What If It’s Too Late?

So, you suspect or discover the presence of termites in your home. Now what?

First you need to exterminate the termites. Completely locate every part of your home that could possibly be infested. How can you be sure you’ve found ALL the termite locations in your home? Best to hire a professional. It’s not worth “guessing” or “hoping”. You probably wouldn’t do that with a fire hazard. Remember that termites are 3 times as destructive as fire.

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Second, you could use a termiticide. However, there’s a safety issue for humans and pets here, which is the reason that many jurisdictions require a licensed professional to apply a termiticide. Again, contact ApolloX Pest Control.

You could try a non-toxic remedy. There are many articles on the internet suggesting such remedies. However, do you really want to risk your home to a solution you found on the internet written by someone who has no accountability to you – a solution that MAY not work? The stakes are pretty high.

Call ApolloX Pest Control Now

(888) 499-7378

Experience peace of mind knowing that the problem has been eliminated.

Save a huge expense in repair costs.

In fact, be assured that you know exactly what needs to be repaired. We’ll let you know where the the termite damage is located in your home and what needs to be repaired.

We’ll  even suggest a future termite prevention strategy based on your particular building and location.

Call ApolloX Pest Control Now

(888) 499-7378

View our mini-site HowToGetRidofTermitesCT.com

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Many termite species need moist areas to survive. Their colonies can be traced directly to the ground under your home. You can observe the mud tubes they create between the ground and the wooden parts of your home they feed on. These are subterranean termites.

Drywood termite ninjas, on the other hand, are silent, hidden. They’re not tied to colonies located underground. You won’t find the tale tale mud tubes of subterranean termites. There won’t necessarily be evidence of termite colonies in wood piles and old tree stumps on your property. In fact, your property and the area under your home may be certified completely termite-free. Yet, these stealth ninjas are present.

Drywood Termite Ninjas – Where do they hide?

Hidden in places people don’t naturally look for termites are these silent drywood termite ninjas. That piece of furniture you just bought through a classified ad, that delivery of lumber for the construction of a new addition on your home, the wood flooring you purchased and are preparing to install. Any of these can contain drywood termites, and you’d never know until the wood was installed in your home. In fact, while we most often think of looking for evidence of termites in the basement or crawlspace under the home, drywood termite ninjas could have an established colony hidden in the attic–how often do you go up there and inspect for insect damage!

Drywood Termite Ninjas – What damage do they create?

Once they’re in your home, these silent drywood termite ninjas emerge at night from the wood flooring, the furniture, your new addition, and they move into other areas of your home. Their presence expands as they slowly consume your house board by board.

Drywood Termite Ninjas – What are the signs of an infestation?

The most obvious sign you have drywood termite ninjas, is their fecal hexagonal fecal pellets. These will be at least 1mm long and collecting at the base of some wooden object. Look in dry areas of your home such as the attic, areas around your windowsills, in a closet. The fecal pellets will contain very little moisture due to the fact that the drywood termites extract all the water from their feces, which helps enable them to live in areas of very low moisture.

Another sign is to tap solid looking wood and listen for a hollow sound. Drywood termite ninjas eat wood from within, so if a solid wooden table leg or solid wood flooring sounds hollow when tapped, it may in fact be hollow, being consumed from the inside out!

Imagine what paint looks like when the wood beneath it has been consumed. It begins to look bubbly. That’s another sign of the presence of these termites.

Drywood Termite Ninjas – What to do if you observe signs of an infestation?

Call a professional termite exterminator immediately. You have no way of knowing how many areas of your home have been infested. This species of termite ninjas is extremely hard to eradicate.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Inspiration for this article: http://killtermitesyourself.com/drywood-termites/

The post Drywood Termite Ninjas- The stealth termite invader. appeared first on Pest Control.

It’s Spring at last! North-easterners are emerging from their homes to enjoy the outdoors. The first place we all notice is our yard and garden. Which plants made it through the Winter? We begin to clean up the Winter damage and design our garden.

Guess who else is emerging this Spring? Carpenter ants and termites. The way you clean-up and re-plant your landscape this Spring will make a great difference whether or not these pests find a way into your home.

What is pest-free landscaping? We’re not talking about a landscape that is free of insects. In this article, we use the term “pest-free landscaping” to refer to landscaping that doesn’t encourage pests to enter into your home.

