Termites!

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Signs of termites in your home - Mud Tubes

 

 

Termite Mud Tubes!

Have you ever noticed mud on the side of your home in or in a crawl space?  It could be termite mud tubes and a sign that you have a termite infestation.  Check out this blog on termite mud tubes to learn more: http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/termite-mud-tubes-2/.

Termite Swarm Season is Approaching!

Termite swarm season is here.  What is a termite swarm and should I be concerned?  Check out more info at our website at http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/termite-swarm-season-approaching/.

 

Termite Bait Station Surprise!

One of our technicians had a surprise this week while checking termite bait stations.  

Read about it on our website at http://www.midgapestcontrol.com/termitebaitstationsurprise/.

 

Ant or Termite 101!

You see a large number of small ant-like bugs with wings.  But, are they ants?  Both ants and termites swarm, and often times, these winged creatures are confused with one another.  So, here's a quick reference guide to know the difference.  It is important to know which pest you have because prevention and treatment of each is different.

1. Ants have a narrow, constricted waist while termites have rectangular shaped bodies with no constrictions.
2. Ants have bent antennae while termites have straight, beaded antennae.
3. Winged ants will have a shorter hind wing and longer front wing while termites have wings of equal length.
4. Ants are usually dark in color while termites are generally light in color.
5. Ants will eat just about anything while termites only eat wood, including paper products.

diagram courtesy of www.bugthug.com

Termite Season is Here! Are You Protected?

            It was a great sound to hear birds chirping outside of my house this morning.  The signs of spring are beginning all around us.  Not only does spring bring birds, blooms, and baseball, it also bring bothersome pests!  Many insects spend the winter in a state of hibernation and emerge as the temperatures warm up.  Once out of hibernation, it’s time to mate and produce new offspring for the season.  In the case of ants and termites, this can often be seen as a mating swarm, or reproductive flight.  We've already had calls about termite swarms.  Are you ready?

Social insects, such as ants and termites, are organized into various castes, with each group having a particular function.  Workers make up the largest group, and consist of only females.  The workers are the ants you see at your picnic or the termites you find when you break open a piece of old wood.  Another caste is the reproductives.  These are both male and female winged insects and include the “kings” and “queens” of future colonies.  At certain times of the year, one being the spring, these “reproductives” leave their nests all at the same time looking for a mate.  This emergence of large numbers at a time is called a “swarm”.  When a homeowner sees this occurrence inside the home, it can be very frightening. 

   

Should you be concerned if you see a swarm of insects?  Most swarms will occur outside.  However, if you see a swarm occurring inside, this means the insects’ nest is either in your home, underneath your home, or very close to the structure.  In the case of ants, if worker ants have not been a problem, then you may not have reason for high concern.  Most swarms only last about one day.  Using a vacuum to control the large numbers of insects will probably be sufficient.  In the case of termites, however, seeing an indoor swarm is almost always an indicator of an infestation.  If you suspect you have termites, it is best to let a professional termite or pest control company handle the treatment.  Try to collect some of the insects to allow the pest control expert to identify your pest.  

Swarming termites; photo courtesy of www.inspectamerica.com

 Prevention is always the best treatment.  Starting a year round pest control and termite prevention program will help make sure your home is protected.  Don’t wait for the swarm in your home.  Mid-Georgia Pest Control looks forward to serving you.  Call us today to learn about our pest control and termite prevention and treatment plans to serve your needs! 

Grayson office: (770)962-4240

Griffin office: (770)227-5161       

Protecting a Landmark!

Everett's Music Barn in Suwanee has been a big part of the Bluegrass music scene for over 40 years.  The Everett Family Band starting playing music in their house in the mid-'60s, and soon people were overfilling the home.  After a Norcross apartment complex donated materials, they built the barn in 1971.  Many professional Bluegrass artists got their start with the Everett family.  

The barn closed in November 2010, and was reopened under new ownership in April 2012.  You will find a family friendly atmosphere and live music every Saturday night.  Music from national recording artists, family bands, and local favorites can all be heard at Everett's Music Barn.

 

We recently had the honor of helping protect this Gwinnett landmark from a massive termite infestation.  Because the barn is set directly on the ground, sections of the floor had to be cut to get termiticide under the foundation. 

Treating Termites and Being Termite Free!

