Termites! Just the mention of the word sends most homeowners into a tailspin of worry.
The nationally estimated cost of termite damage per year in the United States is between five and six billion dollars!
Ridding your home and protecting future infestations seems as if its a daunting task but it can be done with some effort and the correct products.
Termites are social insects living in cooperatives and cohesive colonies. Each member is only concerned with one thing; the success of the whole colony. Some worker termites can live up to two years and colonies have and endless life span as long as the proper food source is available.
Seeing the mud tunnels, or the little winged beasts flying around in your home, or even seeing their wings that have accumulated around a window has always been sure signs of a termite infestation. Now with the termite bait and detection systems available to homeowners termites can be detected before a serious infestation occurs.
In-ground stations often initially contain untreated wood that serves as a monitoring device. the monitoring wood is replaced with the toxicant once termites have been detected feeding on it. In addition, above ground stations may be installed inside or on the structure in the vicinity of damaged wood and shelter tubes. Above ground stations (Firstline AG) initially contain bait.
Termite bait technology (Advance Termite Bait or Firstline Termite Bait) uses wood or a cellulose matrix favored by termites that is impregnated with a slow acting toxic chemical. Termite workers feed upon the bait and transfer it by grooming or trophallaxis to other colony members, eventually reducing or eliminating the entire colony. Termites forage among various food sites which results in the bait being encounteres by many colony members. The toxicant is slow acting because termites tend to avoid sites where sick and dead termites accumulate.
Control
A liquid barrier for controlling termites works by killing or repelling the subterranean termites. The termites are killed when entering the structure to return to the colony. There are specific termiticides that are considered a repellent such as Talstar. Termites will stay away from a chemical because they have a sense for avoiding it.
The tendency of repellent chemicals is to repel termites away from structures. Bifenthrin, Demon, Talstar, and CYper TC are all examples of repellent chemicals. Repellents are primarily used in pre-construction treatments, preventative treatments, and where fast control of subterranean termites are desired.
Premise Foam, or Phantom Foam are both excellent tools for applying chemicals into wall voids and other areas where drilling through the cement patio or foundation is too difficult or inappropriate These are ready to use products that contain a foaming agent similar to fix-a-flat, these products expand to fill a wall void with a 6 inch layer of foam to penetrate studs, woodwork, etc., and kill termites on contact.You may use a 3/8 inch drill bit and drill in between wall studs about 4-6 inches from the floor and apply the foam product into the hole.
Wood Treatments
Wood treatments are an essential part of protecting your home from termites. Not only does it kill any current infestations, but protects your investment for years to come.
Once applied to unfinished exposed wood the product penetrates deep into wood providing long lasting protection for years to come from Subterranean termites, Drywood termites, and Formosan termites. It also protects against wood decaying fungi as well as carpenter ants and wood destroying beetles.
With new technology products such as Tim-Bor can be applied as a liquid, dust, even a foam to reach all of the cramped and difficult to reach spaces.
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