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What do termites look like?

Filed Under : Termites by L D
Nov.29,2011

Think you may have a termite problem in your home but you’re unsure because you’ve never seen a termite?  So…What does a termite look like?

Winged Termites – usually swarm when the weather changes and all of a sudden you have an exceptionally warm sunny day in an otherwise dreary week. Termites are relatively poor fliers and are readily blown downwind in wind speeds of less than 2 km/h, shedding their wings soon after landing at an acceptable site, where they mate and attempt to form a nest in damp timber or earth.

 

Soldier Termite – protects the colony from predators such as ants. The wide range of jaw types and pragmatic heads provides methods that effectively block narrow termite tunnels against ant entry. A tunnel-blocking soldier can rebuff attacks from many ants. Usually more soldiers stand by behind the initial soldier so once the first one falls another soldier will take the place.

 

Worker Termite – undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood and nest maintenance, and some defense duties in certain species. Workers are the main caste in the colony for the digestion of cellulose in food and are the most likely to be found in infested wood.

 

Queen Termite – A female that has flown, mated, and is producing eggs is called a “queen.” At maturity, a primary queen has a great capacity to lay eggs, often reported to reach a production of more than 2,000 eggs a day. The distended abdomen increases the queen’s body length to several times more than before mating and reduces her ability to move freely, though attendant workers provide assistance. The queen is widely believed to be a primary source of pheromones useful in colony integration, and these are thought to be spread through shared feeding (trophallaxis).

Tips for termite control:

  • Do not store or stack firewood directly against your foundation wall
  • Mulch should remain 1 ft from foundation wall
  • Shrubs or young trees showing signs of termites should be removed immediately

Termites are small insects that can cause major damage over a long period of time if left undetected. Homes in the United States should b inspected annually by a qualified, certified inspector. Many pest management companies offer free, no obligation inspections.  If you are not under a termite warranty and your home is over a year old you should consider contacting a pest management professional.  If you live in Central or Northern Virginia here is a link to a company that offers free termite inspections.

 

Information and images courtesy of Wikipedia

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What is a termite baiting system and is it right for me?

Filed Under : Termites by L D
Oct.14,2011

“Okay…I have termites and I’m considering a termite baiting system…how does that work?”

Two popular baiting systems are the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System and the Advance Bait System.

The Sentricon System and the Advance System are similar because they both rely on the random foraging of worker termites leading them to the wood blocks placed in the stations.

With baiting systems, stations filled with wooden sticks are placed around your property roughly 8-10 ft apart and in areas conducive to infestations such as  mulch beds and shrubbery.  Once the stations are installed, quarterly visits are scheduled to come to your property and scan the stations for activity…if activity is found the wooden sticks are replaced with bait sticks.  As termites feed on the bait sticks they take the bait back to the colony for the other workers and the queen to digest and die.

One year after the system is installed  you will be given the option to pay an annual renewal fee which consists of quarterly inspections and continued baiting as needed plus replacement of any damaged stations during the warranty coverage.  This option is usually for an additional 5 years from date of the original install.   If you decide not to continue the coverage then the company stops inspections and baiting and some will retrieve the stations from your property.

Baiting systems are considered  “organic treatments” because no chemical enters the ground or your home.

Baiting systems rely solely on the fact that termites have to come into contact with the bait station while foraging for food to register as termite activity and to be discovered by the exterminating company protecting your home.

There have been instances during the yearly inspection where termites were discovered in the home even though the stations showed no activity.  Most companies will then resort to concentrating on the infestation by using 1 of several methods

•             AG station (Above Ground Station)

•             Premise foam

•             Termidor powder

All are successful at eliminating the infestation.

If you live in Central or Northern Virginia, here’s a link to a termite control company that offers both baiting systems and they guarantee the work as well!

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So if you advertise a “free termite inspection”, why do you tell me there’s a charge for it if I need paperwork?

Filed Under : Termites by L D
Sep.14,2011

First of all, let’s define “inspection” and a paperwork “report”.

Free Inspections

Reputable Pest and Termite Control companies routinely offer “free inspections” in the hope that they can earn your business if they find a pest infestation that is beyond the ability of the average home owner to contain. This is a customary service that is offered and you should take advantage of if you think you have a pest or termite control issue that you are concerned about.

You should call and ask for a FREE inspection if you have a persistent or recurring problem with insect or animal pests that might be harmful to your property or health. Additionally, a free inspection by a licensed pest control professional will at least give you an identification of the nature and scope of the pest threat that you are dealing with.

