Termites - Has wood become their food?

Because termites build their nests in wooden structures they can cause great damage to homes and other buildings. Termite control is necessary if you think that termites are undermining the safety of your house. There are chemical methods to get rid of termite pests and there is alternative termite treatment available.

Termites are soft-bodied insects that build nests in soil and wood. Their bodies are pale brown or white and their skin is thin and vulnerable. It will quickly dry out in the wrong conditions. Even though people refer to termites as white ants, the two creatures belong to completely different species. Termites are more closely related to cockroaches than to ants although they do display a similar social nature.

Types of Termites

There are three major types of termites:

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are the most common type living in the United States. They form groups of workers that can vary from 50,000 up to 300,000. They can enter your home through a small crack in a wall and the resulting termite damage can be considerable. The termites will eat anything made of cellulose including wood, paper, and cardboard. They do , however need moist surrounding and shelter to survive.

Formosan Termites

These termites are sometimes also referred to as super termites because of the considerable damage they can cause at alarmingly high speeds. They are large and breed quickly making Formosan termites the most destructive and aggressive of the wood destroying insects. A colony of these termites can hold up to 2 million workers.

Drywood Termites

As their name implies, Drywood termites prefer arid conditions including dry wood. They are often found in subtropical climates and can infest unattended places in the home such as attics. Drywood termites swarm during the summer.

What do termites feed upon?

Every termite including the dry wood termite feeds on cellulose. Plants and wood contain cellulose that is hard to digest but offers a high degree of energy which is effectively converted for use by the termite's gut.

How to Reduce the Risk of Termites

If you think that your termite problem is big, howe ver, and that significant damage has been caused in a brief period, it might be advisable to hire a professional termite or pest control service. If, however, you only suspect the presence of termite or if your neighbor has had them and you're afraid they'll just move next door, there are some preventative steps that are advisable for successful termite control.

• Provide adequate ventilation in crawlspaces. The dryer the conditions are, the less likely it is that termites will set up a home in your house.
• Remove any celluloid debris near your building.
• Remove dead wood and plant materials in your home and check the wood in your building on a regular basis.

Methods to Control Termites

Non-toxic methods to control termites include:

Electrocution

Spot treatment with a bolt of electricity can be used to kill termites in exposed wood. Small holes are drilled so that the electro gun can penetrate the wood where the termites are living. The mortality rate of th is treatment is 95% after 4 weeks.

Fungal Pathogens

In this procedure a fungal substance is sprayed directly onto the wood where the termites are living. The termites die on the spot. This treatment may have to be repeated but is harmless and you will not experience any additional damage to your wood as a result of the product itself.

Borates

Boric acid or salt can be injected into the wood as a preventative method. Borate dust and foam are used to fill gaps in wood to stop termites from entering the wood and causing damage.

Continue to: Termite Baits and Alternative Termite Treatment

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