Termite Biology Skip to Termite Biology Termites are the foremost important wood-destroying structural pests within the southern us. consistent with some estimates, over $2 billion are spent annually within the us controlling or preventing termite infestations. In North Carolina, our main problem is with subterranean termites, i.e., termites that normally live below ground and should move up into a structure where they cause damage.
Termites are "social insects," i.e., they sleep in a nest or colony which is usually found underground, often near a tree, stump, wood pile or other source of 'food.' Each colony contains a king and queen who are brown in color.
they're wingless now but began having wings and "swarming" from their original home or nesting site where they developed. The queen is in a position to get thousands of eggs annually. and continues to try to to so for about five years. There also are soldier termites which have large heads equipped with large mandibles ("jaws").
The soldiers protect the colony from invaders (such as ants). the majority of the termite colony consists of thousands of whitish workers who serve various roles.
Some workers maintain the nesting site and lookout of the queen and therefore the newly hatching immatures (sometimes called "larvae"). Other workers leave and actively forage (search) for food.
The foraging workers are those that we typically find infesting wood. because the colony grows, the workers expand both the nest and their feeding area. counting on the species of termite, a mature colony can contain 200,000 to 2,000,000 workers, although many colonies contain as few as 50,000-60,000.
Studies have also shown that termites from one colony may forage across a neighborhood of one-third acre and travel over 200 feet from their nest. One acre of land may support several termite colonies (although this does not mean that each one of them are invading your home!). an outsized termite colony doesn't usually occupy one underground nest.
because the foraging area expands the colony actually splits to make several smaller "nesting sites." Eastern subterranean termite soldier Eastern subterranean termite soldier. Gary Alpert, Harvard University, Bugwood.org Subterranean termite workers Subterranean termite workers. Clemson University - USDA Cooperative Extension Slide Series,
org Signs of Termite Activity Skip to Signs of Termite Activity Without a periodic inspection of your home, termite activity can remain undetected for years.
Some signs of their activity show up unexpectedly, while others are discovered accidentally or during renovations. Here are some key signs of a termite infestation: Swarming
- A termite colony can mature in 3-5 years and start to supply swarmers (winged adults). In North Carolina, we've a minimum of three native species of subterranean termites that begin swarming in late winter and continue into September or October.
Swarming usually occurs during the day, particularly on warm days following rain. Swarmers found outdoors near tree stumps, landscape timbers, etc., aren't a sign that your home is infested, but they function a reminder that termites live around us.
When swarming occurs indoors, it always means you've got an infestation somewhere within your house. Several species of ants also swarm at an equivalent times of the year as termites.
Winged termites and ants look somewhat similar, but you'll tell them apart by certain features. If you are not sure whether you've got termites or ants, show them to a pest management professional or bring specimens to your county Cooperative Extension center for identification.
Mud tubes Unlike ants, termites don't roam around on the soil surface or call at the open. they're going to either tunnel through the soil or into wood (or other material) alternatively travel inside pencil-size (or larger) "mud tubes" that they build from soil, wood particles and other materials. you'll find these tubes on foundation walls, floor joists or other parts of the house.
Tubes can also hang from the ground system (see picture below) or could also be found protruding from cracks between boards and beams and even through holes termites may chew through sheet rock on walls and ceilings. Break open the tubes to ascertain if termites are still active. An empty tube doesn't necessarily mean that termites are gone; they'll have simply abandoned this particular tunnel.
Termites often rebuild damaged tubes, which is another indication of current activity. 'Old' tubes are dry and crumble easily, leaving "etching" on the surface which will be visible for years (an indication that a house had termite activity at some time). Without knowing the inspection history of the house, it's impossible to inform or guess at the age of tunnels or etching.
Tubes that are found on ceilings or on upper levels of a building may indicate that you simply have an aboveground ("aerial") infestation, i.e., the termite colony actually lives within the building and therefore the termites are traveling up from the soil. Mud tubes built by an aboveground colony usually contain materials aside from soil, e.g., wood and sheet rock or regardless of the termites are feeding on.
These secondary infestations occur when there's a significant moisture problem or leak somewhere within the structure. In such situations, a radical inspection may require removal of siding or interior wallboards, etc.
