termites Archives - Page 17 of 23 - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

Rainy season brings the termites, are you ready?

When your home was built the contractor probably was required to pretreat the soil before pouring the concrete slab. By AZ law a final grade was to be performed within a certain period, if you look in the electrical box you may find the two required stickers. One should be the original pretreat and the second is the final grade. Now that’s if they haven’t fallen off or are not legible. You can also visit the Office of Pest Management site at http://tarf.sb.state.az.us/index.php?ckset=ok – they started keeping track in 1990 I think.

Back in the day termiticides like Chlordane could last for 50 years, but in my opinion today I think it is closer to 15 years. Especially when placed under concrete without things that would break down the chemical. The outside of the home or that final grade is another completely different story. If nothing messes it up it might last 7 years but that doesn’t happen very often. Water, rodents, sun and the heat, people installing pipes or wires often disrupt that barrier. It is my opinion that you shouldn’t plant anything under the eaves of the roof line, roots and water may affect the home and you don’t need anything else to worry about.

So keep checking your foundation, clear away rocks or soil from the stucco area – you need to be able to see that foundation. Don’t stack firewood against the home or for that matter any other debris. As always if you need an inspection give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176.

Why is a termite inspection important?

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Termites are one of those things that I’ll bet most people don’t ever think about. Over 5 billion dollars are spent on damage every year, so I think it is important. The Office of Pest Management offers this article on termites and Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Report here in Arizona. If I was spending my hard earned money, I think I would like an opinion about something I may or may not know much about.

Thanks to Univar Environmental Solutions for the picture.

Freaky nature show in New Orleans

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I have spent many days and many hours in New Orleans, LA working on and studing termites. Termite swarms occur at different times of the day generally on the east coast of the U.S. Subterranean termites generally swarm in eary afternoon, drywood termites usually in late afternoon and Formosan termites in the evening. As an avid bug guy, I have to say that I love swarms. Whether its a Harvestor ant swarm or honeybees, I love them all. It is kind of funny, but many years ago when some of the termite baits came to the market and then Termidor came – many people thought that the termites would just go away. Never happened and probably never will. As great as those products are – the bugs continue to win.

Are termites on the prowl around your home?

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Subterranean Termite Tube

Termites are always on the lookout for water and some sort of wood, so they can eat. In Arizona inspect your home especially in the monsoon season when the rains come. The more irrigation or water increases your chances that you will see termites. They build these little tubes or tunnels to go from the ground up into your home.

About the only way sure way to control these termites is by placing a pesticide barrier between them and the wood, often this means hiring a Pest Management Professional. You need a complete exterior treatment and I suggest Termidor or Transport.

Ahhhhh those termites are at it again……

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Sometimes termites just pop up in the weirdest places, this is an apartment and I believe that the issue is the firewall – stemwall with a floating slab. I always suggest that if you find a crack in the concrete and your going to put down tile or wood, have a termite company drill it first then put the tile down.

What are my Top 4 pests that I run into daily?

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Drum roll please, my Top 4 pests that I run into daily are:

Scorpions
Crickets
Cockroaches
Termites

I get calls daily about scorpions and they are by far the most difficult to deal with, reduce their food source helps and getting rid of any harborages also help to make them move somewhere else. Crickets are just about everywhere and provide scorpions with all the food they need in my opinion. Its also amazing but I can spot termite tubes from the street and often spend hours putting cards on people’s doors to give them a heads up on termite activity.

Is it termites, no its cricket crap?

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Is it termites, no its cricket crap?

Subterranean termites – in Arizona and most other places in the U.S. they build mud tunnels.

Crickets are notorious at getting into the stucco or crack and crevices and living within that space. They fecal material just falls out of those spaces and we have been getting a lot of calls thinking that they have termites.

Close up view, notice the insect leg.

Just to throw you off, the picture below is Drywood Termites – notice the grooves.

Bathrooms and Termites, why?

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Bathrooms and Termites, why?

After learning about termites in Florida (I spent 8 years in Central Florida) I know that they really are drawn to water sources much like any animal or insect. Food, water and a place to live, that’s what they need and that’s what we need. So especially in Florida – abundant with water and bathrooms were the place I had more serious issues.

Here is Arizona I think the one thing that’s helps termites beyond the normal water, food etc is the footprint of homes. This footprint allows heat reduction and some water which allows termites to live within the shadow of us. So keep an eye peeled for signs of termites and you will be one step ahead of the game if they ever invade your home. Here is a list of things to look for:

Tunnels or tubes inside or out, inside could be very small but dirt is always present with Subterranean termites.
Drop tubes coming from your ceiling.
Baseboard that looks eaten from inside out, they won’t eat paint so it looks wrinkled.
I suggest an inspection by a Pest Management Professional – here is a great place to find one http://www.pestworld.org or just give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176

Tricky termite treatments

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Tricky termite treatments

Pavers, flagstone and tile always make a termite treatment more difficult. Sometimes it almost impossible, these pavers are in fact put in place with cement or sand. It is possible to drill but it also is worrisome because you might crack the paver. It is essential to the treatment to get the termiticide to the area where the termites may try to get into the home.

I also run across built in cabinets and they pose another obstacle to getting the termiticide to that expansion joint. What other issues do you think we run across on our daily termite treatments and do you have any unusual obstructions at your home or business?

Do you know what’s going on here? Post Tension or not?

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Do you know what’s going on here? Post Tension or not?

Honestly I have no idea, it is stamped with Post Tension but there appears to be an expansion joint visible in both garages. There is also evidence of termites coming up the expansion joint. So I’m guessing but I think its a combination of Post Tension and Floating Slab.

What do I do? Do I drill the slab or not? Well if you hear screaming coming from Arizona it’s me!

All posts in “termites”

Subterranean Termite Tube

Is it termites, no its cricket crap?