Left unchecked termites and other Wood Destroying Organisms (WDOs) can cause catastrophic damage to homes and structures across the US. Homeowners may have undetected active termites and WDOs within their homes causing significant yet hidden damage. The following information is presented as a public service to inform homeowners about these troublesome pests.
General Information:
1. There are several types of termites and WDOs that attack homes in the US. These species may vary depending upon the location of the structure.
2. For the most part, subterranean termite control and structural protection are best addressed by an experienced, licensed and insured Termite Pest Professional.
3. Subterranean termites are cryptobiotic creatures. They conduct their activities in a hidden microenvironment normally unseen by humans.
4. It is wise for homeowners and professionals to learn about termites and wood destroying organisms that are active in their area.
5. Common types of termites include: Native Subterranean termites, Dry Wood termites, Formosan termites and Damp Wood termites.
6. Depending upon location, there are a number Subterranean termites encountered in the United States including the Eastern Subterranean Termite, Western Subterranean Termite, Desert Subterranean Termite, Formosan Subterranean Termite and others.
7. The Eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, most commonly occurs in the eastern US.
8. The Formosan termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is considered the most destructive termite.
9. WDOs other than termites include wood boring beetles, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and wood decay fungi.
10. WDOs can cause significant damage to homes and other structures resulting in costly repairs.
11. Termites and WDOs may be active in every US state.
12. In some cases, homes can become damaged beyond repair.
13. A subterranean termite queen may live for many years. According to some references these termite queens may live well over twenty years.
14. A subterranean termite queen may deposit thousands of eggs per day.
15. A subterranean termite queen’s abdomen may grow so large that she may be unable to crawl.
16. Termites are social insects and live together in colonies where the laborious tasks are divided amongst the individuals who complete these tasks for the good and welfare of the overall colony.
17. A termite colony is composed of different castes of termites.
18. The main castes of termite colonies include workers, soldiers, winged reproductive also known as alates or swarmers, and the queen and king.
19. Worker termites construct mud tubes, forage on cellulose (i.e. wood), excavate galleries, tend to the queen and other such duties.
20. Soldier termites have enlarged jaws or mandibles and protect the colony from invaders.
21. The winged subterranean termite swarmers usually take flight in the Spring of each year. Their role is the survival of the species. These winged males and females intend to pair up, find suitable shelter, mate and initiate a new colony. If successful, they will become the king and queen of a new colony. However, the odds of success for these fragile termites are very low and nearly all will expire within a few hours if not days.
22. Formosan termites swarm in the evening and after dark. They are attracted to light and the winged termites fly toward artificial lights in such great numbers that they have been known to halt sports games and other events due to their large numbers when this occurs.
23. People who live along the Gulf Coast, including areas such as Pensacola, FL, Mobile, AL, New Orleans, LA and others, have described large Formosan termite swarm events as clouds of termites through which much cannot be seen.
24. Subterranean termites need a gap of just 1/32nd of an inch to enter a structure.
25. Subterranean termites usually enter structures from the soil surrounding and beneath the structure.
26. Studies have shown that subterranean termites most often attack an existing structure at the perimeter of the structure.
27. Subterranean termites will take advantage of structural flaws through which they may enter and feed upon the structural lumber within.
28. Subterranean termites may enter a structure though a crack in a concrete slab of concrete foundation wall.
29. Subterranean termites may enter a structure from outside the footprint or perimeter of the building. This may be done via mud tunnels constructed up the exterior foundation wall. However, when siding or exterior veneer extends below grade level it is possible for termites to tunnel into the structure via a hidden path behind the siding.
30. Subterranean termites may tunnel into the structure through the hollow void found within concrete block walls.
31. Subterranean termites may enter a structure via the void behind the brick or masonry veneer wall.
32. Subterranean termites may follow structural ques present beneath the soil including utility lines such as natural gas, water, waste and power lines.
33. Subterranean termites excavate galleries in wood with the grain of the wood.
34. Dry Wood termites excavate galleries in wood independent of the grain such that they may feed and cause damage in any direction.
35. Telltale signs of Dry Wood termite activity include aggregations of fecal pellets which accumulate beneath “kick out holes” through which these pellets are removed from the galleries by Dry Wood termite workers.
