Termite Season
The beginning of Termite season is mid February through April, when
the winged reproductive termites take to the air to form new colonies.
The winged reproductive should not be confused with ants. The wings
of termites are held flat over the back where ants are held outward.
It is at this time of the year that many homeowners will realize a
problem that may have been present for years or just a few months.
Discovering the presence of termites in your home should not cause you
to panic. If taken care of properly by a trained pest management
professional the termites can be stopped before much damage is done.
the winged reproductive termites take to the air to form new colonies.
The winged reproductive should not be confused with ants. The wings
of termites are held flat over the back where ants are held outward.
It is at this time of the year that many homeowners will realize a
problem that may have been present for years or just a few months.
Discovering the presence of termites in your home should not cause you
to panic. If taken care of properly by a trained pest management
professional the termites can be stopped before much damage is done.
Click to Enlarge
Termite Signs
Along with the winged reproductives, termites do provide us with other clues that they
are present in a structure. Termites build shelter tubes which they use to maintain a
connection with the soil, which is where they get the moisture they need to survive.
These shelter tubes can be built on the outside of a concrete foundation, up a block on a
pier and beam home and even up treated wood to reach untreated
wood.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Another sign as to the presence of termites in your home is small pin holes through the
sheet rock. These pin holes are exit holes where the termites have gone through the
sheet rock and filled it up with mud, much like a dead end road. There may be numerous
holes or just one or two. These pin holes could show up anywhere in a structure;
however, on a concrete slab, they will most likely be in the bathtub/shower area, on an
exterior wall or adjacent to a construction joint.
are present in a structure. Termites build shelter tubes which they use to maintain a
connection with the soil, which is where they get the moisture they need to survive.
These shelter tubes can be built on the outside of a concrete foundation, up a block on a
pier and beam home and even up treated wood to reach untreated
wood.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Another sign as to the presence of termites in your home is small pin holes through the
sheet rock. These pin holes are exit holes where the termites have gone through the
sheet rock and filled it up with mud, much like a dead end road. There may be numerous
holes or just one or two. These pin holes could show up anywhere in a structure;
however, on a concrete slab, they will most likely be in the bathtub/shower area, on an
exterior wall or adjacent to a construction joint.
Termite Treatment
There are various ways to treat for subterranean termites.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION:
A liquid termiticide may be applied to the fill sand of a concrete slab to form a
barrier to keep the termites from accessing the upper structure. The
termiticide is applied after all plumbing is in place, grade beams have been
dug and surface is level. In other words, just before the plastic vapor barrier
is installed. Particular attention must be payed to the plumbing exits as this is
one of the more common entry points. After the concrete has been poured, the
termiticide should be applied around the perimeter of the slab, prior to any
adjoining concrete work and after landscaping. Pre-construction treatments
require at least two visits and usually three on a monolithic slab.
POST CONSTRUCTION
The classic way to treat a home for subterranean termites is to use a
termiticide applied to the soil to create a chemical barrier and stop the termites
from entering your home. To properly treat the perimeter a small trench must
be dug around the outside of the foundation and where two slabs meet, holes
must be drilled. Where holes should be drilled is represented by the X's in
the following picture.
You might say to yourself why not just treat
the crack? If you were to not drill holes and
just apply the termiticide to the crack you
would not reach the proper amount of
termiticide per linear foot.
The other main concerns when it comes to treating a house using chemicals is the
bathtub traps and plumbing exits. These are also prime entry points for
termites. Even if all the plumbing exits were treated there may be a crack in the
slab that cant be seen thus still leaving a way in for termites.
PRE-CONSTRUCTION:
A liquid termiticide may be applied to the fill sand of a concrete slab to form a
barrier to keep the termites from accessing the upper structure. The
termiticide is applied after all plumbing is in place, grade beams have been
dug and surface is level. In other words, just before the plastic vapor barrier
is installed. Particular attention must be payed to the plumbing exits as this is
one of the more common entry points. After the concrete has been poured, the
termiticide should be applied around the perimeter of the slab, prior to any
adjoining concrete work and after landscaping. Pre-construction treatments
require at least two visits and usually three on a monolithic slab.
POST CONSTRUCTION
The classic way to treat a home for subterranean termites is to use a
termiticide applied to the soil to create a chemical barrier and stop the termites
from entering your home. To properly treat the perimeter a small trench must
be dug around the outside of the foundation and where two slabs meet, holes
must be drilled. Where holes should be drilled is represented by the X's in
the following picture.
You might say to yourself why not just treat
the crack? If you were to not drill holes and
just apply the termiticide to the crack you
would not reach the proper amount of
termiticide per linear foot.
The other main concerns when it comes to treating a house using chemicals is the
bathtub traps and plumbing exits. These are also prime entry points for
termites. Even if all the plumbing exits were treated there may be a crack in the
slab that cant be seen thus still leaving a way in for termites.
Termite Baiting
Bob Klepac Exterminating Service
for Pest Control in
Bay City, Texas (979) 245-5700
Bellville Sealy, Texas(979) 865-0088
for Pest Control in
Bay City, Texas (979) 245-5700
Bellville Sealy, Texas(979) 865-0088
Sometimes termites will even build tunnels in mid air as
shown in the picture to the left.
shown in the picture to the left.
The main concern with chemical barriers is over time exposure to the elements
causes the chemical to degrade. As the chemical degrades the more vulnerable
the structure is to termites returning.
We have been using Termidor for six years and it has been rated the best
termiticide on the market since 2000. If your not asking for Termidor your
asking for problems.
causes the chemical to degrade. As the chemical degrades the more vulnerable
the structure is to termites returning.
We have been using Termidor for six years and it has been rated the best
termiticide on the market since 2000. If your not asking for Termidor your
asking for problems.
This is a revolutionary method of controlling termites. It uses the termites natural
behaviors against them in order to eliminate them completely.
Click here to find out more about Termite Baiting
behaviors against them in order to eliminate them completely.
Click here to find out more about Termite Baiting