“Screw succession: termite queen found to be genetically immortal.”
It’s all about the Queen, long may she reign! Right? It is kind of interesting when she technically can create an exact replica of herself by cloning.
Photo by PPMA
You bet we could and here is one right from the architects their little homes “Climate control in termite mounds.”
We often think of termites as home wreckers, or pests who frequently get into our homes. But these termites have come up with a way to regulate the temperatures within their castles. There are even termites in Australia that build north and south to take advantage of the sun and wind.
AZ termite tunnel
I’ve noticed a trend lately, a few Pest/Termite companies are switching to bait systems. Not really sure why they would do this when Termidor /Termidor HE is by far the fastest way to stop termites in their tracks.
Most of my termite experience comes from Florida and I see the advantages of bait but the desert affects them differently. The extreme heat and the space between stations affords the termites the ability to gain access into structures. I still believe that bait plays a role in stopping termites and occasionally use it in my toolbox of techniques. Baits have come a long way since the early 2000’s and BASF now has an active compressed bait station Trelona™ ATBS (Advance® Termite Bait System) with the active ingredient Novaluron.
New termite technology continues…. stay tuned.
So you did the work and excluded those pigeons but wait they are still hanging out. Annoying? Yes it is.
Sometimes they just won’t move and the second part of the battle begins. May I suggest a tube of PIGNX, designed to get on their feet and they won’t like it much.
I think of it similar to when we get Super Glue on our fingers, that stuff won’t come off and it is very annoying. Isn’t it?
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.
This was just a shot of a parking lot of a church which couldn’t handle all that rain. All this rains triggers the subterranean termites to become a little more active, so what signs should you be looking for?
- Mud tube or tunnels on the foundation stem wall of your home.
- Small pin sized holes with dirt/mud around the opening and maybe the presence of little white or maybe black swarmers.
- Mud tube or tunnel inside the home.
- Sometimes and not very often in Arizona, swarmers.
One thing I have noticed over my years is that those termites just keep on going, much like that Energizer Bunny. They are searching 24/7/365 and won’t stop until they find food, they may turn and go another way but they keep on going.
In nature they just set off in search of food, they follow roots and sometimes get to concrete and turn left or right and follow it again until they find wood or food.
So if you see trails like this, or mud tubes or down tubes hanging from a ceiling it is time to call your Pest Management Professional.
Call ProBest Pest Management at 602-249-7378 or 623-414-0176 for your termite or pest inspection.
Sometimes no matter what you do to protect yourself something bigger happens – like a water leak within the home. I came home a few years ago to find water coming out of the garage of one of my neighbors home. I knocked on their door and nobody answered, so I shut off the water at the meter box. The bathroom toilet fill line busted and was spraying water within the home .
The pictures below are not as serious, the water hose on the outside of the water developed a crack and during one of our notorious monsoons it finally burst. You will notice that the termite tube came right up behind that hose – was it an accident or did the termites do that on purpose? How about the river rock, did that allow termites further access?
My opinion: termites do like water and if a pipe is dripping I think this affords them opportunity. So if you have a leak within the home, call and seek advice.
Don’t stack river rocks or small stone to the stucco, this hides the foundation and makes inspections difficult. Its impossible to see anything behind the meter box.
I took away a few stones and you can now see the tiny little termite mud tube, just to the left of pipe.
A closer view of that sneaky little termite tunnels coming up the foundation of the home.
This was behind the drywall or lathing material and looked like a cactus design. It was artistic but I rather think accidental by design. Have you ever seen anything like it?
Comments are welcome.
Most times if you located it early enough you are probably alright but if its been there for a long time you may have some issues.
Normally I ask questions and hope for the best but from time to time you never know what might happen. I’ve seen times when not only was there a distinct smell, but there was Wax Moths everywhere. I don’t know how they do it but they got into the house and were flying and flirting around in every room. So here are my tips:
- Monthly checks of your home during Honeybee season – Africanized Honeybees swarm in Arizona as soon as it becomes warm and wills swarm right up to our mild winters.
- If you see bees going in and out it is time to call a Pest Management Professional.
- Keep an eye after the bees have been removed for any signs of leakage. The beeswax and honey will melt and secondary pests will come by for something to eat.
- Leakage may be inside or outside, pay attention to smells and spotting on walls or ceilings.
- Honey won’t mold but dead bees might so again pay attention to the smells.