termites Archives - Page 15 of 24 - Arizona Pest Control - Pest Management Services

Most destructive insect?

I’ll would bet that most people would say termites but not so, it turns out to be the desert locust. This locust you may recall is the one from the Bible and can eat its own weight in food a day. It is estimated that a large swarm could eat 20,000 tons of grain and vegetation per day. (“The Handy Biology Answer Book”)

In the U.S. I’m still betting on the termite, estmates suggest over 5 billon in damage each year. Termites are in search of food and when they find it they will eat and eat. 24/7/365 that is their schedule and they won’t waiver unless the building is under water.

What can you do to discourage termites from finding your home as a food source:

Check water drip and irrigation systems to make sure they are working properly.
Don’t plant plants or trees to close to the foundation of your home.
Don’t allow stucco to come in contact with dirt or stone, you need to see the foundation.
If you noticed any wood in the ground left over after construction, remove it.
Don’t stack wood against the home.

PPMA King/Queen Sub-termites

What won’t termites eat?

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Termites don’t eat concrete or plastics, but they will build over it and many other products. There was a few years ago some type of foam which was filled with concrete and it always worried me as in my opinion it was just a space in which they could build a tube.

Garages are well known for termite activity, I guess when build it is the last concrete poured and who knows want went on after the pretreatment. That story for another day, but I find termites in garages often and this is not always what I find but it is interesting. Since the expansion joint is visible in the garage, this is what you look for when performing a termite inspection. Mud tubes or tunnels coming up the foundation wall into the structure, are often visible unless you have storage against the walls which most people do. So the lesson here is not to obstruct the expansion joint, better said than done since the garage is the catch all of our lives.

I recommend a yearly inspection which is free from ProBest unless it is for a sale of a home or business for termites if you live in the South or Southwest and if you notice anything that looks like mud inside the home call Professional Termite Company ASAP.

Yikes, how did that get in there?

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Rats and mice nomally can squeeze through small opening (mice – dime and rats – quarter), I think this guy just had a bad day. I suppose it ate some bait or got bit by something, cause it looks like it has some room to wiggle. Just a caution on mice/rats, rodents in general they have teeth and aren’t afraid to use them. They will gnaw on electrical wiring around pool pumps, car engines and equipment of all sorts. By the way this also goes for rabbits, they will also go after wiring. So what precautions can you take:

Check you home monthly for signs of pests, I know I say it often but eventually you might listen to my advice.
Check for holes or loose screening, including those weep holes at the roofline.
If you see bees flying in and out, check it out but use caution.
Don’t stack firewood against the house.
Don’t let trees or bushes touch the house, super highway for rodents and ants.
Have a Professional Termite company do an inspection for termites.

What if the termites are eating your tree, what can you do?

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Termite generally don’t consume live wood or cellulose, they prefer dead stuff like fallen trees and wooden structural pieces in your home. These termites in the picture are probably a Gnathamitermes species often called grass eaters. Here is Arizona they often go after dead grass, old wooden fences, dead cactus and tree bark. Here is a great publication from the University of Arizona (Baker, Marchosky).

Is hiring a unlicensed Pest Control company a good choice?

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My list and answer could go on forever on this subject but I ran into a rather good article from Texas on this very topic and thought I would share it.

Texas has an updated online tool to help people make intellegient choices on who they pick to perform pest control services for their homes, families and businesses. Now if you are in Texas here is the link TexasAgriculture.gov, here are just a few of the remarks mentioned in the article.

Unlicensed pest control applicators might work cheaper but their work can be deadly to families and business employees, officials said Tuesday.

“Unlicensed people may potentially run a higher risk of being unfamiliar with laws and safety precautions and training and practices,”

“Safety and security are important factors when letting someone in your home,”

In Arizona the Office of Pest Management regulates the pest control industry and provides a Consumer link to various and very useful information. They also provide Termite Action Report Forms (TARFs) or a tool to see what termite work was done on a home.

A stain is just a stain, right?

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During a wood destroying insect/termite inspection you find a termite mud stain, what is it? Termites build shelter tubes and if someone knocks them down all that may appear is this stain. Some people will go so far as to wipe it away and pretend that everything will be OK.

A few facts:

Termites don’t generally go away on their own.
In many places you must disclose that to a new buyer.
If their are no drill holes – then no termite was performed – refer to #1.
It must be noted on the inspection form.

If you find something like this it is important to find a Professional Termite Company to lend you a hand.

Is this termites?

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I often get calls that start out by saying I know I have termites and I need to have someone come out to give me an estimate. Mud Daubers are wasps nd they use mud to construct nest in which they house the next generation of solitary wasps. Mud Daubers rarely sting and do not defend their mud shelter, they may fly at you but it is not a defense.

Have you inspected your home for termites?

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In Arizona these little mud trails can pop up just about anywhere within your home. The termites make there way up from the soil and make these tubes or tunnels to protect themselves from ants or the heat. Once inside they will soon be munching away on your wall or ceiling studs.

So if you notice something like this I think its time to call a Termite Professional.

What does the future hold for bug eating?

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What are the seven (7) insects you’ll be eating in the future, check out this story “7 insects You’ll be eating in the future.” by By Marc Lallanilla, Assistant Editor Live Science.

I think most of us have heard about crickets and watched some shows on TV where someone is munching on a few bugs. The world is fast approaching 8 billion people and sooner or later if have to look at alternatives to the food we eat.

So what have you eaten, bug wise anyway? We do sell them at our DIY/Do It Yourself & Post Office.

R U Seeing Signs of Termites?

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No matter where you you live, OK maybe not Alaska but you probably will encounter termites. In Florida and the east Coast chances are that you might find them in the early Spring – sometime near March and April depending on temperatures and weather. In Louisiana it might be different depending on the type of termite and in Arizona our main push of termites is usually after monsoon and the rains, August – November give or take.

This picture above is typical of our Western Subterranean termites, they will find their way up into a wall and then sometimes make a little hole and mud it up or they will make down tubes. But anyway you look at it, this is what you are looking for.

My recommendations for your home and a termite inspection:

You can look yourself, since you’re on my home seal – type in termites to see what it looks like.
Normally you can get a free inspection, unless it’s for a sale of a home or business.
When your doing housework, glance around for anything you haven’t noticed before.
Looks for mud tubes on the foundation of your home, garages are an excellent place for termites – look at expansion joint.
You can always call ProBest for our opinion, you can send photo’s to [email protected]

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