As a practitioner in the field of pest control. Does termite problem worry your customers? This is a very common situation. Every year termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and property owners spend over two billion dollars to treat them. This fact sheet focuses on how you can identify and help protect your property from termites through effective prevention measures and appropriate use of termite treatments.
The first step in prevention is to be on the alert for termites. Termites rarely emerge from soil, mud tubes, or food sources through which they are tunneling. Most people are not aware they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. Some of the ways to discover if you have termites are listed below:
●Examine, by probing, exposed wood for hollow spots (using a flathead screwdriver or similar tool).
●Identify termite swarms (sometimes ant swarms are mistaken as termites).
●front wings longer than the hind wings
●antennae bent at ninety degree angle
●wings are roughly equal in length
●antennae are straight; may droop
Termites are insects that eat wood, soil, dead leaves and sometimes paper. There are more than 4,000 types of termites. Termites are usually classified based on what they eat or where they live (above ground or below ground). Although they do not pose a health risk to humans, termites can cause thousands of dollars of damage to wooden structures.
Body Shape: Termites are sometimes confused with ants; they both have antennae, heads, thoraxes, abdomens, and some types have wings. Termites have bullet-shaped bodies, while ants have thin waists. Termites also have straight antennae; ants have curved antennae.
Behavior: Like ants, termites are social animals and live in colonies. Termite colonies exist within nests, which sometimes extend out into tubes. Both the colony nests and the tubes keep termites moist. Termites generally cannot exist in dry or exposed environments.
Life cycle: Termites exist as eggs, nymphs and then three types of adults:
●Workers.
●Soldiers.
●Queens/kings (reproducers).
Workers and soldiers are about 3/8ths of an inch in length; queens and kings are 1/2 inch long.
Asian subterranean termite queen and king
During construction, use a concrete foundation and leave a ventilation space between the soil and wood. Cover exposed wood surfaces with a sealant or metal barrier.
●After construction, keep the soil around the foundation dry through proper grading and drainage (including maintenance of gutters and downspouts).
●Reduce openings that offer termites access to the structure (filling cracks in cement foundations as well as around where utilities pass through the wall with cement, grout, or caulk).
●Fix leaks immediately.
●Keep vents free from blockage, including plants.
●Ensure that trees and shrubs are not planted too close to the structure and do not allow them to grow against exposed wood surfaces.
●Do not pile or store firewood or wood debris next to the house.
●Inspect periodically to help ensure that termite colonies do not become established.
Some ways to keep termites out do not involve the application of insecticides. For example:
One such method is a physical barrier, typically incorporated during construction.
Steel mesh and sands of particular sizes have been shown to perform effectively as physical barriers.
Biological control agents (nematodes and fungi) have demonstrated some success, particularly in laboratory settings.
●Liquid soil-applied termiticides.
●Termite baits.
●Building materials impregnated with termiticides.
●Wood treatments.
Two common forms of treatment are conventional barrier treatments and termite baits.
(We recommend you to use our Pestman Hexaflumuron Termite Bait to eliminate the termite colony)
The most common technique for treating termite infestations is the soil-applied barrier treatment. Termiticides used for barrier treatments must be specifically labeled for that use.
If conducted improperly, these treatments can cause contamination of the home and surrounding drinking water wells and will not protect against termites. For that reason, it is important to hire a pest management professional who is licensed and trained to take proper precautions. The most common active ingredients found in conventional termiticides are:
●Acetamiprid
●Bifenthrin
●Chlorantraniliprole
●Chlorfenapyr
●Cyfluthrin
●Cypermethrin
●Esfenvalerate
●Fipronil
●Imidacloprid
●Permethrin
In recent years, several bait systems have been introduced to help reduce the overall use of insecticides and their impact on human health and the environment. These systems rely on cellulose baits that contain a slow-acting insecticide. Individual termites consume baits at termite baiting stations, which are then taken back to the colony and shared with other insects. Termite baiting is a highly successful method of eradicating whole termite colonies from your home or yard. It’s a good idea to employ a professional to put up a termite baiting system, as it’s a time-consuming operation that could take months to finish.
The most common active ingredients found in termite baits are:
Diflubenzuron- inhibits insect development.
Hexaflumuron– a reduced-risk pesticide. It is used as part of a termite inspection, monitoring, and baiting system.
Hydramethylnon- insecticide used to control ants, cockroaches, crickets, and termites.
Lufenuron- an insect growth regulator used to control termites and fleas.
Noviflumuron- disrupts termite growth and activity.
Borates- commonly used as a spray on application during new home construction to protect wood.
Termiticides have historically been highly toxic, making it essential to follow label directions carefully. Pest management professionals are equipped with the knowledge, expertise, and tools needed to apply these treatments safely and effectively, as required by the label.
One of the most common termite control methods involves spraying pesticides on the ground and beneath infested structures. While effective, earlier termite sprays posed significant risks, such as contaminating well water, poisoning fishing ponds, and polluting indoor air.
Fortunately, modern advancements have made termite control much safer. Today’s liquid termiticide solutions are odorless and non-hazardous to humans, pets, and children. These treatments can be applied to your home’s foundation, lumber, or soil without compromising safety, making them an excellent option for eliminating existing termite infestations and preventing future ones.
By using safer and more organic chemicals, modern termite spraying techniques minimize risks while maximizing effectiveness, ensuring the protection of your property and the well-being of your household.
Pesticides can enter the human body in three ways: 1) through the skin or eyes (dermally), 2) through the mouth (orally), and 3) through the lungs (breathing) (inhalation). When a pesticide comes into touch with the skin or eyes, it causes absorption. As long as the pesticide is in touch with the skin, absorption will continue. Dermal absorption happens at a varying rate in different parts of the body. By comparing each individual absorption rate to the forearm absorption rate, the relative absorption rates are calculated.
Pesticide residues are easily transferred from one portion of the body to another. When this happens, the risk of pesticide poisoning increases for the applicator. Residues can be accidentally transferred from a hand to a sweaty forehead or the vaginal area. The absorption of a pesticide is more harmful than eating it at this rate!
If a pesticide is swallowed, it can cause significant disease, severe harm, or even death. Pesticides can be ingested accidentally, carelessly, or deliberately. When pesticides are taken from their original containers and placed into an unmarked bottle, jar, or food container, the most common unintentional oral exposure occurs. Safeguard your home with termite spraying safe for humans ensuring effective pest control while prioritizing.
Pesticide particles can be quickly taken into the circulation by the lungs, making respiratory exposure extremely dangerous. If pesticides are inhaled in large enough volumes, they can cause catastrophic harm to the nose, throat, and lungs. The most dangerous substances are vapors and very microscopic particles.
Inhalation of pesticide powders, airborne droplets, or vapors can expose the lungs to pesticides. If breathed while mixing, handling concentrated wettable powders can be dangerous. When dilute pesticide sprays are administered with low-pressure application equipment, the risk of breathing pesticide spray droplets is quite minimal. Because most droplets are too big to stay airborne long enough to be inhaled, this is the case.
Pestman® hexaflumuron termite bait mixed with attractant and pesticide. Lured by the bait, termites feed on the Pestman termite bait and take it back to the colony. Then they will feed the bait to other termites. Eventually the entire colony termites will be eliminated.
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