Controlling termites is a primary concern for all property owners in Levittown. This is mainly because a colony of these pests is capable of consuming a shockingly large amount of wood or other cellulose-containing materials each year.
If termite infestations are not discovered soon after their inception, then damage to the infested structure can become critical. Even if the building's structural integrity is not undermined, the time and expense that are required to repair the damage can be catastrophic.
Scientists frequently refer to termites as being "cryptic." Essentially, this term describes a species of pest that rarely is seen in the open. They spend almost their entire life cycle underground where they are safer from predators and the habitat is more conducive to their survival.
While termites may spend much of their time underground in soil, they frequently are found infesting buildings. Usually, they are discovered in crawl spaces, basements, attics, wall voids and other areas that are dark and rarely disturbed by people. This enables the termite colony to nest and to feed while escaping the notice of the building's human occupants.
It is only through regularly scheduled termite inspections that the early signs of an infestation may be discovered. Pest management professionals are trained to identify even the slightest signs of the presence of termites. Accordingly, they can find the problem and propose a solution before the damage is widespread.
By the time the property owner notices the damage, it likely is too late to avoid costly and time-consuming repairs.
WHAT DO TERMITES LOOK LIKE?
Every termite colony is divided into castes, with members of each caste fulfilling specific roles. Workers tend to be the largest caste. These are the termites that forage for food and take responsibility for building and maintaining the colony's nest. At one-eighth to three-eighths of an inch, these creamy white termites are very small.
One of the other castes in the termite colony is the soldier. Slightly larger than workers, soldiers generally have similar coloration. However, their mandibles and heads are considerably larger. These adaptations are what enable the soldiers to defend the colony from predators.
When people see termites that are black or brown, these are probably the reproductive members of the colony. They measure approximately one inch in length and have two pairs of wings. Reproductive colony members are mostly seen swarming in the spring, which is when they mate and establish new nests.
WHERE DO TERMITES LIVE?
Termites cannot function well when they are above ground. Consequently, their nests are located beneath the ground's surface. Mud tunnels are built so that the termites may travel from the nest to a food source.
The underground nest of the termite may be enormous and consist of hundreds of individual tunnels and galleries. When a colony is well-established and particularly large, it is common for satellite nests to be built. These may be located underground or within a structure in Levittown that also offers a reliable supply of food.
HOW TERMITES GET INSIDE
Subterranean termites typically gain entry into homes and businesses where wooden portions of the structure are accessible to them, which include posts, frames, steps, etc.
Additionally, termites can enter through cracks in foundations and stone or brick surfaces as small 1/32 of an inch -- half the thickness of a penny.
Once inside a heated structure, termites can remain active throughout the year and maintain their activities 24 hours a day.
WHAT DO TERMITES EAT?
Worker termites may forage for food without ceasing, building tunnels made of mud to take them from the underground nest to the food source. Termites mainly eat wood, but the real nutritional value in this material is the cellulose. Accordingly, termites will eat anything that contains this plant matter, including clothing, textiles, documents and books.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY TERMITES
It takes time for termites to cause extensive damage to structures. This is why it is imperative that termite inspections be performed on at least an annual basis. An inspection makes it possible to detect vulnerabilities on the property that make it more liable for a termite infestation. Such an inspection also provides the opportunity to catch the infestation in its earliest stages, before a large degree of destruction has occurred.
Unfortunately, property owners do not always schedule termite inspections. Because termites tend to restrict their activities to places where people rarely venture, going without inspections makes it easy for these pests to cause a great deal of damage.
Consider that a single termite colony may have as many as 60,000 workers. Together, they can consume one-fifth of an ounce of cellulose on a daily basis. This is the equivalent of consuming two feet of a two by four in just one year.
Foregoing termite inspections for even one or two years may give this cryptic species a chance to cause wholesale destruction to wooden frames, support joists, floors, walls, window frames and much more.
ARE TERMITES AGGRESSIVE?
Termites are not aggressive toward people, and confrontations are rare considering the termite's underground lifestyle. Still, the colony's appetite for wood and other cellulose-containing items is impossible to satisfy, which leads many people to characterize termites as an aggressive species.
DO TERMITES CARRY DISEASE?
In the unlikely event that a person is bitten by a termite, the bite victim probably will not become ill. Nonetheless, termites can make people feel unwell just by being in the same building.
Termites love to be surrounded by damp, warm and humid conditions. Coincidentally, these are the same conditions in which mold thrives. Wherever a water leak is occurring, mold and termites are almost guaranteed to put in an appearance.
Termites frequently feed on wood and other cellulose-containing items on which mold spores are present. This activity may release the spores into the air, and these may get picked up by the building's heating and ventilation system. Now, the mold spores are traveling in large volume to the rooms that people use on a regular basis. The result is symptoms like congestion, sore throats, runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing and headaches.
Some people may think that they have a cold or that they are experiencing seasonal allergies. In buildings in which termite infestations are ongoing, the pests are the far more likely explanation.
HOW TO DETECT TERMITES
Indications of a termite issue include:
• Swarms of dark insects in the spring • Walls sound hollow when someone taps on them • Mud tunnels on foundations and exterior walls • Splotches of mud on sheetrock, siding or foundations • Blisters or dark patches on hardwood floors
HOW TO PREVENT TERMITES
The following precautions can help keep termites at bay:
• When trees are removed from landscaping, ensure that the entire stump is taken • Fix water leaks • Replace or repair wood damaged by water leaks • Correct mold issues • Do not allow landscaping sprinklers to get building exteriors wet • Resolve issues with condensation in basements and crawlspaces • Keep gutters and downspouts clear
HOW WE TREAT FOR TERMITES
Newtown Termite & Pest Control is a certified Termidor® exterminator. We utilize the nation's #1 termiticide when treating homes or businesses. Our technicians apply the product to the exterior of the structure. Once applied, Termidor® becomes undetectable and begins killing termites by contact and indigestion.
Independent testing conducted by the USDA detected no termite damage in concrete slab structures treated with Termidor® 80 WG for more than 15 years following the treatment.
For effective termite extermination our experienced technicians apply the Termidor along the foundation or exterior of the home or business. Once applied, the termiticide blends into the soil and is transferred to termites as they come in contact with the agent. The termiticide is also transferred among the termite colony as infected termites come in contact with other termites. Termidor kills termites both by ingestion as well as by contact.
Ourtermite control treatment service will terminate an existing termite infestation and protect against future occurrences.
OUR TERMITE TREATMENT WARRANTY
Area homes and businesses have been trusting Newtown Termite & Pest Control. since 1993. We are a family owned and managed pest control provider, with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Combined, our certified, company-trained technicians have over 50 years of field experience.
Our termite control treatment service will terminate an existing termite infestation and protect against future occurrences.
At Newtown Termite & Pest Control we stand behind our work with our renewable, transferable, triple guarantee:
1: If, within one year of your first treatment, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we will retreat your home for FREE.
2: If, during the first five years of your service contract, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we will retreat your home for FREE.
3: If, during the first five years or any year thereafter, we uncover a new colony of live termites, we'll retreat for FREE ... EVEN IF YOU SELL THE HOME!
WHEN WAS YOUR LAST TERMITE INSPECTION?
Industry experts agree that the first step in effective termite control is to have your home or business undergo a full termite inspection at least every two to three years.
That is because termites, often referred to as the "silent destroyers" can go unnoticed until visible damage occurs.
Having your Levittown area home or business professionally inspected by a certified technician is the best way to help detect the presence of termites and prevent extensive damage.