Pest Free Landscaping – Soil and Mulch

One common Spring gardening activity is the re-application of a fresh layer of mulch and bark dust. Mulch and bark dust help keep the soil from drying out during the hot Summer and therefore promote healthy plant growth. But this moisture quality in mulch becomes a great environment for termites and carpenter ants. When the mulch layers pile up over the years until they are in contact with the wooden siding on your home, this becomes a major highway for carpenter ants and termites to enter into your home.

It’s best to keep mulch at least 4″ below the place where your home’s concrete foundation ends and the wooden structure begins. In addition, don’t let the mulch layer thicken beyond 3″. Excessive mulch can harm plants while becoming a super hotel for carpenter ants and termites.

Pest Free Landscaping – Raised Gardens

Do you have a raised garden against the side of your home? If so, you’ll be watering it throughout the Summer, keeping the soil moist so the plants can grow. However, this moist soil right against your house can harbor carpenter ants and termites. They also love the wet wooden sides of the planter. It’s pretty easy for them to tunnel right through the planter and into your home! Make sure there is an insect-proof lining between the planter and your home. Concrete or metal is a good choice.

Pest Free Landscaping – Trees and Large Plants

One great highway pests use to enter your home is trees and large plants that are in direct contact with the house. Eliminating this natural insect highway will go a long way toward preventing a carpenter ant or termite infestation. Inspect the area around your house for any tree branches that are in direct contact with the structure or overhanging the roof. Trim them back. Do you have vines growing up the siding? As attractive as they look, you might want to eliminate them.

Pest Free Landscaping – Thick Ground-cover

That dense ivy growing right up to the walls of your home keeps the soil moist, which in turn encourages carpenter ants and termites. Cut it back a few feet from your home so the soil immediately around your home can dry out, providing a natural barrier against these pests.

Pest Free Landscaping – How well did you do?

If you see any of the following signs, you might revisit your pest-free landscaping strategy.

Carpenter Ant warning signs:

• Swarmers (Winged ants)-This is a sign that the colony is looking to expand and look for a new nesting site
• Sawdust (fine wood shavings that the Carpenter Ants push aside to create nesting sites, known as “frass”)
• Crunching noises behind the wall
• Seeing more than 10 ants a day throughout your house, or seeing any ants inside your house in the winter months

Termite warning signs:

• Mud tunnels or mud tubes. These are typically found on the sides of foundations
• Swarmers (Winged Termites)-This is a sign that the nest is near
• Damaged wood-The wood will appear to be crushed, or you will see tunnels. Galleries will be filled with soil and chewed wood, while ant tunnels are very clean

Call ApolloX Pest Control

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Drywood termites are pale to dark brown in color and about 1/4 to 1/2 inches long. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not need moisture. They don’t need to have their base colony underground nor do they need to create mud tubes from the ground into your home. 

This creates two issues:

• Harder to discover: First, without the tale-tale mud tubes characteristic of subterranean termites, or a highly visible winged invasion, drywood termites may not be as easily discovered in your home.
• Greater mobility: Second, drywood termites are more mobile. Here’s a possible scenario: You purchase a beautiful new wooden cabinet, or an antique wooden table. Unknown to you, the wooden furniture is infested with a colony of drywood termites. They were already hidden in the furniture before you brought it into your home. Once inside your home, the drywood termites easily move from the furniture into the framework of your house.

Like subterranean termites, drywood termites destroy wood and can cause irreparable damage to your home.

Drywood Termites – Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent drywood termites from entering into your home is to thoroughly inspect all wood that you bring into your home. This includes all wooden furniture and wood used in remodeling jobs (i.e. wooden flooring to replace an existing floor, new wooden siding, the wood used in a new addition to your home…etc.). You can ask for a certificate of termite inspection when purchasing wood that will enter your home.

Termites hate citrus. It drives them away. When cleaning any exposed wood inside your home, use citrus-based cleaners. 

Drywood Termites – Discovery

As we said, drywood termites may be harder to discover than subterranean termites–but not impossible. Look for the dark fecal pellets they push outside their living area. These will eventually form small piles.

