Can I Do My Own Termite Control?

There are three different major kinds of termites that people will encounter in the United States; Dry Wood, Subterranean and Formosan. Termite presence is principally identified by their swarmers, the normal termite wood damage they leave behind and the droppings or leavings they leave behind.

The most common types you will notice are “drywood” and “ground” (also refered to as subterranean termites). The subterranean termites cause the most damage found in the United States. Both of these termites eat cellulose (wood timbers) for nutrition. Cellulose is inside wood and wood products.

Drywood termites are restricted by geography, a narrow stretch across the United States from California to Florida. Another kind of termite that is noticed and common to the Pacific Northwest are called Dampwood termites.

In the Southern States of the US termites are major wood-destructive pests, according to some rough estimates termite prevention costs around $2 billion spent.
Ironically the invention of centrally heated homes makes it possible for termites to become a threat in almost every region or state in the United States.

On average, there might be as many as thirteen to fourteen subterranean termite colonies per acre of land, this means that a normal home may easily have about three to four colonies situated under or around it! Considering the fact that each colony is capable of containing as many as a million subterranean termites, and it only takes one pair to start another colony, the infestation threat becomes very real.

Termites have survived and evolved over 250 million years, because of their numbers and their highly structured nature they are able to adapt to changing environments.
Termites live in areas (geographically speaking) between the frost line and the water table, and they will eat any wood that lies in this area, this is also where most home’s foundations are built…
Termites can not actually digest the wood ‘directly’. There are protozoans that live inside their guts that break down the cellulose into simpler compounds that are easier for the termites to absorb.
Termites only require a single crack the size of one-sixty-fourth inch to get into your home. Termites can travel (by crawling) up to 130 feet from their colony and just like ants when they find a source of food they will leave a pheromone or chemical trail for others to follow.

Some termites work around the clock, 24/7, without rest, despite these major strengths termites have one weakness that is the basis for treating them, their bodies require moisture from the soil and they will die if they are left exposed to the open air or the sunlight.

Without this moisture they will die so they build tunnels to conserve moisture, as a result any places that have high moisture are more attractive to them like basements and crawl spaces.

There are many superb pest control products on the market today that can help you get rid of termites for good. To learn more about the various products available, go online and do a little research and discover how you can save money on pest control.