Termite Control

Termite Facts

often called the silent destroyer

the most destructive insect pests in the world
Termites require four things to survive food, moisture, shelter and
optimal temperature.
Of the 54 species of termites, six of them are commonly found in homes
and other structures in the Philippines.
Termites are social insects that live incolonieswith caste systems, which
means termites are organized into different social classes based on their
roles and responsibilities.
The termite caste system has three levels:reproductives, workers
andsoldiers.
Worker and soldier termites are blind. Only termites that have become
fully mature, reproductive termites develop eyes.
 Since termites live in dark places and many of them are blind, termites
communicate through pheromones (chemical signals) and vibrations
caused by head-banging.
Termites build the largestnestsof any insect.
In recorded history, termites have never developed resistance to any
type of pesticide. Termites survival is due in part to the queens royal
taster system, in which the colonys workers taste and process all food
before it is fed to the queen.
Termites have lived on Earth for approximately 250 million years.
Main Types of Termites

Drywood Termites
Found inside dry wood, usually in structural
timbers in buildings. These termites are less
reliant on moisture sources and do not need to
forage in the soil.

Dampwood termites
- Feeds on decayed wood such as fallen trees and
rotting logs.
- Most commonly found termite in this region (the
Philippines); it nests in soil from which it derives
moisture.
 Subterranean termites are social insects which live in colonies; these
colonies are usually very large, with hundreds of thousands of
occupants. They primarily live below the soil surface and generally enter
structures undetected via hidden pathways (as thin as a hairline crack)
in foundation walls and floors.
 Termite Identification
Differences in Castes
Worker termites tend to be lighter in color and soft-
bodied.Soldierstend to have worker-like bodies, but with hard
heads that are often dark in color and have large jaws. Alates
(swarmers) have wings and hard exoskeletons that may be very
dark in color.

From left to right: soldier, worker, nymph, larva

 Differences in Behavior
Experts also are trained to identify termites by their behavior. Subterranean
termites build mud tubes, which can be seen on a home's
foundation.Drywood termitespush fecal pellets calledfrassthroughkick
out holes. These pellets form small mounds near wood damage.
 Differences in Wood Damage
The pattern of wood damage can help a pest control expert identify the
type of termite causing the damage.Subterranean termiteseat along the
wood grain, leaving wood with a honeycomb appearance.Drywood
termiteseat across and with the grain, excavating large rooms connected
by tunnels.
 Termite Control

The techniques and materials used to control

aninfestationvary based on the type of
termite, home construction and extent of
infestation.

Termite Monitoring & Bait Systems

Monitoring stations typically are installed first,
and then replaced withbait cartridgeswhen
termite activity is confirmed.Bait
stationscontain bait cartridges that are a mix
of cellulose (termite food) and a termiticide
that that will slowly kill the termites that
consume it, plus nestmates the termites share
it with in the colony.
 Fumigation and Tenting
During thetermite fumigation process, a trained pest management
professional will place a tent (or tarps) over a home before releasing
afumigantthroughout the structure. The fumigant will circulate throughout
the home to reach cracks and crevices between and inside wood where
termites can tunnel and thrive. Termites will breathe in the fumigant, which
then will deplete their oxygen, affect their nervous system and cause their
death.

Termiticides
The termiticide treatment is injected to create a treated zone around your
premise perimeter. A treated zone is a liquid (Termiticide) that is applied to
the soil to form a barrier between the soil and the building structure, which
prevents termites from entering your home. Termiticide can be applied
under a concrete floor or around the foundations of the building both prior
to or after construction.
 Heat, Cold & Electronic Treatments
Heat termite treatments involve raising temperatures in your home to a
level beyond what termites can tolerate to survive.
In some cases, termite infestations can be treated by using extreme cold.
Refrigeration chambers work in a way that is similar to heat chambers in
creating an environment with temperatures too extreme for termites to
survive.
Your termite specialist may use copper wire to help conduct the electric
current through the wood where a termite nest is located. Then, he or she
will use a handheld device to send a high-voltage, high-frequency electric
current into the wood where the termites live. This current kills the termites
in that specific area.
 Natural / Organic Termite Control
Organic termite control methods include biological controls, such as
introducing nematodes (microscopic worms) or ants that prey on termites.
Non-toxic termite control methods include heat treatment, extreme cold
and electronic methods. Green materials include termiticides and baits
made from botanical ingredients.

Termite Shields
A termite shield is a metal barrier that is installed around potential
subterranean termite entry points into the home, including foundations,
piers and pipes. Common installation locations include between the lower
masonry wall of a home and the wooden components that are joined to the
masonry wall (e.g. between the top of the basement wall and the start of
the main floor), or directly on top of the foundation (typically for solid,
poured concrete walls). When installed correctly, termite shields can force
subterranean termites to build mud tubes in visible locations where they
are more easily detected.