Do not assume that the drywood termites have only remained in the new wooden furniture. By the time you discover them, they could have already moved out of the furniture and into the wooded structure of your home. If you suspect drywood termites, call a licensed termite exterminator to confirm the presence of the termites.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Drywood Termites – How to rid your home of an infestation.

There are basically 2 ways to exterminate drywood termites: Chemicals and Heat

• Chemicals: These will usually be in the form of poisonous gas used to fumigate all or part of your home. Chemical injections can also be used, especially if your are absolutely certain the infestation is well localized in a smaller area. It is highly recommended that you call on the services of a licensed termite exterminator to ensure chemicals are safely employed.
• Heat: As with bed bugs, heat also kills drywood termites. The infested area will need to be tented, then brought up to the required temperature for the recommended period of time. The advantage of using heat is that there is no toxic gas or liquid substance in your home. The disadvantage is that if improperly applied the heat may be ineffective. You want to ensure that all the termites are killed, for any stragglers could continue to spread and do further damage to your home.

Drywood Termites – Better safe than sorry.

Considering the damage drywood termites can cause to your home (they’re like a smoldering fire), it’s a good idea to schedule a periodic termite inspection by a licensed termite exterminator every few years.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Article Inspiration From: http://killtermitesyourself.com/how-to-kill-drywood-termites/

The post Drywood Termites – How to discover and exterminate. appeared first on Pest Control.

Flying termites (the reproductive form of termites) in or around your home is one of the signs a termite colony is near. Flying termites originate in a nearby existing colony and are looking to breed and start a new termite colony. For example, there’s a termite colony in an old dead tree stump on or near your property. The flying termites originate there, and then enter your home looking to establish a new colony in your home. 

Locate Termite Colony – Make sure it’s termites and not carpenter ants.

First, make sure it’s not a flying ant (similar looking). Flying ants have 3 segments to their bodies while flying termites have only two segments.

Locate Termite Colony – Where the flying termites might appear in your home.

The first visible sign people often see is termite wings on a window sill or along a baseboard. What’s happening here? Flying termites drop their wings after mating.

Locate Termite Colony – Where flying termites go to lay their eggs.

Where do flying termites go after mating? They’re looking for a place to lay their eggs and start a new colony. Here’s were some detective work comes into play. If we’re talking about subterranean termites (the species most common the the Northeastern U.S.) the flying termites will drop their wings and then burrow into the mud to lay their eggs. Look for the tale tale mud tubes they create as they burrow into the ground, or move from the ground up into the wooden structure of your home.

Locate Termite Colony – Follow the mud tubes.

What are the most likely locations to discover the mud tubes? Look in a dark moist location (the crawl space under your home is a likely candidate). If there is a water leak dripping underneath your home, so much the better for the termites! Look in cracks in your home’s foundation. Look underneath your home’s siding. Check your basement.

Once you’ve located their mud tubes, you’re close to the termite colony.

Locate Termite Colony – What if you can’t find any mud tubes?

If you’re unable to locate any mud tubes, this doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no termite colony in or near your home. It’s best to schedule a professional termite inspection:

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Locate Termite Colony – Once you discover the mud tubes, what’s next?

The best methods to exterminate a termite colony are liquid termiticide sprays and baiting systems. Spray the termiticide around the foundation of your home. If you discover holes or cracks in the walls, spray there too. Spray where the mud tubes are located. Place termite bait in the soil around the foundation of your home spacing the bait in intervals of about one foot.

Locate Termite Colony – 4 primary dangers to avoid.

The first of 4 dangers is that the toxic termiticide and bait might come in contact with yourself, your children or your pets. 

The second danger is that you may think you’ve located and eliminated the termite colony, when in reality, you have not. What if there is more than one colony? What if there is a colony on or near your property waiting until next year to send it’s winged ambassadors back into your home?

The third danger is that, while you may have eliminated the termite colony, there is damage to your home that is in critical need of repair. For example, an important foundation support may have been compromised.

The fourth danger is that conditions remain in your home favorable to the establishment of another termite colony. There may be a hidden water leak that dampens your home’s foundation or the ground beneath your home.

Locate Termite Colony – Better safe than sorry.

