Termites may be the most dangerous of all threats to homes and offices in Warminster. Nonetheless, people tend not to consider them until it is too late.
These insects are capable of causing damage to all structures, but they do so in out-of-the-way portions of the building like basements and crawl spaces. People do not spend much time in these places, so termites continue to eat the wooden components of the building for as long as they like. The result can be severe structural damage that undermines the integrity of the building. If the damage is bad enough, it may no longer be safe to occupy it.
It is a story that is too familiar to experienced pest management professionals. They know that the best way to prevent termite damage is to take preventative steps. Among these steps are annual termite inspections and improving buildings so that they are less attractive to termites.
It is not advisable for property owners to simply hope for the best when it comes to termites. Instead, it is better to get informed as soon as possible. That means scheduling a termite inspection at least once each year. When performed by a knowledgeable termite technician, it is possible to catch infestations in their early stages before much damage is caused. If termites are not present, the technician can recommend improvements to the structure and the landscaping that can help to deter termite activity.
When termites are present, the technician is equipped to take immediate action to control the infestation and protect the building.
WHAT DO TERMITES LOOK LIKE?
Eastern subterranean termites are the most common species in the local region. Living in massive colonies that may have one million members, these termites each belong to a certain caste within the colony. These castes are the workers, soldiers and reproductives.
With an overall length of one-eighth of an inch, workers are minuscule but still capable of causing remarkable amounts of structural damage. Their bodies usually are a translucent creamy white, and they have six legs like other insects. Frequently, the insect's jaw is a darker color than the rest of its body.
While the workers travel between the nest and the food source many times a day, soldiers are tasked with staying close to the nest. This is because their main responsibility is ensuring that the nest and its young are safe. Accordingly, soldiers are slightly larger than workers, and they have oversized pincers that enable them to attack predators. Common body colors include dark brown and yellow.
Reproductive termites are much darker than workers and soldiers. They are larger as well, and they each have a pair of wings. Only mature termite colonies produce this caste of termites. In the spring, they fly up in a cloud to mate. The females will establish new colonies a short distance away while the males quickly die. Large piles of shed wings are left behind in the wake of a mating swarm.
WHERE DO TERMITES LIVE?
Termite biology dictates that these pests cannot be exposed to elements like wind, air and rain. They need to maintain certain conditions of protection and humidity, so their entire life cycle is spent underground.
Termite colonies carefully construct huge underground nests. Sometimes beginning as little as four inches beneath the surface of the ground, common termite nests are complicated and include a large collection of rooms and corridors. The nest is placed as close as possible to a long-term food source. Termites in Warminster love to feed on man-made structures, leading the pests to build nests adjacent to building foundations.
Because they do not tolerate exposure well, the termite workers build mud tunnels to take them from the nest to their source of food. People may see mud tunnels on the foundation and exterior walls of a building as one of the earliest signs of a termite infestation.
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.
ARE TERMITES AGGRESSIVE?
Both soldiers and workers are capable of biting people. However, attacks such as this are rare given the termites' underground living conditions. People who inadvertently disturb a termite nest or foraging workers may be bitten, but this does not happen frequently.
WHAT DO TERMITES EAT?
The plants and trees across the globe all have a building-block material called cellulose at their core. It is cellulose upon which termites rely for nutrition. Wood has cellulose in plenty, which is why termite colonies in the wild frequently establish a nest next to a fallen tree or rotting stump. When they live closer to civilization, the termite nest may be close to a wooden fence or deck that is in poor condition.
Of course, some termite colonies do not keep their distance from people at all. They establish nests close to man-made structures so that they can easily feed on the wooden components within the building. Drywall, roofing tiles, siding and other construction materials also may be consumed as are linens, textiles and clothing that contain natural fibers. Human food kept in kitchens and pantries is of little interest, but termites may eat paper and cardboard food packaging.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY TERMITES
Unfortunately, termites tend to be most active in dark, damp places that rarely are disturbed by people. This behavior allows them to forage for food without ceasing on a 24/7 basis. People may not be aware that the termites are even present until the damage has become catastrophic.
This may mean that a support joist is entirely hollowed or that the termites have moved into inhabited pats of the building where they are feeding on doors, window frames and furniture. People may begin to notice alarming changes within the building such as squeaky floorboards and windows and doors that are stubbornly stuck shut. Other signs of termite activity may include drooping or discolored drywall. Some property owners will see apparent water damage on walls, ceilings or floors, only to discover upon inspection that there is no water causing the stains. Termites have moved in instead.
DO TERMITES CARRY DISEASE?
Careless about where they roam, termites may carry dozens of illnesses. The infrequency with which termites and people encounter each other protects people from becoming sick with dysentery, polio, typhus and gastroenteritis. Exposure to these illnesses is one of the main reasons why DIY termite control is not recommended. During infestations, people may experience an uptick in respiratory ailments that are brought on by termite waste products.
HOW TO DETECT TERMITES
Signs of a termite infestation include:
• Paint peeling from walls • Mud tunnels on exterior walls and foundations • Loose tiles on floors and walls • Swarms of dark insects in the spring • Floors and walls that buckle or are uneven • Apparent water damage on various surfaces
HOW TO PREVENT TERMITES
To help prevent termite issues the following steps should be taken:
• Route rainwater away from building foundations • Identify and seal gaps and cracks in the building's exterior • Ask an exterminator to perform annual termite inspections • Do not allow fallen trees and rotting stumps to remain in the landscaping • Place firewood piles at least 20 feet away from any buildings • Do not allow wood to contact soil anywhere on the property
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.
Our termite 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 Warminster 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.
