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Termite damage to residential and commercial buildings in the U.S. costs more than all natural disasters (fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes) combined each year. Subterranean termites, the most destructive of all termite species, account for a majority of the damage. The subterranean termite species Coptotermes formosanus (Formosan), and Reticulitermes flavipes and R.virginicus (Eastern Subterranean) are present throughout all of Florida. These subterranean termites continuously forage for food and water. If they encounter your home or building foundation while foraging , termites will follow any crack or crevice with an opening 1/32 of an inch wide into the interior areas of the structure. Once inside, the termites will seek a source of food which may consist of the following: lumber, wood panels, flooring, sheetrock, wallpaper, plastics, paper products, and some fabrics.
Subterranean Termites live and travel in the soil beneath our homes, even the most well-kept homes are vulnerable to an infestation. The best way to ensure your home remains Termite-free is to hire a licensed and trained pest professional who will protect your home using the most effective products available. If Termites are infesting one structure in a neighborhood, the whole neighborhood may be at risk. This map illustrates the areas that are more prone to termite infestations based on termite activity levels. As you can see by the Termite Infestation Probability Map (Tip Zone Map) created by the International Residential Code below, all of Florida is considered to be “very heavy “risk area.
The most serious and costly problems occur when termites attack the structural wood inside the structure. This activity may go unnoticed until structural damage results. Buggin Out trained termite technicians provide complete inspections for residential and commercial properties for the detection of present or past termite activity, current conducive conditions within or outside the structure termites seek out, and potential entry areas. Buggin Out offers two main types of structural treatments for existing termite activity and preventive termite treatments if no current activity exists.
Termite bait and monitoring stations can be used as a home's only monitoring and treatment method, or in combination with other treatment options. Termite baits are usually installed in the ground around the perimeter of the home to be found by foraging termites.
Monitoring stations typically are installed first, and then replaced with the active ingredient when termite activity is confirmed. The termite bait stations contain bait cartridges that are a mix of cellulose (termite food) and a termiticide that that will slowly kill the termites that consume it, plus other members of the colony as the termites share their food and thru contact.
A successful termite bait system requires multiple bait stations for subterranean termites. The stations are placed at 10- to 20-foot intervals around your home. Typically, they are two feet away from the foundation of your home.
Multiple bait stations are required because are random and consistent foragers. Which means they are always looking for food in all places. By placing termite bait and monitoring stations in strategic places around the home, Buggin Out increases the chances that random foragers will come into contact with the station.
In addition, the foraging activity of native subterranean termite colonies can cover 0.5 acres, while Formosan termites can forage over 1.5 acres. With this broad of a foraging area, bait stations must be strategically located at short intervals to intercept foraging termites from all directions.
♦ Monitoring stations can be used without chemicals to check for the presence of termites.
♦ Bait systems use a limited amount of insecticide in very targeted locations, which makes them a relatively eco-friendly method of termite treatment. In fact, termite baits may be used in situations where other methods are prohibited, such as near water sources that could become contaminated.
♦ It is much easier to install termite baits around a house than it is to apply liquid soil treatment around a house.
♦ Bait systems use slow-acting toxins. Depending on the colony’s size and amount of in the bait stations, termites may continue to damage a structure for months until they are controlled completely by a bait system.
♦ Bait systems need to be monitored even after a colony has been eliminated since baits do not offer any residual effects to prevent future infestations.
♦ Bait systems can be more expensive than soil treatments.
Liquid termiticide is applied to the soil’s surface and foundation around the perimeter of the home by trenching and rodding the foundation soil. Trenching and rodding is a process thru which soil around the perimeter of a home is removed, the termiticide is injected all the way to the bottom of the footer and the trench is flooded with 4 gallons of termiticide per ten feet. As the soil is replaced, it is mixed with the termiticide. Slabs that abut the home are drilled every 12 inches, about 3 inches from the wall and a rod is used to inject the termiticide into the soil next to the foundation. There are several different termiticides used for treating subterranean termites. The most effective product to prevent and control termites is TERMIDOR.
♦ Fast acting. Termidor can completely eliminate an average size termite colony within 3-6 months.
♦ Long lasting. Liquid termiticides can last in the soil for up to 5 years if left undisturbed.
♦ Less expensive than most baiting systems.
♦ Drill holes in slabs that abut the home.
♦ Chemicals applied to the soil. Less eco-friendly.
Frequently, termiticides and termite bait stations are used in combination. Monitoring stations are installed initially until a termite infestation is discovered. The house is then treated with a liquid termiticide to provide immediate protection.