Only a licensed professional termite exterminator can give you the peace of mind that all the termites have been safely located and exterminated, that there are no conditions in your home that favor termites and what damage needs to be repaired.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

Consider what needs to happen to restore a home to health after a fire? Termites are like a silent fire, and even after they’ve been “put out”, your home will need attention. Though termite damage may not be as evident as fire damage, it can be as critical. 

Ideas, thanks to: http://killtermitesyourself.com/how-to-kill-flying-termites/

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Not all termites are the same, and not all are  commonly found in every part of the United States. Imagine you’re visiting your retired parents in Florida, or your grandchildren on the West Coast. Wouldn’t it be important to them if you were able to recognize the presence of termites and perhaps save them the high cost of dealing with termite damage?

This article will help you recognize the different types of termites and a little about their habits.

Termite Types – Where in the U.S.?

Subterranean Termites: These can be found just about anywhere in the U.S. Their name comes from the fact that the live underground, in dirt, and even create dirt tunnels in order to stay hidden as they move from the soil into the foundation, framework and siding of a home. If you live in the Northeastern U.S., this is the variety of termites you are most likely to encounter.

Dampwood Termites: These are primarily found along the Pacific Coast and in the Southwest and Florida. They mostly eat wood that is damp and rotting. As such wood exists more in the forest or an abandoned wood or brush pile, rather than a solid man-made structure, these termites are more of a nuisance than some of the other varieties.

Drywood Termites: These are found primarily in the Western, Southeast and South-Central U.S. They’re much more destructive to property than dampwood termites. Living in wood that has low moisture content, they are more likely to be transported in the wooden objects like furniture, and from there into the structure of a home or commercial building.

Formosan Subterranean Termites: Enjoying warmer climates, these have been discovered in Hawaii, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and California. Nicknamed “super termites” these are the most aggressive termites and the soldiers will defend their nest by releasing a white toxic liquid. They have the ability to consume wood more rapidly than the other termite species. A type of subterranean termite, they’ll create a mud tube from the soil to the wooden structure they intend to consume. But they have the ability to create a “carton” or enclosed nest environment in a structure vs. having to return to the soil.  

Termite Types – How they look.

Subterranean Termites: Reproductive males and females can be winged (primary) or wingless (secondary or tertiary). Each can produce new offspring. The bodies of primary reproductives, also called swarmers or alates, vary by species from coal black to pale yellow-brown. Wings may be pale or smoky gray to brown and have few distinct veins. Swarmer termites are about 1/4 to 3/8 inch long. Secondary and tertiary reproductives in the colony are generally white to cream-colored and may have short wing buds.

Credits: https://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/b-6080.html

Dampwood Termites: The Pacific dampwood termite is the largest termite native to the U.S. Pacific dampwood termite kings, queens and alates can exceed 1 inch in length, including their wings. They are dark brown and have brown wings. Nymphs measure about 1/2 inch and are cream colored with spots on their abdomens. Soldiers measure about 3/4 inch and are cream colored with dark-colored heads that range from reddish-brown to black.

Credits: http://www.termites.com/types-of-termites/pacific-dampwood-termite/

Drywood Termites: The reproductives are winged (alates or swarmers) or wingless males and females that produce offspring. The primary reproductives, also called swarmers or alates, vary in body color from dark brown to light yellowish tan. Their wings may be almost clear to smoke gray, and have few distinct veins in them. Swarmer drywood termites are about 7/16 inch long, including the wings. Credits: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1232/

Formosan Termites: Alates of formosan termite are yellowish-brown and 12 to 15 mm long (0.5 to 0.6 inch). There are numerous small hairs on the wings of these comparatively large swarmers. Soldiers have an orange-brown, oval-shaped head, curved mandibles and a whitish body.

Credits:  http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/termites/formosan_termite.htm

Termite Types – Their habitat.

Subterranean Termites: Moisture is important to subterranean termites, which have very little resistance to dehydration. To survive, they must maintain contact with the soil (their primary moisture source) or other above-ground moisture sources, such as in structures with defective plumbing or guttering. Termites foraging for food above ground protect themselves with shelter tubes, which are sometimes called mud tubes. The tubes may be thinly constructed or large and thick-walled to accommodate many termites moving vertically between the soil and the food source. This construction material also is found lining the galleries built in wood being attacked and aids in identifying termite-damaged wood. Shelter tubes often are used to bridge masonry or other objects, allowing termites access to a food source (wood) above ground. 

