TERMITES
Why Worry About Termites?
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A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around your home
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Any cracked or bubbling paint or termite droppings, also known as frass
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Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
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Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams or in crawl spaces.
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Discarded wings from swarmers.
Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year. They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, insulation, and even swimming pool liners and filtration systems. While buildings may become infested at any time, termites are of particular importance when buying or selling a home since a termite inspection/infestation report is normally a condition of sale. Spring typically is when large numbers of winged termites, known as "swarmers," emerge inside homes. In nature, termites swarm to disperse and start new colonies. Triggered by warmer temperatures and rainfall, the winged termites emerge from the colony and fly into the air. The swarmers then drop to the ground, shed their wings, pair off with a mate, and attempt to begin new colonies in the soil. Few swarmers emerging outdoors survive to start new colonies. Swarmers emerging indoors are incapable of eating wood, seldom survive, and are best removed with a vacuum. They do, however, indicate that an infestation is present.
Some indications you have have a termites infestation include the following:
How UPC Can Help...
We will perform a thorough evaluation of the interior & exterior of your property. With termites, we usually concentrate on the foundation and basement to assure that it is not other wood destroying insects such as carpenter ants or beetles. Using our professional knowledge and latest technology we can identify termites in all stages of life.
TREATMENT
Barrier Treatment
For years, the traditional method of controlling subterranean termites has been to apply liquid termiticide to the soil where termites live. The goal is to create a continuous chemical barrier around the structure in order to block all potential routes of termite entry. Termites attempting to penetrate the treated soil will then pick up the termiticide and die. This is the preferred treatment when an obvious infestation is identified and located, liquid termiticides begin to have an effect on termites as soon as they come in contact with the treated soil/area.
Baiting System
Termite baiting employs a different approach. With baits, small amounts of material are deployed like edible "smart missiles" to knock down populations of termites foraging in and around the structure. Foraging termites consume the bait and share it with their nestmates, resulting in a gradual decline in termite numbers. A successful comprehensive termite baiting program then seeks to maintain a termite-free condition on our customer's property through on-going inspection, monitoring and re-bating as needed. The bait's delayed action enhances transmission of the lethal agent to other termites, including those that never fed on the bait.
Although baiting has become very popular in the recent years for it's environmentally friendly properties, it is also important to note that baiting may take months to years to control a termite infestation. For these reasons, it is important to consider all treatment choices with care. Every case is different, therefore, we will build a plan of attack tailored to your specific needs and property.
Some homes may have only baits as a stand alone treatment; others may be integrated with liquid or barrier treatments. Using a baiting system along with barrier treatment will allow reductions pesticide use.
