The 4 different types of termites to know about.

There are many different types of termites that we need to worry about, but basically there are four types in the united states that we should be concerned about. These four types of termites all have two things in common and that is, one they all do damage. And Two is they all eat wood.  
1. The subterranean termite.
This lives below the ground surface anywhere from 1 foot to the 30 feet level, when they enter your home they must come in by building mud tubes, this is why is it is always important to be able to see your slab foundation, by being able to observe your slab foundation you can spot any tubes that come from the ground up the slab and enter into the home.
2. The dry wood termite.
Who unlike the subterranean termite only requires about 3% moisture to survive, so this termite can actually live in the wood without leaving the wood, it has its food source and its water supply in the wood itself. This termite will usually leave droppings and looks like small beach sand or saw dust piling up depending on how big the infestation may be from the. This particular termite usually takes a little longer to detect because it does not leave the area of infestation.
3. The damp wood termites.
For this termite to survive it requires a lot more moisture, 30% or more to be exact that is why you would normally find this termite close to wet wood, detecting the damp wood termite is usually done when there is some sort of structural repair going on.
4. The Formosan termite.
being one of the most destructible the Formosan termite can eat through wood with an alarming amount of speed. The Formosan can actually eat through a piece of wood 2x4x6 in about as much time as a subterranean can eat through a piece of wood that is 1x2x4.

It is usually a good idea to seek some professional help if you think you have a problem with one of the four termites listed above.

Seek out professional pest control help help.

Termite Extermination

Hidden infestation of termites sometimes called the hidden enemy can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your home before you even know it. You can’t hear them and normally you can’t see them.  They get inside your home and eat at the wood structure until there is nothing left then they move on to another area. The only way to termite extermination is with fumigation soil treatment or other various methods.

Signs of termite infestation are sawdust like droppings, dirt or mud like tubes, trails of damage on the structure, damaged window sills (wood area) and swarming winged insects flying around, especially in the spring or fall.

Termites start in one area of your house then move on to another area by swarming or building mud tubes to travel through. They use your house to live and grow their colonies. Such is life in the insect world.

If the infestation is in a small area, a local or spot control treatment may be effective.  However, the hidden termites in other areas will not be destroyed. Local treatment involves drilling and injecting pesticides into the infected areas as well as chemicals. Some termite exterminating can involve extreme cold.  Liquid nitrogen is pumped into the walls of infested sites killing the termites.  There is also a microwave spot method where microwaves are directed into the infested wood. Beware of the companies that claims spot control will take care of the whole house! They will not...

The only way to treat an infestation of termites is to treat the entire house!

Fumigation method of extermination of termites will require that you remove all pets and plants and seal food and medications. You may be required to stay out of your house anywhere from six hours to a week, depending on the type and size of termite infestation. Your house will be enclosed in a tent like type of nylon tarps and sealed with plastic, tape or other material.  The termite exterminator will post a signs on your property when it will be safe to return.  The treatment will be with a gas and is very effective for drywood termites. Because the chemical is a gas and dissipates as soon as the tent is down you cannot be sure there will not be a  re-infestation of the termites.

For the heat method, all pets, plants, and other items that can’t take high temperatures need to be removed.  Your home will be covered with tarps and hot air blown into it until temperatures reach 140 to 150 degrees F. The inside temperature of the structure (the wood) needs to be heated to 120 degrees F before the procedure will be complete.   Once the heat is applied it will take vary amount of time before you can reenter your home. It depends on the building’s constructions, the size of the house and weather conditions.  This method may not be practical for all structures because some buildings can’t be heated evenly. Once the termite extermination is done, you can go back into your house and live happily ever after.

Natural Termite Treatment

Natural Termite treatment

People are very conscious about the chemicals we use to fight against pests these days. This is why there are methods toward natural termite treatment to rid our structures of the pest. The use of chemicals is the most effective way to get rid of termites; you can always use the natural termite treatment to minimize to rid your home of termites and the damage they can cause to your home or building.

Natural termite prevention treatment is the use of control without using chemicals. Instead, various physical controls are used during construction, such as metal termite shields. If you discover a termite infestation, using a less toxic treatment is the preferred method. This means that natural termite treatment is geared toward keeping termites out before they can make a entry and cause damage.
The key is prevention whether you use a natural termite treatment to prevent termites from entering the structure in the first place. You use certain strategies to ensure they have no food sources that attract them.

Stop and think what would the first thing be to stop termites from entering the structure? If you’re thinking natural treatment then think to eliminate any food source or moisture. Since termites are attracted to moisture in wood and its food source is wood. Wet soil or wood is a area necessary for the survival of termites. Termites travel back and forth between the soil and their food source. In addition controlling moisture can help in the control of termites.

If your dealing with above ground foundations, then moisture barrier is the way to think, such as polyethylene 6 millimeters may be used to cover the area under the structure. This will reduce the accumulation of moisture in the sub-floors. Ventilation should be placed to provide air flow for houses with crawl spaces as natural treatment for termites.
Bathrooms, kitchens should be given special attention. Areas around the bath and sink drains leading to the outside (even air conditioning drains) should be considered as vulnerable entry points. If you can keep food and moisture controlled then there is a good chance you can control the entry of termites into a structure.
We must do everything we can to make sure that our Earth survives and natural termite treatment is a good place to start! A natural termite treatment is always great way to keep our environment healthy and environmentally friendly.






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Dry Termites

Dry termites or rather dry wood termites is a problem that reaches the lower United States. This termite requires less moisture than the other termites, actually only about 3% moisture. what this means is every piece of wood has about 10% moisture. The dry termite has its food source and moisture plus home in one piece of wood.

The dry termite or dry wood termite is the less destructive of the termites as far as subterranean or Formosan termite.
What happens is if left unattended or untreated is the problem only gets worse, the swarmers or reproductive s will swarm out and mate up. I call these the princes and princesses of the termite world. Their purpose is to start new colony's. because this termite requires less moisture to survive they only need to get back into wood. Where as the subterranean termite requires 16-30% moisture to survive they will die if they don't make it back into the soil. So now you see the difference between dry wood termites sometimes referred to as dry termite.

The best way to eliminate the dry termite is to do what is called a fumigation or tenting. this is where a crew or company will come to the residence or structure in question and install a tent over the structure then shoot a gas called Vikane gas, also know as sulfuryl fluoride into the structure. Therefore killing the termites.
Just remember the best method of getting rid of the dry termite is to have it done by a professional exterminator. Using Vikane gas and fumigation is very safe, there is no residuals. No exterminator that I have ever known about has died from this process.