Credits: https://insects.tamu.edu/extension/bulletins/b-6080.html

Dampwood Termites: Dampwood termites can cause significant damage. They rarely infest sound wood. However, once a Pacific dampwood termite colony has infested wood with high moisture content, it can move into adjoining areas of dry wood. This Pacific termite does not require soil contact. However, wood-to-ground contact in a home’s construction often leads to dampwood infestations. Homes built over or near water, or with wood buried in the ground, are more likely to be infested.

Credits: http://www.termites.com/types-of-termites/pacific-dampwood-termite/

Drywood termites often establish nests in roof materials and wooden wall supports accessed under eaves. However, despite being capable of surviving on low wood moisture they are also found in wood associated with a water source such as a leaky pipe or water heater. Dead wood accumulating around buildings and homes often serves as a source of infestation.

Credits: http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1232/

Formosan Subterranean Termites: A mature Formosan colony can consume as much as 13 ounces of wood a day (ca. 400 g) and severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Because of its population size and foraging range, the presence of a colony poses serious threats to nearby structures. Once established, Formosan subterranean termites have never been eradicated from an area.

Credits:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formosan_subterranean_termite

Termite Types – When found in your building, what to do?

View our other articles on termites to learn ways to prevent an infestation.

If you see termites or signs of termites in a home or commercial building, you’ve basically got a 5-alarm fire happening. Both in the case of a fire, and a termite infestation, if you do nothing, the building will eventually collapse. In the case of termites, you won’t see smoke or flames, and the damage will take longer to progress, but floors will begin to sag and eventually completely descintegrate beneath your feet!

If it was an actual fire, you wouldn’t hesitate to call the fire department. In this case, you have another call to make.

Termite Types – Who to call when any type of termite is discovered?

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

The post Termite Types – Not All Termites Are the Same appeared first on Pest Control.

Termite Control Company – What’s at Stake with Your Selection?

A wrong choice could mean failure to eliminate the termite problem from your home. You end up with the false assurance that the job was done right, only to discover in a few years that the termites were not eliminated and the damage has progressed. A wrong choice could mean paying for services you don’t need. A reputable termite control company may find that you do not have a termite problem, and will be honest with you. A wrong choice could mean unfair pricing. A wrong choice could mean incompetent people entering and possibly damaging your home. It could mean exposure to unsafe, toxic chemicals, and the list goes on.

Termite Control Company – 9 Tips for Hiring a Quality Solution

So, when looking for a quality termite control company, follow these 9 tips, given by the National Pest Management Association:

Termite Control Company – Look for Reputation

• Look for qualified and licensed pest control professionals and companies that are members of national, state, or local pest management associations.
• Ask friends and neighbors to recommend professional pest control companies they have used successfully and how satisfied they were with the service.

Termite Control Company – Check Licensing

• Ask to see proper licensing and credentials from the pest management professional that comes to solve your pest problem.

Termite Control Company – Compare Options

• If a sizable amount of money is involved, get bids from several pest management professionals.
• Don’t rush a decision. Since you are paying for professional pest control advice, as well as skillful treatment, look for someone whose judgment you can trust.

Termite Control Company – Read the Contract

• Before signing a contract, be sure to fully understand the pest species, the extent of the infestation and the work necessary to solve the problem.
• Find out if the pest control company has liability insurance to cover any damages to your house or furnishings during treatment.
• If a guarantee is given, know what it covers, how long it lasts, what you must do to keep it in force, and what kind of continuing professional pest control, prevention and management are necessary.

Termite Control Company – Look for Value

• Buy value, not price. Do not make a purchasing decision based solely on the lowest cost.

Credits: An NPMA Interview for Termite Awareness Week – Entomology Today

Termite Control Company – Who to Call

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

We’re a fully licensed termite control company. 