From the beginning, let me say, if you find evidence of termites in your home, leave the treatment to a professional!  Getting rid of termites requires special skill and equipment.  It may be necessary to use masonry drills, pumps, large capacity tanks, and soil treatment rods.  It is also important to have a knowledge of building construction in order to identify the critical areas where termites are most likely to enter your home or business.  These areas are often hidden and difficult to access.  That being said, here's some information to help you know and understand what treatment your termite technician will use.

There are two categories of termite treatment, liquid and bait.  Liquid termiticides have been around for decades.  They provide a long lasting chemical barrier that keeps termites in the ground from entering buildings.  In most cases, termites already present in the structure will also die off since they cannot return to the soil.  In the past, most of the products used were repellents and contact killers.  Current products, such as Termidor and Premise are non-repellent, so termites tunneling into the treatment zone can't detect the products and are killed through the "transfer effect".

Visit termidorhome.com to learn more about how these products work.

Technicians will use these products to do a "perimeter" treatment.  This means a thorough application of the chemical is done around the entire outside foundation wall of the building.  In some cases, this requires that porches, stoops, and even slabs be drilled through in order to inject the liquid into the soil along the foundation walls.  When applied according to label directions, liquid termiticides should control termites for 5 years.  The actual length, however, will depend on factors such as the thoroughness of the application, environmental conditions, and the density of termites present.

Like most people, you may wonder if termiticides will be harmful to your family or pets.  These products are tested extensively, and the studies are evaluated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Based on current knowledge, registered termiticides pose no significant hazard to humans, pets, or the environment when applied according to the label directions.



photo courtesy of northjerseytermite.com

Termite baits are another type of treatment commonly used.  These consists of paper, cardboard, or other type of cellulose food, combined with a slow acting lethal substance.  Baits are placed out in the yard, flush with the ground, in cylindrical plastic stations.  These are often hidden in your landscaping (see pictures below for how these baits look in your yard).  Foraging termites will consume the bait and then share it with the rest of the termites in the nest, resulting in a gradual decline in termite numbers.  Baits are inspected on a monthly or quarterly basis for termite activity.  If live termites are found in a station, a toxic bait will be placed inside.

 

If termites continue to be a problem, it does not necessarily mean that your termite technician did a "bad job" or that you were "cheated."  Unlike other services, termite control involves living creatures.  Even the best treatments may fail at times, when termites find their way through tiny, untreated gaps in the soil.  While the goal is to create a continuous, impenetrable chemical barrier, this is near to impossible to achieve in reality.

PREVENTION IS THE BEST TREATMENT!  Keeping in mind that termites need wood materials to eat and moisture to live, you can prevent them from having these resources and minimize your risk of being infested by termites. 

-Keep all sub-structural wood at least 6-10 inches above the soil beneath the building. 

-Keep all mulch and landscaping at least 6 inches back from the foundation.

-Repair structural and plumbing leaks.

-Remove piles of trash and debris from around your home.

-Remove dead tree stumps from the yard.

-Keep firewood stacked away from your home.

-Keep gutters clean.

-Make sure downspouts are long enough to direct water away from the foundation.

-Avoid direct wood to ground contact when building a porch or deck.

-Siding, brick veneer, or foam insulation should not extend below the soil grade.

-Keep attic and foundation areas well ventilated and dry.

*Invest in a preventative termite control plan.  Having these liquid or bait treatments done and checked on a regular basis can help keep your home safe from termites.  Most of us have a security system in our home, even if we've never had burglars, right?  Your home also needs a security system to protect from smaller invaders, termites!    

Termite damage can be very costly to repair, not to mention the emotional stress it can have on the homeowner.  Call Mid-Georgia Pest Control today at 770-962-4240 to get started on a prevention plan!

Below are some pictures of recent termite damage we've seen and treated:

In these first two photos, termites damaged through the sheet rock:

In these next photos, a foamed wall void was created around piping:

In this situation, you can see the termite tunnels inside the wall of this home around the pipes.  During the inspection, our team saw active termites poking their heads out of small holes in the wall.  They had also eaten through a piece of painter's tape the homeowner had used to cover a hole.

Below are coasters under a sink.  Termites had eaten the bottom of the coaster leaving wood shavings around them.  If you look closely, you can also see wings from the swarmers.