Author: Ted

Evaluating Different Termite Treatment Methods

Termite treatment methods vary greatly in cost and effectiveness. Depending on the severity of your infestation you may chose to enlist the help of a professional pest control company, or you may try to take care of the problem yourself. Whichever treat method you choose, it is important to rid your home of the pests completely so there is no more damage done to the structural integrity of your home. The pest control augusta ga is what one can opt for to get rid of the unnecessary pests. Detecting the Problem The first step in the process of extermination is detecting a termite problem. There are a few warning signs of termites to look for such as sawdust or a mud like substance on the wooden surfaces of your home.  Termite activity leave subtile signs, but an alert homeowner should be able to spot them when they start to appear. If you suspect a problem, a professional termite inspection by a reputable pest control service is the best way to effectively determine if you do in fact have a termite infestation and to what extent. Treating Wood with Borate Prevention is the best way to eliminate a future termite problem. Treat the structure of your home while it is still being built. You can have your building company use borate to treat the wood. This is a very effective way to prevent...

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Termite Swarming Season

Termite Swarmers Termite swarmers are termites that are designated to fly away from the colony and spread the colony to new places. These termites are only capable of spreading the colony and can not cause any damage to your home; it’s their children, the worker termites that will eat and destroy the wood in your home. These reproductive termites have a small pair of wings that give them the ability to fly. However, these insects cannot fly very well and often use the wind to carry them long distances. The reason that they are not good flyers is because their two pairs of wings are both of equal length. Insects such as flying ants also have two pairs of wings but the anterior pair are longer than the posterior pair making them more aerodynamic. Flying Ants vs Flying Termites While speaking of these flying ants, many people confuse these insects with the swarmer termites. Here are four simple ways that you can tell these species apart: 1. Ants have bent antennas and termites have straight 2. Ants are sectioned into three body parts while swarming termites have only two body parts 3. The abdomen of an ant is very thin while that of a termite is thick 4. As mentioned earlier, the wings of an aunt are not equal length while the wings of a swarmer termite are. Where...

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What are Flying Termites?

Entomologists have estimated that flying insects may have come around nearly 300 million years ago. Flying insects are the only invertebrates that developed wings for flight. One of the 25 different categories of these flying insects is the winged termite, or Order Isoptera. Often confused with flying ants, termite swarmers are flying termites. Another name commonly associated with termite swarmers is “winged reproductives.” These termites have one queen, one king, and secondary reproductives ranging in the hundreds in their colonies. Identifying Flying Termites Whereas flying ants will have three distinct body parts, and look literally like an ant with wings, termite swarmers will have the appearance of a head followed by two long wings, twice as long as the body, and distinctively larger at the base than up by the head. Moreover, the antennas on these insects are straight, not elbowed like the flying ant. Flying termites go through a gradual metamorphosis, from egg to nymph to adult. When a swarm of winged termites are together, they are just starting out as adult females and males. The normal swarming season for termites begins in early March when the temperature begins to increase. It is during this weather that termites begin their social season, and they can be seen in swarms. They will go off in pairs (this makes up the king and queen) to start their own colonies. Once...

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How to Kill Termites

Termite infestations can happen to anyone and it can be a rather stressful experience. Termites can cause a lot of destruction and damage and should be treated as soon as they are suspected. Luckily, there are some simple ways to kill a termite colony without having to spend a lot of money on an exterminator.  These do it yourself termite control methods can be very effective, as long as they are applied correctly. How to Kill Termites with Termite Baits One of the most common methods for killing termites is baiting. This is a simple do it yourself termite control method that any homeowner can do. Termite baits can easily be purchased at any hardware store and are a relatively inexpensive option for killing termites. If you are dealing with a small infestation or are just want to proactively avoid a termite infestation, then this is a great place to start. There are two kinds of termite baits available to use: below ground baits and in-home baits. Below ground termite baits are called termite stakes and they are a very popular method of termite control. The stakes are placed in the ground outside, spread out around the building you are trying to protect. The idea with termite stakes is that as the termites are digging along, they will run into the termite stakes. The stakes are filled with the...

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How to Use Termite Baits

How to Use Termite Baits

When faced with a termite infestation, there are several methods of termite control available to the consumer. These do it yourself termite control methods offer savings over sometimes expensive termite treatments. One of these types of termite control is termite baits. There are several do it yourself types on the market produced by several manufacturers, but all operate on the same basic principles. First, termites are social insects with clearly defined hierarchical structures. Like ants and bees, they use a colony to reproduce and feed one another. Worker termites gather food for the colony and feed it to the...

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