Here are our credentials:

License Numbers: B-0353 and S-3313

Industry Memberships

• NPMA – National Pest Management Association
• CPCA – CT Pest Control Association (Brian is past V.P.)
• EIC – Environmental Industry Council of CT
• CT BBB – CT Better Business Bureau

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The oldest, grandest homes in the country are located in the Northeastern U.S. We take great pride in our history. But our historic, long-standing homes are especially susceptible to a silent, hidden threat — subterranean termites. These pests are attracted to damp wood, and many older homes have leaky pipes and gutters. The water drips onto the wooden siding, framework and foundation creating an ideal habitat for subterranean termites. These pests have the ability to destroy a home’s foundation and literally bring the entire structure down.

“Termites cause over $5 billion in property damage each year, damage that’s generally not covered by insurance.” Credits: An NPMA Interview for Termite Awareness Week – Entomology Today

Termite Infestation Signs – Newer Homes Not Exempt.

Your home doesn’t need to be on the historic register to be in danger. Some beautiful older homes, just a decade or so old, may have leaky pipes and gutters. Many roofs have a 20 year life-span, and as the roof nears that time limit, leaks can occur creating water damage and potential termite habitat. Around the 20-year point for new homes, the plantings around the home have grown and matured, and may be in contact with the home, creating an entrance way for termites. Yard debris piles may be present, additional termite habitat.

Termite Infestation Signs – How do you know if termites are present?

Here are 8 warning signs that termites may be present:

1. Discarded Termite Wings: Termites annually swarm in their winged, reproductive form looking for mates, to breed with and establish a new colony. They soon discard their wings. Look on windowsills and doors especially. If you discover many discarded wings, the new colony is not far away.
2. Neighbors Reporting Termites: If you find that neighbors have a termite problem, your home may also be at risk.
3. Termite Colonies Nearby: As you remove any wood lying around your property including branches, old tree stumps and long-standing firewood piles, you may discover a termite colony. The fact that this colony is on your property puts your home at risk. 
4. Presence of Mud Tubes: This is a 5-alarm situation. You discover a mud tube rising from the ground and into the wooden foundation, framework or siding of your home. You most certainly have a termite infestation. Subterranean termites build these tubes in order to remain hidden as they travel up from the ground to the tasty wood that makes up your home.
5. Soft, Hollow-Sounding Wood: As you inspect your home, tap the wood. Does it feel soft? Sound hollow? There may be termites or termite damage beneath.
6. Darkened or Blistered Wood: Notice dark spots or blistering in the wood? Check it out more thoroughly for the presence of termites.
7. Bubbling or Cracked Paint: This may indicate you have water damage, need to repaint, or it may indicate you have termites.
8. Sawdust-Looking Feces Piles: These indicate a termite nest may be near.

Termite Infestation Signs – What to do if you discover termites.

If you discover or even suspect the presence of termites, you’ll need to take the following actions immediately in order to save your home:

1. Inspect your home thoroughly for the presence of the termite colony or colonies.
2. Inspect your property for the same.
3. Exterminate all termite colonies in your home and on your property.
4. Replace all damaged wood.
5. Locate and repair all water leaks in your roof, plumbing and foundation.

As we said, the presence of termites is equivalent to a 5-alarm fire. If you had a fire, you’d call the fire department. If you believe you have termites, call a licensed, professional termite exterminator who will rid your home of termites and guide you through the steps you need to take to restore your home and property to termite-resistant health.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

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Termites, unlike carpenter ants, consume wood. Actually, they have a symbiotic relation with a fungus that breaks the wood down into a form that the termites can consume. At any rate, the wood that makes up your home’s foundation and framework is their food, and termites, left unattended, can literally “bring the house down”.

Prevent Termites – When?

Termites emerge in the spring, in their winged form, seeking a mate. Once they mate, the queen will establish a colony which then begins to destroy all wood within reach. Actually, damp wood is most susceptible since the fungus that feeds the termites thrives in damp conditions.

Stop termites in the spring before they have an opportunity to create a colony.

Prevent Termites – How?

It’s far easier to prevent a termite colony from getting established in your home or business, then to exterminate an existing colony.

Here are our top 10 strategies for preventing termites.

