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What is a termite swarm?
A subterranean termite swarm happens when male and female winged
termites fly off from the colony on mating flights to start new
colonies. These mating flights usually occur once a year between
January and April on hot, sunny days after a couple of rainy
days. Most people become aware of subterranean termites only
after they swarm inside their home. Termites can swarm inside
a home if there is an infestation in the walls or ceilings. Swarmers
will emerge from small holes made by worker termites and the
swarm will last about 40 minutes.
How can I tell the difference
between an ant and a termite?
There are three ways to distinguish a swarming termite from a
swarming ant.
- Antenna: A termite has a straight antenna, while
an ant has an elbowed antenna.
- Waist: A termite has a broad
waist, while an ant has a pinched/slender waist.
- Wings: Both
pairs of wings on a termite are equal in size, while the second
pair of wings on an ant is shorter than
the first pair.
My
next door neighbor had a termite problem and had to have their
home repaired and treated. What can I do to protect my home from
termites?
Unfortunately, in the south the typical home sits on top of three
to four termite colonies, with up to one million termites per colony.
So there is a good chance of termites finding their way into your
home. Therefore, you should have your home inspected by a termite
professional or a regular basis. If your home is not currently
under warranty with a professional pest management company, you
need to consider putting your home on a termite protection program
to protect yourself from future problems.
There are also a number
of things you can do to make your home less attractive to termites.
Contact Black Pest Control for a Free, No Obligation Inspection
and for additional information about termites, treatment options
and guarantees.
If I don’t see termites around my home, does
that mean I don’t have a termite problem?
Unfortunately, no! In fact, you may never actually see subterranean
termites because they live in the ground. But they can enter homes
through cracks and openings as narrow as 1/64th of an inch, about
the thickness of a piece of paper. Termites can also enter through
expansion joints in the slab, around plumbing pipes and behind
stucco, siding and brick veneer. Once introduced into the wood
inside your home, termites can cause enormous amounts of damage
before you ever know they are there. That is because they eat wood
from the inside out making them extremely difficult to detect.
The vast majority of their destructive work is invisible.
Which
treatment method is the most effective to protect my home from
termites?
There are basically three treatment methods used for subterranean
termite control, soil treatment, baits and wood treatments. The
best treatment for your home will depend on many factors that
are unique to your home, your termite problem and your personal
preferences.
Soil Treatments: Usually applied directly to the
soil in, under and around your home. This treatment sets up a
continuous treated
area that will control termites once they come in contact with
the material.
Bait Systems: Designed to protect homes by eliminating
the termite colonies in and around your home. These systems work
well, but
usually require more time to work versus soil treatments.
Termites must find and accept the bait then share it with other
members
of the colony.
Wood Treatments: A preventative treatment
or in conjunction with one of the other methods listed above,
the wood itself
is treated
with an effective product, and termites either avoid
the treated wood or feed on it and die.
All three methods are highly
effective if applied, installed and serviced correctly. Contact
Black Pest for a Free,
No Obligation Inspection and for additional information
as to
what treatment
method is best for your particular situation. |
