It's a beautiful spring day and all of a sudden your
house is covered with thousands of flying insects. You ask a
neighbor what they are and he informs you that you have
termites. Is it time to panic? NO! In the next
couple of pages we will look at termite biology and how to prevent
them from using your house as a food supply.
Termites fly in the spring. These swarmers(flyers)are the future reproductive members of a new colony. Many different species of ants also fly in the spring. These ants may be very similar in size and shape to the termite swarmers(Brown, winged, about 3/8 inch long). All species of ants, flying or otherwise, have a distinct pinched waist. Flying termites on the other hand have no waist whatsoever. The worker termites do all the damage, are seldom seen and resemble a small white maggot with six legs, about a quarter of an inch long. They work day and night, 365 days a year, and if left unchecked can cause extensive structural damage.
Subterranean worker termites live in colonies(nests) in soil where moisture is available. Even though they eat wood they do not live there. To eliminate the colony the soil under and around the house must be treated--- the colony will not be destroyed by simply treating the wood where the termites have been found.
Once you are sure that you have flying termites and not flying
ants---what next? I suggest that you do the following.
1. Call 3 different exterminators and ask for a free termite
inspection. Do not volunteer that you have already seen termites.
2. Be there when your house is being inspected. Ask to
see evidence of the termites and inquire as to the extent of possible
damage already done.
3. After each company has given you a price on the treatment of
your house and any repairs(if needed) than you may decide to contract
with one of these companies or you may decide to try and control the
termites yourself.
TERMITE CONTROL---WHEN SHOULD I HIRE A PROFESSIONAL?
1. Anytime you are sure that you have active termites in your
home and your home is any of the following types.
a. Any house that is built on a slab.
b. Any house that has a basement.
c. Anytime that you need proof of termite
treatment. Any real estate transactions have to be done by an exterminator.
TERMITE CONTROL---WHEN CAN I DO-IT MYSELF?
1. Any preventative treatment. In other words you don't
have termites now and you sure don't want them in the future. The
most basic approach is to dig a trench 4 inches wide and 4 inches
deep flush up against the outside foundation wall, fill the trench
with diluted termiticide at the rate of 4 gallons every 10 feet of
trench, fill the trench with soil, and drench this soil. If
this soil is not disturbed or removed this treatment will give you a
termite barrier of approximately 5 years. This is the simplest and
most cost effective way to avoid termites. An ounce of
prevention is worth a pound of cure!!!
2. You have termites but your house is a block type construction with
adequate crawl space clearance.
3. Any time you are adding on to your house you can pretreat
the soil underneath and around the addition yourself with a
termiticide. Do not do this if you are financing this
addition--the bank will require the termite pretreatment be done by a
pest control operator when financing.
4. You can treat your wooden sheds, fence posts, dog houses,
etc. in the yard.
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Pest Control Solutions
for the Do-It-Yourselfer
1-800-887-2847
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5825 Nancy Ave
Columbus, Ga. 31909
1/706-682-2314 fax 1/706-221-1918
Some termiticides are better, stronger, less smelly, safer, etc. than others. Not all termiticides can be sold in all states. If you need more information on doing your own termite control please call 1-800-887-2847.