All posts in “cellulose”

Carpet & termites

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You return home from vacation and there it is Carpet & termites. Now what do you do, call ProBest Pest Management of course 602-249-7378. This is a result of a crack in the foundation and the termites found their way into the home and through the carpet.

Easy fix for a termite company, take up the carpet and treat the crack in the slab. Termiticide does fail and once that crack begins to expand it moves the barrier treatment. So don’t just look around the foundation edge of the house or the ceiling, if you spot something like this connect immediately so we can assess the root cause.

If you ever decide to take up carpet and replace with tile or wood and you find cracks in the slab, call us. It is easier to fix the problem before the time is in place, never looks the same.

Grass eating termites

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Grass and termites

Grass, termites and what they may eat. Here is Arizona we have a grass eating termite. Typically they eat desert cellulose cleaning up the desert. In the picture they are just eating the old dead tree bark. Sometimes you will see them building little castles in the yard. They usually don’t do any harm but it does freak out some people and from time to time we can treat around trees to stop them from doing any perceived damage.

You will occasionally see them in areas that are dry and they will build little tunnels over the lawn. This buildup looks like little castles and often look kind of unique in the yard or litter areas. They will buildup over leaves, small pieces of wood or twigs, manure, cactus and plant structures. They also are known as agricultural termites.

Grass

Stain termite tube

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Stain from a termite tube

The stain stays after wiping it away, you must use soap and water and scrub. I often hear from customers that they found a small hole with what looks like dirt and that is exactly what a termite tube looks like. See the picture, there is a hole with a termite tube or old remnants. The tube was wiped away and all you have now is the stain. After treatment we usually remove the tube and any leftover marks if possible plus in this case the customer is going to paint. This is critical to the sale of a  home, if you don’t get rid of the evidence the next Termite Inspection will note this and require an additional treatment. I also suggest repainting the floor or the foundation to make the holes blend in better, not to hide but make it more pleasing to the sight.

Call ProBest Pest Management today 602-249-7378

stain

 

Termite tubes and tunnels

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Building termite tubes and tunnels is hard work, but the termites do it 24/7/365 and I’m pretty sure not going to give it up soon. It really doesn’t matter what type of wall you have concrete, block or stone. They will work their way around electrical pipes or plumbing entry ways. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals of getting food.

termite tubes

termite tubes

How about some termite facts?

  • Oldest insects on Earth.
  • Scientists believe that for every human on Earth there are 1000 lbs of termites.
  • A queen termite may lay 2000 or more eggs per day, some African Termite Queens may lay 30,0000.
  • Some Termite Queens may live 15-25 years.
  • Termites are more closely related to cockroaches than ants.
  • Termites build the largest actual nest than any other insect.
  • Ants are the termites biggest foes.
  • They believe that termites cause $5 billion worth of damage in the U.S. each year.
  • Ants have a narrow waist, but the termite is a solid type.
  • Ants have elbowed antenna while termites is straight.
  • In Arizona we have about 17 species of termites, not all cause problems.
  • Did you know that termites swarm, they send reproductives out to start new colonies. In Florida, East Coast it occurs during the early Spring while in Arizona it happens just after Monsoon in September – October or so.

Are those Subterranean termites at it again?

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Subterranean termites

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:

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

Subterranean termites Termidor

Termites build tubes.

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Termites build tubes

Termites tube on block wall.

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

Termite

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The Dreaded Termite – the House Eater

termite

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.

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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?

  1. Wood to ground, this gives termites a free pass into your home.
  2. 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.
  3. Don’t store firewood or wood on the ground.
  4. Look for visible signs of termites, mud tubes, tunnels and/or drop tubes and damage.
  5. Garages are a noted area, so keep a watch for termite tubes coming up the foundation or in the expansion joint.
  6. 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.

 

Active Arizona Termites  20151209_085004

 

Grass eating termites

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termites222     Termites eat dead wood and often they can find it on live trees. They can eat the bark or sometimes a tree limb will die and they can eat that.

 

Here is Arizona they consume dead grass, dead cactus and anything that contains cellulose.

 

Don’t panic, they are just doing what they are supposed to do – consume dead wood.

 

I often recommend just keeping any eye out for the termites, it isn’t always necessary to treat especially since they are just eating the dead wood.

Ohh ohhh what’s that poppin up through the carpeting?

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Yep it’s termites, not surprising to anyone in the business. If there is a crack in the foundation slab then it is probable that you might get termites breaching the slab. That slab crack serves at a gateway right into your home and very little except termiticide will stop them for good. I suggest Termidor HE,

State-of-the-art molecular technology dramatically improves the transport of the Termidor HE Copack active ingredient into the soil creating an Enhanced Protection Zone.

It utilizes an advanced nonrepellent, or “undetectable,” liquid technology that termites cannot see, smell, taste, or avoid.

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