Of course, your local pest control professional will make recommendations and offer you several options in terms of treatment and perhaps an ongoing program to protect your property and family.

 

Wood Destroying Insect Report

If you need a paperwork “report”, these are typically required by a lender, real estate agent, or property owner who needs a formal report of the absence of wood destroying insects on the property. These are called “Wood Destroying Insect Reports” or “WDI Reports”. Typical situations that require a WDI Report include:

 

  • Mortgage Lender requires a WDI Report as part of their underwriting purposes for purchase or refinance
  • Real Estate Agent may order a WDI Report as part of the sales process
  • An owner selling their property orders a WDI Report as a “For Sale By Owner” listing might order one for potential buyers
  • You’ve inherited a house that you might sell and wish to have a WDI Report.

 

A WDI Report requires a certified pest control professional to conduct the inspection and certify the results in writing as to what they have found during the inspection for the report. These formal reports are NOT free, but they are “affordable” and are part of the process of purchasing or selling a property such as a formal inspection by a “home inspector” who will help determine issues that might affect the valuation of a property.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) outlines the Federal requirements for HUD FHA HOC Reference Guide Pest Control  and they reference a standard National Pest Management Association form NPMA-33 Wood Destroying Insect Report. http://www.hudclips.org/download/NPMA-33

There are two versions of the report dependent upon the type of loan you are considering. The written report usually carries a one year warranty to protect the property if termites are discovered anytime within 365 days of the original inspection date. If you need a WDI Report, be sure to ask for the charge for a WDI Report, if a warranty is included with the report, and the length of time that it is valid for.

Due to the volume of reports that they order, your Real Estate Agent or Lender of choice can get a better price for you on the WDI Report if they place the request for the formal inspection. Also keep in mind that the paperwork should be dated within 60 days of your closing so have that date available as well…and don’t get upset if the company tells you that you’re ordering the report too early. They’re just trying to save you money by not having to pay for a second report.

If you live in Central or Northern Virginia, here’s a well-respected pest and termite control company that offers both free inspections and WDI Reports:

I would like to schedule a Free Pest and Termite Control Inspection for home or office.

I want to order a Wood Destroying Insect Report (WDI Report) for a property that I represent either as Seller or Buyer.

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I’m worried that I might have termites in the walls of my home. How would I know?

Filed Under : Termites by L D
Sep.6,2011
Termite vs AntMost Americans are not aware of the fact that termites cause more damage to homes each year than fire and windstorms combined.  Since signs of termite activity are not always visible to the homeowner, there could be a termite infestation in the walls that you are unaware of and possibly even damage caused by an undetected infestation having been there for many years.

Termites may be present if you’ve got any of these conditions:

  •  Mulch against foundation walls (if you discover termites in the mulch chances are they’ve made it into your home)
  • Pencil sized mud tubes going up the foundation
  • Large group of flying insects around window or door where light is coming from
  • Wood that sounds “hollow” when it is tapped with the handle of a screwdriver.
  • Soft wood that is easily probed with a knife or screwdriver.
  • A thin gritty gray-brown film on the surface of damaged material.
  • Transparent wings on your floors or window sills
  • Large group of flying insects around window or door where light is coming from

Once into a wall, termites can stay there for years.  The interior wood framing provides food sources for these pests and they can remain undetected for years causing considerable damage that may be invisible to the untrained observer.  Typical walls in a US home are relatively thin allowing termites to spread quickly and do considerable damage to your home or office. It is not uncommon for termites inside a wall to remain undetected for years as they devour your wood framed walls, safe from weather and hidden from view.

Termites are not just a seasonal pest; once they’ve entered your home these pests are there to stay as they eat your home from the inside out. Your next question might be…”what time of the year is best to check for signs of termite activity?”

I think the answer is to “check for termites anytime and all the time.” In spring and summer you should be checking the foundation as you’re gardening and replenishing mulch beds. In the fall, look for signs of termites as you check your crawlspace vents or do maintenance around the perimeter of the house.  Always look at the walls, ceilings and floors for any signs of termites.

Don’t forget, most local pest and termite control companies will be happy to come out and perform a free termite inspection for you!  If you live in Central and Northern Virginia, and you’re worried that you might have termites in your home, here’s a website that you can request a free inspection for termites in the walls of your home.

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