Don't be a Victim of Termites

More than 365,000 homes in the United States are involved in a fire each year. More than 600,000 U.S. homes suffer termite damage totaling over $2 billion annually. That is more damage than is caused by all fires, storms and earthquakes combined. More than 2 million homes require termite treatment each year. Homeowners insurance can help recover losses from fires, storms and earthquakes, but it is almost impossible to carry insurance against termite infestation.

Finding out that your home has termites instills a sense of fear among most homeowners. You typically can't see them or hear them and frequently only a trained inspector can find signs of infestation. Treatment by the homeowner for the control of termites is virtually impossible. Specialized equipment is used and the experts have the knowledge necessary for control strategies.

Your termite control specialist at Griffin Exterminating can provide protection from termite infestation. Termites can be found in almost every state as well as Mexico and parts of Canada. They feed on wood and may also destroy paper products such as books, cardboard boxes, furniture, and various other items. Even buildings with steel framing and masonry walls are targets because of the wooden door and window frames, wooden support beams (often hidden), cabinets, or shelving within them.

To learn more about the professional pest control services provided by Griffin Exterminating call us at 877-702-5394 or in Goldsboro at 919-735-3928 or you may email us.

There are more than 2,000 species of termites. Only about 70 species are frequent enough invaders of humans' wooden structures to be called pests. The most damaging are roughly 20 species we call "subterranean" termites because of their nesting and foraging habits. Two of these, the Eastern Subterranean Termites and the Western Subterranean Termites, are by far the most common, widest distributed and most damaging in the U.S. The following description of biology refers to these two closely related species.

Termites feed on cellulose, a complex chemical in plant cell walls, and they are very important in the natural decomposition of fallen trees, leaves and other plant products. Subterranean termites build their nests in the soil or in the sides of trees or poles, and they rely mainly on the soil for their source of moisture.

A subterranean termite colony is large (60,000 to 1.5 million termites), and made up of several "castes", each with distinct functions and behaviors. These include reproductives (the queen, king, and winged swarmers), soldiers, and workers.

Worker termites are small (0. 1-0.25 in. long), creamy-white insects. Soldiers are larger (0.2-0.4 in. long), about 1/20th as numerous as workers, and have a large, dark head, with long, strong, sharp-pointed jaws, which they use to attack intruders. Property owners seldom see the worker or soldier termites, but in the spring or fall they may see swarming "winged reproductives." This form of termite can easily be confused with a winged ant unless you look closely.

After a termite colony reaches a certain population level, usually more than 10,000 for northern temperate subterranean termites, winged (alate) reproductive "swarmers" are produced and leave the colony in a "swarm." A swarm is a mixed group of roughly 50% male and 50% female reproductives, which leave the nest at the same time, in a short period of 545 minutes. This is usually triggered by a rain, in the spring (warming temperatures and lengthening days), and occurs usually around dusk or dawn. Large colonies may release swarmers in several pulse-like groups over two or more days when conditions are right.

Swarmers fly upward at first and often are attracted to light. After landing, each female breaks off her own wings, raises her abdomen and emits a pheromone, which attracts males of her species. If a suitable male finds her, they touch each other, and he breaks off his own wings. The pair then "run in tandem" for a short time before searching out a suitable piece of wood in which to begin a nest. Their first brood soon takes over the colony maintenance and food gathering, and the queen reverts to only producing eggs. The pair is mated for life. The queen can produce roughly 1,000 eggs per day by her fourth year of life. If either the king or queen dies, other members of the colony can change into reproductives and replace the lost member of the pair.

All termites have a "thick waist" where their abdomen is joined to their middle body region (thorax); but all ants have a "pinched-in

All termites have antennae that look like a "string of beads"; but all ants have distinctly "elbowed" antennae.

Termite swarmers have two pairs of long narrow, wings with very few clearly visible veins, and both the front and back pair are nearly equal in size and length. Winged ants have pairs of wings with serve distinct cross veins, shaped like long triangles, and the back pair is much shorter than the front pair.

Subterranean termites build nests in the ground. They search ("forage") for wood (food) farther and farther from their nests as their numbers grow.

Foragers may make underground tunnels or above-ground "shelter tubes" of mud, feces and debris used to search for new food sources and to connect their nest to their food.