Prevent Termites – Keep Things Dry

1. Paint all bare wood on the exterior of your home. Bare or damaged wood attracts termites. It soaks up moisture which makes it even more susceptible to termite invasion.
2. Keep all wood dry. Examine the wood on both the exterior and interior of your home. Look for water leaks from damaged gutters or pipes, or from the discharge of air conditioning units and refrigerators. Thoroughly vent all wall voids. Vent the attic. Inspect the crawl space of your home. Follow the path of pipes. Fix any leaks and dry, repair or replace wet wood. Basically, keep all wood dry and in good repair.
3. Water your lawn, not your house. Check your sprinkler system for areas that spray water on the house. Train all water sources away from your house.
4. Clean away all yard debris (branches, leaves). These tend to collect water and create conditions favorable to termites.

Prevent Termites – Maintain a Good Barrier

1. Keep plants from direct contact with your house. Trim them back. Any direct contact can become a thoroughfare for the entrance of termites and other pests.
2. Don’t let soil come into direct contact with wood…anywhere on your property! Soil in contact with wood directly invites termites. Raise your wood pile off the ground. Remove soil away from your siding, from fences and fence posts. 18 inches is a good standard distance to maintain between soil and wood.
3. Raise your firewood pile 18 inches off the ground. And don’t store firewood indoors. Only bring firewood into your home on the day you will be burning it in the fireplace.

Prevent Termites – Additional Precautions

1. Remove dead tree stumps and their roots. These also constitute wood in contact with soil, and create an ideal condition for termites to establish a thriving colony near your home, which is then on the ready to find an entrance into your home.  
2. Seal any potential termite entry points. Inspect around your home for cracks in the concrete foundation. Seal them. Calk any openings around your window and door frames.

Prevent Termites – Get Skilled Help

• Hire a licensed, professional termite exterminator to give your home an annual termite inspection. Better to be safe than sorry, as termites left untreated in the home are about the same as setting a fire in your home and leaving it to freely burn! Same result!

Call ApolloX Pest Control

We’re Licensed Professional Termite Exterminators

(888) 499-7378

See Also:

Termites

Termite Prevention Tips

Termites Create Fertile Soil

Carpenter Ant or Termite

Termites In Your Home?

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As they say, “An ounce off prevention is worth a pound of cure.” It’s far easier to prevent a termite problem than cure one. Termites, once established, if left to their own devices, will bring the entire house down. They’re just doing their job, which is to break down dead wood so that it can decompose back into the soil. You just don’t want them doing that to your home!

Image Credits: How to Prevent Termite Problems – Green Pest Solutions

Termite Prevention Tips: They All Have One Thing in Common

Termites love warm, moist decomposing wood. All the termite prevention tips in this article are basically saying the same thing: “Make sure that there is no warm, moist decomposing wood in or around your home. If there is, termites are likely to eventually find it, move in and finish the job.”

Remember that every Spring the termite’s reproductive winged versions emerge and swarm, then disperse far and wide looking for ideal conditions in which to create their next termite colony. If a few of these small winged bugs get into or around your home and find moist wood, that’s all they need to successfully multiply!

Termite Prevention Tips: Here are 5 of the Most Important 

These 5 specific measures will help ensure the next termite colony does not make its home inside your home.

• Move Firewood Away – The most important strategy for preventing termites is to move any wet wood away from the home. An example is firewood. Firewood should be as far away from the home as possible, as it is the most popular food for termites and will attract them to your home.
• Consider Moisture Control – Inside of your home, you need to control your moisture, especially in areas that retain moisture and have wood the termites might enjoy. Consider a dehumidifier in attics, basements, and garages if those areas have excess moisture. Divert downspouts away from your home and clean out gutters to improve drainage. Image Credits: 5 Things You Should Be Doing To Prevent Termites in Your Home …

• Trim/Remove/Monitor Old Trees – Much like with firewood, termites will look for the most delicious meals first before moving on to your home. If you have an old tree, make sure it’s trimmed or removed. If you don’t want to remove it, watch it closely for signs of termites.
• Keep Space Between Plants, Water, and Home – It’s also recommended that you keep all plants and water as far from the home as possible. Make sure your gutters and drains are working and consider non-edible landscaping around your home.Credits: How to Prevent Termite Problems – Green Pest Solutions

• Clear Mulch away from your foundation. Leave at least 4 inches between the mulch and your foundation due to the moisture and temperature created by mulch–ideal conditions for termites.

Termite Prevention Tips: Final Suggestion

Schedule a professional home termite inspection once yearly.

Call ApolloX Pest Control

(888) 499-7378

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