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Are those Subterranean termites at it again?

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Subterranean termites

Well it’s another sign of Subterranean termites in your home. Did you know? Termites are social insects. Termite colonies can have up to 2 million but in Arizona it’s probably closer to 100,000 I think it’s due to the lack of water. They eat all kinds of wood and anything that contains wood cellulose. Subterranean termites work 24/7/365 and if your house is on the menu they will do everything they can to get in. The picture above is a termite tube coming from the attic above, we found the termites gaining entry outside between the brick and treated them with Termidor HE and no more termites inside. The key to a successful termite treatment is finding them and treating the soil. Some companies foam or use a dry product, now don’t get me wrong sometimes you have to do what you have to do but protecting and treating the soil is always the right move. In my opinion treating the soil is always the best move and treating with a superior product like Termidor is also a plus. Protect your home with the best – Termidor.

A few tips to keep them away:

Keep stone or soil away from stucco on house.
Make sure water including drip and flood irrigation drains away from the home.
Stack wood away from house.
Keep bushes trimmed and away from hose.
Check you home monthly for new critters.

Subterranean termites Termidor

Termite tube in my carpet?

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This picture is a termite tube coming up through the carpet, so termites work 24/7/365 and they won’t stop until they find food. Even if they find food, their search continues to the next food source. So occasionally they will enter through a crack in the concrete, so you need to look against the wall and inside the house. As always you can always call upon the best to look for these little girls. “Call A Pro… Call The Best. ProBest. 602-249-7378

By the way, now is a good time to look for termites in Arizona.

Look for tubes outside on the foundation.

Look for either drop tubes or tubes coming up from the soil or concrete carpet areas.

I see a lot of tubes in garages, so focus on garage along the outer walls.

Termite tube carpet

Termites build tubes.

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Termites build tubes

Termites tube on block wall.

Termites build these tubes for several reasons, to protect them from air and sunlight and to protect them predators. They go in search for wood and when they find it they let the others know where the food is. They work 24/7/365 and even in the case above they might think they are heading for wood, they won’t find any here so eventually they will give up and move along.

They are small about 1/4 inch but it’s their numbers that make the difference, here in Arizona probably between 100,000 and 250,000 all working towards the goal of feeding everyone.

So keep a look out and if you see anything like this please give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378

Termites AZ?

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Consider checking for termites in obscure places?

Well it’s that time of year again, monsoon and we know what that brings? Yep, its the termites and the bugs and they’re back. This was found in a bath-trap area under a bathtub. You really have to think about and I often say you have to think like a termite. All they want is food, a good place to hang-out and water – hey that sounds like me. In this case we found them in a door frame and it didn’t look like they were coming in from the outside foundation. With just a little investigation we located them under the bath-tub in the bath-trap and as I mentioned you have to really think like them.

termites

Below, another tube coming from an interior door way – probably a crack under carpet.

Happy Labor Day

What are My TOP 10 Tips for keeping bugs out of your home?

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TOP 10 Tips

Watch the useful Tips video below to get useful, helpful techniques for preventing bugs from getting into your home or business. I have to think that most people dislike bugs getting into the home and frankly there is no reason to put up with them. Home-sealing is probably the most economical as it will help to lower electric bills both in Winter and Summer. Keeping the heat or cooling systems at peak efficiency and keeping $$$$ in your pocket.

Think outside your house, think about the roof and out buildings. You will have to think like that pests or at least think how they might enter the house or shed. While we might need a door, they can find access through a hole.

tips

[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suiWKtQ97zs[/embedyt]

Termite

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The Dreaded Termite – the House Eater

Termite

5 billion in damages yearly throughout the U.S. with most of that damage occurring on the East Coast. The highest infestation of subterranean termites is really found in the Southeast, including Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Therefore the highest levels of damage probably occur in those states. Since we build houses right on top of termite colonies, we afford them the options to go straight into our homes. Then to make matters worse we use wood to build those homes and businesses. So what can you do to prevent termites?

Don’t allow wood to ground.
Don’t overwater, and don’t allow wood to get wet.
Keep an eye on areas of penetration of concrete slab, such as bath-traps and plumbing.
If you see anything that appears to be dirt on wall in form of tubes call a Pest Management Professional, like ProBest Pest Management 602-249-7378.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrWvtlAxiE4[/embedyt]

Termites and your toilet – Ohhh what a crappy problem

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Any toilet or pipe penetration in the slab will do

Toilet pipes lead the way in. Pardon the pun. Any penetration in your concrete slab allows that tiny chance that the termites may make their way into your home. Typically not usual but it does happen. This goes for any crack in the slab, have you noticed tile or carpet buckling, it may be a crack. If you replace carpet or linoleum and you see a crack have it treated before putting down new tile. I hate to see drill holes when it was preventable. So if you see something like this, give ProBest Pest Management a call at 602-249-7378.

Storage Firewood

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Storage Firewood

The correct way to store firewood, keep it high and dry and away from the pests. This keeps the air circulation around the firewood and allows the firewood to dry and age correctly. At the same time it prevents pests from coming straight up the ground into the wood,. Still have to be careful and rodents and other critters may still be able to hide within the spaces of the wood. Be especially careful of Black Widow spiders, and always wear gloves when moving firewood. This simple device below is ideal, it keeps the firewood dry and off the ground, you can also put a tarp over it. I also like the cement pads. You may get other pests like wasps or spiders but as I mentioned use gloves and check things out before you begin to move the wood.

Bring in only what you need and don’t store it inside. I have seen Powder Post Beetles come out of the wood, stored in the winter inside when it became wood enough to let them think it was summer.

Active Arizona Termites

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Active Arizona Termites

Our Active Arizona Termites like water and there generally isn’t a lot of it for them. So after it starts raining they get a little more active. So keep a sharp look out for them. Arizona termites are sneaky. They often follow lines such as this metal bracket or they will follow concrete lines and or pipes. So what should you look for?

Wood to ground, this gives termites a free pass into your home.
Excessive moisture, don’t water to near the foundation of the house. Check drip irrigation and only water was is necessary for the plant if possible. In Arizona we often use flood irrigation, so be careful you are not interfering with the termiticide along the foundation of the home.
Don’t store firewood or wood on the ground.
Look for visible signs of termites, mud tubes, tunnels and/or drop tubes and damage.
Garages are a noted area, so keep a watch for termite tubes coming up the foundation or in the expansion joint.
Sometimes you might see little spots of dirt, check it and if it continues to grow get a pest professional to take a look. Our Arizona termites make some funky little drop tubes, it’s their way of trying to get back to the ground.

OK what do you see?

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Well if you guessed Drywood termites pellets, you guessed right? Those little brownish colored things at the bottom of the picture are the fecal remains of wood eaten by Drywood termites. Subterranean termites mix their fecal material with the mud/soil and construct mud tunnels or tubes while Drywood termite fecal pellets are kicked out of their colony. These little pellets have little ridges and are fairly easy to identify. Drywood termites which are located within structures are often tented and just a side-note not usually a very big deal in Arizona but we do have them here. The more water we bring in, such as flood or drip irrigation helps to increase the humidity level and allow these termites to gain a strong-hold here. Even after a fumigation takes place, those pellets will continue to fall out – so the only real way to know that you still have them is by an actual swarm. Just one more thing to keep you from sleeping!

By the way this is generally not a “Do It Yourself” project, unless you are able to remove all the wood. In the case above it was a small shed, which I would just remove and rebuild. Which by the way falls into my model of IPM.