36. When viewed under sufficient magnification, Dry Wood pellets appear uniform in shape and size. They are six sided hexagons about one millimeter in length. Their color may vary depending upon the wood consumed.
37. Subterranean termites may tunnel in and through rigid foam board insulation and spray foam insulation. Termite research has yet to discover why termites tunnel through foam type insulation materials.
38. Since foam type insulation lacks grain, once within the foam, subterranean termites may excavate tunnels or galleries in any direction.
39. Rigid foam board insulation installed behind the siding of structures has provided a hidden pathway for subterranean termites to travel up the structure beyond the first floor more easily.
Termite & WDO Inspections:
40. The presence of termites and other wood destroying organisms may be detected during a thorough inspection of the structure.
41. To avoid significant damage, it is wise to have your home inspected for termites and other WDOs at least once per year.
42. A thorough inspection of an average home may take an hour or more.
43. Generally speaking, the larger the home, the longer it will take to conduct a proper inspection.
44. Insist on a thorough inspection of your home including all areas where evidence of WDO activity may be found including the interior, exterior, crawl space, basement and/or attic.
45. During an inspection, we are looking for the telltale signs of WDO activity as well as conditions conducive to infestation which should be corrected to avoid future WDO problems.
46. The telltale signs of subterranean termites include:
a. Shelter or mud tubes constructed of soil and other materials.
b. Shed wings of the winged reproductive or swarmer termites.
c. Carcasses of the winged reproductive or swarmer termites.
d. Damaged wood, structural framing, moldings, trim, interior walls and other surfaces
47. Shelter or mud tubes created by subterranean termites may be constructed of various substrate materials including soil, excavated materials, salivary secretions and fecal matter.
48. Shelter tubes may vary in color depending upon the various materials used by the termites.
49. The telltale signs of Dry Wood termites include:
a. Accumulations of fecal pellets.
b. Exit or kick out holes chewed through surfaces of interior walls, moldings, wood trim, interior walls, structural lumber and other surfaces.
c. Shed wings of the winged reproductive or swarmer termites.
d. Carcasses of the winged reproductive or swarmer termites.
e. Disturbed or distorted wood surfaces.
50. The telltale signs of Wood Boring beetles include:
a. The presence of holes found in wood molding, trim, structural lumber, wall boards, base boards and other wood within the home.
b. The presence of accumulations of powder like material or frass within the structure.
c. Frass is the insect excrement and/or particles they create when chewing upon and excavating their tunnels or galleries within the wood.
51. Frass may appear in various colors depending upon the insect and the type of materials involved.
52. Areas of the home which should be inspected include the basement, crawl space, attic, interior and the exterior.
53. Inspection methodologies include visual, sounding and probing of suitable areas of the structure.
54. A visual inspection should be conducted using a suitably bright LED type flashlight and include all areas where WDO activity is expected.
55. Directing the beam across the surface of the area being inspected at a low angle nearly parallel to the surface will cast long shadows revealing surface imperfections and possible damaged areas. This technique is known as oblique lighting.
56. A visual inspection alone will not always reveal the presence of termite and other WDO activity and should be supplemented via the use of sounding and probing as needed.
57. Sounding is the tapping or rapping on the surface being inspected to determine if the wood sounds hollow or damaged. Sounding is a learned skill.
58. The blunt end of a screwdriver handle or other suitable tool may be used for sounding.
59. When sounding, tap on various areas of the surface to listen for differences in the sound produced. A discernable difference in the sound produced will occur in areas where damage exists versus that of comparable non-damaged wood.
60. Note that termite and WDO inspection reports may discuss the presence of hidden damage and that hidden damage may be significant. However, an experienced and competent professional WDO inspector will be able to tell you the likelihood of such damage being present in the structure inspected.
61. Note that inaccessible areas are those areas where the inspector was unable to inspect due to the inability to attain proper access. Note that these areas may contain hidden damage and that these areas should likely be inspected.
62. It is wise to ask questions about any inaccessible areas which are noted on your inspection report such that you have a full understanding of why these areas were not inspected as well as the implications of the lack of inspection of these areas.
63. It is not wise to assume that inaccessible areas may not have any damage and do not need to be suitably inspected.
Termite Control Options:
64. Professional pest control is a regulated industry in the US. All pesticide applications to structures in the US, whether bait or liquid termiticide applications, are to be done in compliance with the pesticide label directions and the local state regulations.
