Subterranean & Formosan Termites
Subterranean and Formosan termites live in colonies in the ground, building tunnels that look like mud tubes above ground level to search for food. The tunnels protect from predators, and the open air allows workers to carry food to the nest. They usually need to stay in contact with the soil. They can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites. They need to stay in contact with the soil to survive, unlike Drywood termites that only need low moisture. Subterranean/Formosan termites usually swarm in the spring, but small flights can occur at any time of the year.
Signs of Subterranean & Formosan Termites
Termite Swarms
You may see swarms of winged male and female termites in daylight during the spring, usually after rain when proper conditions occur.
Discarded Wings
You may find discarded wings of swarmers on window sills, in the attic, or any place with an opening in the wood.
Mud Tubes/Tunnels
Subterranean and Formosan termites live in colonies in the ground, building vertical tunnels that look like mud tubes above ground level to search for food. The tunnels protect the open air, allowing workers to carry food to the nest. Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites.
Termite Treatment
The treatment for termites may involve one or more of the following:
Foundation Treatment
Foundation treatments involve the application of termiticides to foundation elements. This treatment aims to create a barrier by placing termiticides inside concrete blocks/multiple brick walls where voids exist. This is accomplished by drilling foundation elements and injecting termiticides. Drilling and treating foundation elements allows termiticides to be placed on top of concrete footings where cracks may exist.
Soil Treatment
Treatment of the soil establishes a termiticide barrier in the soil under and adjacent to a building. A continuous barrier must be established inside and outside the foundation wall, under slabs, and around utility entrances.
Wood Treatment
This type of treatment involves the application of termiticides directly to wood to eliminate existing termite infestations or to make the wood resistant to termites. There are several supplemental ways in which wood treatments are used in the pest control industry.
- Pressure-treated wood is frequently used in the construction of buildings and provides effective termite control if it is used for all wood construction, at least to the ceiling level of the first floor.
Wood Treatment (continued)
- Spraying termiticides on the wood already in place provides only surface protection and doesn’t penetrate to the center of the wood, where it is most needed.
- In damaged wood, termiticide can be injected into the cavities made by termites. This will provide better control than a brush or spray application.
- Bevis Pest Control uses the Polyguard term products for physical barriers.
Click here to call Bevis Pest Control to get those termites under control.