They can enter a building without direct wood contact with the soil through such tubes. Termites can enter buildings through racks, expansion joints, foam insulation below ground, hollow bricks or concrete blocks, or through spaces around plumbing. They can find their way into a structure through an opening as small as 1/32nd of an inch. Termites, whether constructed with a slab, basement or crawl space foundation, can infest any building.

In certain areas of the country you may encounter different types of termites, such as Formosan, dampwood, or drywood termites. If your home is infested with one of these termites, it may require different or more extensive treatment procedures including wood treatment or fumigation.

Several possible signs of a termite infestation which a homeowner might see include:

• Pencil-sized diameter, or larger, mud tubes running across bare concrete or masonry between the soil and any wooden part of your building.
   
• Thin, small, papery wings, all the same size and shape, 3/8 - 1/2 in. long, on your window sill, counter top or floor (especially if it is late Spring and there has been a recent rain).
   
• Thin, "bubbled" or distorted areas of paint on wooden surfaces, especially if these feel cool to the touch.
   
• Any wooden building parts (especially if they are important support structures) beginning to "sag" unexpectedly.

 A thorough inspection by our termite control specialist is the first and most important step in protecting your property. "Experienced" eyes can locate the specific areas in your structure where termite attack is likely to occur. If a termite infestation is found, the our specialist will design a treatment plan for your property that will control any current infestation and protect it for the future.

At Griffin Exterminating, we utilize both the proven Advance Termite Bait System and traditional termiticide treatments along with corrective measures where necessary.  The Sentricon System is protecting nationally valued structures such as the Statue of Liberty, The White House, Independence Hall, and many, many more structures of such prominence.  Right here in North Carolina it protects our Legislative Building in Raleigh along with thousands of other structures.  If it can protect those structures it will protect you too.

Two Termite Species to Watch Out For

Formosan Termites

Formosan Termites are an exotic species accidentally introduced to the U.S. from China and other far eastern countries. Their habits are very much like those of our common subterranean species discussed here. They are in the same family of termites, but they belong to a different genus. They are a little bigger and are much more aggressive invaders, forming larger colonies (often 2 million or more). Formosan termites can establish secondary colonies in very moist wood of upper stories of buildings (several stories above ground) and do not need soil contact if there is a nearly constant moisture source. They have been reported from 11 states including: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Their distribution will probably continue to be restricted to U.S. southern areas because their eggs will not hatch below 20C (68F). If you think you might have an infestation of this species, contact us soon.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites live in wood which has a fairly low moisture content and is not in contact with the soil or any other moisture source. They must get their needed moisture from the wood they live in, so they are usually found in humid coastal or subtropical area. They can be transported to other areas in infested furniture, picture frames, decorative wooden objects, or wood for construction. Colonies of these termites are relatively small (fewer than 3,000 individuals), and they increase slowly, requiring several years before any swarmers are produced. They do not build mud "shelter tubes" which are typical of most species of subterranean termites. Their damage is usually localized, but quite a bit of damage can results from multiple colonies in one building or structure. Drywood termites can be successfully eliminated by a variety of methods which would not be effective against subterranean species. Batch fumigation of infested wooden items can also be effective against these termites or it may be necessary to tent the structure and fumigate.

There are several things you can do as a home owner to help prevent or avoid termite infestations including:

• Stack all firewood, lumber or other wooden items, several feet away from your building.
• Keep all wood supports of porches, patios, decks, or separate buildings more than one foot from contact with your home’s foundation; and use only pressure- treated wood for all construction which contacts the ground. Even treated wood has a limited protection period.
• Move all wood-containing mulch (even cedar or redwood) and decorative wood chips at least one foot away from your foundation. Sand and stones can be just as attractive and they discourage pest (including termite) harborage next to your building.
• Repair any leaking water lies or fixtures, especially any that wet any wooden part(s) of your house. Repair any eaves, downspouts gables, or shingles which allow wooden parts of your house to get wet even occasionally.
• Monitor moisture levels and take steps to reduce moisture build-up in any crawl spaces.
• Relocate any frequently-watered garden or flower bed as far away from your home’s perimeter as you can.