65. Homeowners are best served to learn about the different types of termite services and related warranties offered by pest professionals prior to making any termite service purchase decisions.
66. Current termite control options include liquid treatment, direct wood treatment, localized or spot treatment, termite bait systems, microwave treatment, electric shock treatment and fumigation.
67. It is wise for a consumer to review multiple competing termite control contracts prior to making a termite service purchase decision.
68. Thoroughly read the termite service contract prior to making a purchase decision.
69. Make an informed purchase decision and do not feel pressured into signing a contract.
70. Generally speaking, a termite protection service sold without a sufficient inspection or treatment is not a good deal.
71. In addition to usual treatment options, the USDA Forest Service Bulletin 64 and other references provide structural recommendations which serve to prevent subterranean termites.
Liquid Treatments:
72. Liquid treatments are conducted using liquid pesticides called termiticides.
73. Liquid termiticide products are insecticide concentrates which are mixed with water to form insecticide solutions which are applied to the structure to control termites.
74. Some termiticide products are repellent, some termiticides are non-repellent.
75. The strategy of liquid termiticide treatments is to apply the termiticide to the soil under and around the structure to protect it from termites that live in the soil.
76. As with any pesticide, prior to the application of termiticide products the applicator must read, understand and follow the label directions.
77. Prior to the application of a liquid termiticide solution the applicator must measure the structure, identify the structural elements present which must be treated and properly calculate the label directed quantity of termiticide solution that should be applied to protect the structure from subterranean termites.
78. Termites can detect the presence of repellent termiticide treated soil and will not attempt to enter or tunnel into the treated soil.
79. To be successful a complete and uniform barrier must be applied when repellent termiticides are used.
80. Termites cannot detect the presence of non-repellent termiticide products which is an advantage of these products since termites may readily tunnel into treated soil resulting in termite mortality.
81. Non-repellent and slow acting termiticide products are considered the best treatment option by many professionals.
82. Popular non-repellent termiticide professional products include Termidor, manufactured by BASF, which contains the active ingredient fipronil, and Premise, manufactured by Bayer, which contains the active ingredient imidacloprid.
83. A non-repellent, slow acting termiticide may be spread from individual termites to other colony members which may result in the eventual destruction of the termite colony.
84. A termite pre-construction treatment may be done prior to and during various phases of the construction of a new home. Pre-construction treatments are typically made to the soil to protect the home from soil borne subterranean termites.
85. Note that a proper pre-construction treatment must be done in conjunction with the various phases of construction of the home. As such, it takes multiple trips and applications to the construction site to complete a pre-construction treatment correctly. This is so because it is impossible to treat structural elements which have not yet been created in the construction process.
Termite Baits:
86. The first termite bait product to become commercially available was Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination system which was manufactured by Dow Agrosciences. It was introduced to the Termite Professional Industry in 1995. Since then, a number of commercially available termite bait systems have become available for use by the Termite Professional Industry. Other currently available professional use termite bait products currently available include Trelona ATBS (Advance Termite Bait System) marketed by BASF, Exterra® Termite Interception and Baiting System marketed by Ensystex.
87. Like liquid termiticides, termite bait products have pesticide label directions which must be followed by the termite professional applicator.
88. Termite baits and bait stations do not attract subterranean termites. Rather, subterranean termites may blunder into these stations during their subterranean forage activity.
89. The strategy of termite stations is to provide an acceptable bait matrix upon which subterranean termites will feed. This matrix may contain a slow acting toxicant which is detrimental to the termites that feed upon it.
90. The termite stations are placed in the soil around a structure to be protected. Stations are placed as per label directions.
91. When accepted and fed upon by the termites, a termite bait may eliminate the entire colony.
92. Termite baits do not control or destroy the colony immediately.
93. The time necessary for the termite bait to eliminate the colony may vary depending upon multiple factors.
94. Above ground (AG) stations may be used where appropriate when areas of termite activity are detected in a structure.
95. An advantage of using termite bait systems is that the work associated with a liquid treatment, including trenching, drilling and patching, and disruption of the structure is avoided.
96. Termite baits may be used in combination with liquid termiticide applications.
97. While each of the termite bait system stations must be inspected and serviced periodically in accordance with the label, the structure being protected must also be inspected to assure that termite activity, if any, is detected prior to significant damage occurring.