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Termites and Their Control

 Quite a Problem

Termites are the most economically important insect in the United States and in other places as well. Their destructive force is simply incredible and they cause millions of dollars worth of damage every year. As land owners, we tend to forget that termites attacking our homes are simply performing their natural function of breaking down wood. Termites are common in forests as recyclers of wood.

There are several species of termites in the United States. The most common ones are the Subterranean , Drywood and Formosan termites. What makes these insects so destructive is their ability to actually digest the wood fiber or cellulose. The actual digestion of wood is performed in the gut of a termite by protozoa living there. The protozoa are passed on from generation to generation by the feeding of termite fecal matter from adults to young termites.

Is it a Termite or an Ant?

One of the most urgent questions we get is where a winged insect found in the home is a termite.  Both termites and ants may have a swarming stage or reproductive.  Here are some characteristics to help you to make a determination:

Termite Reproductives:

      Wings are paddle shaped and are twice the length of the body

       Antennae are straight and fairly short

       Body has only two components: head and (ribbed) abdomen as one continuous piece 

Ant Reproductives:

       Wings are somewhat pointed and only slightly longer than the length of the body

        Antennae are curved

        Body has three distinct components: head, thorax (mid-section) and abdomen

 

Prevention

Avoiding an infestation of termites can be achieved to some extent by eliminating moisture build-up, especially in areas where structural wood exists. Sometimes, something as simple as adding vents to an area with excessive moisture can do wonders to help make wood less attractive to termites.

When it comes to control, there are some do-it-yourself products. However, it has been our policy at The Bug Clinic to always recommend a commercial applicator for termite control. There are three reasons for this:

bulletIf you go to sell your home or business property in the future and during a routine inspection, evidence of termites is found, the bank will not accept self-treatment and will require a commercial application

 

bulletIf you do it yourself, the treatment is not guaranteed; commercial applicators generally offer a warranty of some sort which is often continually renewable and transferable.

 

bulletSome treatments such as fumigation are beyond the skills of a building owner or the termiticide required is restricted and can only be purchased by a state certified commercial applicator.

 

Commercial Termiticide Applications

Currently, there are a few techniques for termite treatments, depending on the type of termite infestation. However, there is some disagreement amongst professional applicators in terms of the performance of these treatments as well as selecting a method from the variety of treatments that may be done for a particular termite problem. There is also a complication caused by state laws in the US which may restrict products and techniques which further confuses the treatment issue.

Soil Treatments

The most commonly performed termite treatment is a perimeter soil treatment.  The concept is to erect a insecticidal barrier by applying termiticide to the soil surrounding a structure.  Several years ago, only a complete barrier which included treating both the inside and outside of the home was acceptable to the industry.  Today, partial treatments are common with a warranty offered for the treated area(s) only.  Applicators, where possible, may treat the outside only to minimize the inconveniences involved with treating inside a structure (drilling through floors) and the potential liabilities that accompany that.

There are a number of products in use today.  These include (by trade name) Demon TC, Dragnet FT,  Prelude, Phantom, Premise, Prevail, and Termidor.  The most effective of these include Phantom, Premise and Termidor.  

Premise is a relatively new compound containing a nicotine derivative call imidacloprid.  This product has proven to be one of the effective. The second product, Termidor, contains fipronil.  Fipronil has proven to be an excellent control product and the manufacturer is providing a five year performance warranty to the applicator.  (Note to New Yorkers: neither of these two product is registered for use in your state.)  

Finally, Phantom, containing another new active ingredient, chorfenapyr, is registered for use in every state, including New York.  It, too, has non-repellent characteristics which make it similar to both Premise and Termidor.   The results from this product have been very good.  For anyone with a property in New York, it would be the best choice as the most effective liquid termiticide.

Foam Application

Some termiticides may be applied by mixing them with a foaming agent and using a small compressed air tank which churns up the mixture into a shaving cream like foam and then pushes the foam into drilled openings.  Foam offers some advantages in situations where liquid applications cannot be directed into areas where it is needed.

Dust

Dusts may be applied to wall voids or other areas where liquids or foam are impractical.  Products that may be used include Tim-Bor, Drione, Delta Dust and Tempo 1% Dust.  Dust applications will only control localized infestations.  They are not intended as replacements for soil applications with either a liquid termiticide or a bait treatment.

Direct Wood Treatment

Products such as Bora-Care or Tim-Bor are applied directly to wood.  These will kill both subterranean and drywood termites.  In other cases, equipment such "Electrogun" are used to electrocute drywood termites.

Bait Treatments

Termite baits for subterranean termites are an alternative to traditional, in-ground perimeter treatments.  There are currently three manufacturers of professionally installed products:  Exterra (Labyrinth), DowAgro (Hex-Pro and Sentricon) and BASF (formerly Whitmire) (Advance Termite Bait System). 

All of these products, Advance Termite Bait System, Hex-Pro, Sentricon and Labyrinth use an IGR (insect growth regulator) mixed into a cellulose fiber.   IGRs help to assure elimination of termite colonies because the fatal effect are slow and undetected by termites. 

Typically, monitoring stations are installed at recommended intervals that do not contain active ingredient.   Each stations contain a removable component.  

The stations are inspected periodically for termite activity.   If activity is found in a station (removable component eaten), the affected component is taken out and replaced with a like component containing the active ingredient (Insect Growth Regulator).   The IGR is distributed when termites contact and later consume the treated cellulose fiber

Fumigation

Tarp or tent fumigation is generally done using a product called Vikane.  This technique is used for drywood termites although it can be used for other species as well.  Fumigation will kill all insects in the treated area, but there is no residual properties which leaves the area quickly vulnerable once again.  Dow AgroSciences manufactures Vikane.  Click on either the link to learn more about it at the manufacturer's web site.

If you have any other questions on termites, please contact us at 800-433-1128 or 845-356-2837. We can also be reached via fax at 845-746-9018. E-mail us at drbugclinic@bugclinic.com.

 

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Most Recent Site Update:  04/2013    -     Copyright  1997-2013

 

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