Pests
Damages from Invertebrate Pests
In last month's ABC Newsletter, we discussed the types of damages caused by vertebrate pests such as rodents, what kind of actions you can take to mitigate these damages, and overall prevention. For March, we will focus on the most common type of invertebrate pest that can invade your home - termites.
Termites
Subterranean termites, considered to be the most destructive pest in the United States, are found in every state except Alaska. These pests reportedly cause over $2 billion in damages to homeowners each year. These little pests are a creamy-white color, less than an inch long, and often compared to "white ants."
Where do they live and what do they eat?
These dehydration-prone insects are attracted to areas with lots of moisture and must live near the soil or other above ground water source to survive. Underground colonies of subterranean termites can contain up to 2 million members and are organized within a caste system, ranging from the queen and king termites who are the "colony founders" to the lower classes. Soldier and reproductive termites are somewhere in the middle class and help support the entire system with the former fighting off predators such as ants. Worker termites, the last group in the termite chain, are the damaging caste. This caste consume wood, provides food for the rest of the termite colony, and maintains the colony.
Subterranean termites feed on anything that contains wood fiber and cellulose such as paper, cardboard, and plant products. Their primary source of food includes dead trees and brush, but when the land is cleared by human intervention and houses are built, termites will begin foraging and locate the new structures. Termites can penetrate buildings through wood that sits on soil and through building tunnels called mud tubes on foundations. They can also enter easily through cracks or openings in foundations, especially around plumbing.
What kind of damage can they do?
Homeowners are fearful of subterranean termites for good reason - these termites can cause a large amount of damage. A colony of termites can work diligently and chew through fragments of wood with their strong jaws.
Experts report that termites normally take three to eight years to cause any sort of tangible damage, based on feeding patterns. Other sources estimate that under humid and moisture-filled conditions, a termite colony composed of 60,000 workers could potentially consume a one foot of a two-by-four inch pine in 100 to 150 days.
Another invertebrate pest that can cause some considerable damage are carpenter ants. While not nearly as damaging as termites, carpenter ants have their own destructive habits. The biggest difference between carpenter ants and termites is that the ants don't actually eat the wood, they only nest in it.
But similar to termites' destructive habits with wood, carpenter ants damage wood by excavating and creating galleries and tunnels. If the structure of the wood is weakened, carpenter ants and especially termite damages can be quite severe.
How can I tell if I have termites?
Since subterranean termites live underground, the best way to look for termites in your home is to watch out for mud tubes protruding from hidden areas, such as wall crevices, baseboards, and sub-flooring. Blistered wood, soil in cracks, and weak or broken structures can also be a sign of subterranean termites. If you see any appearance of termite entry into your home, call a licensed termite inspector to evaluate your termite situation and what can be done.
A pest control company can provide a proactive termite program for inspecting termites, termite damage, and mud tubes. Ask your pest control professional to install monitoring stations around the perimeter of structures to serve as an early warning system.
How do I get rid of termites?
Pest control professionals utilize three different types of treatment that include soil treatments, wood treatments, and baits.
Soil treatments work to decrease the population of termites and protect the structure long-term. This treatment contains liquid termiticide diluted with water to be injected into the soil around the foundation of the home. This treatment can also be used simultaneously with wood treatments and/or baits.
Wood treatments protect wood from termite infestation and reduces the infestation during treatment by painting unfinished wood with liquids like borate materials.
Baits are put into the ground where there are signs of termites. The bait is usually an insect growth regulator (IGR) or a slow release toxic agent. Once termites eat the bait and return to their colony, it becomes manifested in the colony and reduces the termite population there through weakening the entire colony.
Termite control is almost always best left to a professional.
How can I prevent termites in the first place?
Prevention methods for termite infestation include reducing the the potential for termites to enter your home and should be reviewed by homeowners. Limit cellulose materials around your home such as wood piles, cardboard, and other places where wood and soil can come in contact. Repair leaking faucets or other moisuture problems around your home. Homeowners should work to eliminate as many of the basic needs of a termite colony around their home.
Most of the remedial treatments described above utilize chemicals, which can be toxic to animals and even humans if applied incorrectly. The only permanent non-toxic termite treatment is produced by Termistop USA, which uses Flanges and Blockouts, a non-chemical solution that prevents termites from entering the home at the service penetrations through the slab. The Termimesh System, composed of stainless steel mesh, creates a "physical barrier" to termite entry when it "keys" into the concrete. By addressing these areas during construction with Termistop Flanges and Blockouts, Pest Control Operators reduce the need to apply chemical termiticides within the living space of the building.
Prevention is the way to go
The impact that subterranean termites and other invertebrate pests can have on our home is tremendous and can be economically ruinous. Preventing termites should be a priority for concerned homeowners. The permanent non-toxic termite treatment is a great way to prevent termite infestation while serving as a environmentally friendly option. If preconstruction prevention is not an option for you, there are still many ways you can work to prevent termites from doing damage to your greatest investment.
This article concludes our two-part series on vertebrate and invertebrate damages to the home. Now that you are armed with the facts and general know-how about the damages that can occur to your home, use some prevention methods to avoid pests destroying your home and costing you a fortune.
For help with repairs on damages, ABC Handyman offers a variety of services. To request Handyman service, please visit Make an Appointment
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