More importantly for you, these aboveground infestations can't be controlled with the standard soil treatment (see below) and are typically excluded from a termite contract warranty. In these situations, finding and correcting the moisture problem is that the initiative to eliminating the termites.
Termite mud tubes on crawlspace pier Termite mud tubes on crawlspace pier. Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Termite tube on attic joist Termite tube on attic joist. Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Termite mud tubes on exterior foundation wall Termite mud tubes on exterior foundation wall.
Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Termite Damage Skip to Termite Damage We tend to consider termites as feeding/injuring wood only. Termites actually prey on almost anything that contains cellulose, the most component of wood, including wood paneling, paper products, cardboard boxes, art canvases, the paper covering of sheet rock, carpeting, etc. While foraging and feeding, they'll tunnel through non-cellulosic materials, like plastic and foamboard.
consistent with some research, a colony containing 60,000 workers could consume the equivalent of 1 foot of a 2" x 4" piece of lumber in slightly over 5 months. actually, the quantity of injury that termites cause depends on many factors.
In areas with cold winter temperatures, termite activity (and feeding) often declines, but doesn't necessarily stop. If the termites are well-protected from colder temperatures (e.g., underneath a slab), then activity may continue year-round. From a practical perspective, serious termite damage usually takes about 3-8 years.
Look for these signs of termite feeding: Wood that sounds "hollow" when it's tapped with the handle of a screwdriver. Soft wood that's easily probed with a knife or screwdriver. A thin gritty gray-brown film on the surface of damaged material. There is no accurate method for determining the age of recently discovered damage.
you would like some point of reference, i.e., some point in time when it had been known that there was no damage to the present particular wood. this is often one reason why annual inspections (and keeping your records of those inspections) are important. NOTE: These inspections aren't a guarantee that you simply don't have termites or damage in areas that aren't covered or not easily seen, like inside walls. However, the inspections can reveal conditions which may suggest that damage does exist and further investigation is required.
Termite damage to joist and subfloor Termite damage to joist and subfloor. Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Termite damage to wall paneling. Termite damage to wall paneling.
Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Controlling Termites Skip to Controlling Termites What do you have to do if you think that or discover that your house is infested with termites? Don't panic. Have your house inspected by a pest management professional. Don't rush your decision on the way to affect any termite problem. If you've got a termite protection contract, contact the pest control company immediately and arrange for them to see out the matter.
If you are doing not have a termite contract, call 2-3 (or more) companies and have all inspect your home and supply you with the small print of their findings and any recommendations for a course of action to correct any termite problems that they found. Take some time to guage their proposals and determine your best course of action.
Termites don't cause significant damage during a short period of your time, so spending a couple of extra days or maybe a couple of weeks won't make any real difference in terms what proportion damage occurs.
There are several important questions you would like to ask: How extensive is that the problem? What should be done to eliminate the termite activity? How much will this work cost? What quite guarantee does the corporate offer?
Is there damage that ought to be repaired or a minimum of examined by a contractor or engineer before control measures are performed? You can find additional information within the publication recommendations on Selecting Pest Control Services.
Inspecting a crawlspace for termites Inspecting a crawlspace for termites. Michael Waldvogel - NC State Entomology Types of Termite Treatments Skip to sorts of Termite Treatments Simply spraying swarmers or the surface of accessible infested wood may kill the termites that you simply see now, but it doesn't stop the infestation nor does it protect your house from future attacks by termites.
the foremost common sort of termite treatment involves a "trench and treat" where a liquid insecticide ("termiticide") is applied to the soil surrounding critical areas of your house. the foremost critical area needing treatment is that the foundation wall (see the image to the right).
The soil is trenched 6" deep and about 4-6" wide. For houses with crawlspaces, the soil along the inside foundation wall must be treated a minimum of within 4 feet of identified signs of termite activity. In some cases, the soil around supports (such as piers) underneath the house also are treated.
so as to be effective, this treatment must extend down through the soil to the highest of the inspiration footer. When applied correctly, this treatment forms endless chemical barrier that ought to prevent termites from reaching the inspiration and piers in your house.
Current North Carolina regulations also require drilling and treating of: Concrete slabs that attach to the house, for instance, a garage floor, or the slab of an earth-filled porch.
Voids inside foundation walls, piers, etc. within 4 feet of known termite activity. The side walls of earth-filled porches within 3-feet of the inspiration wall and any structural wood. You can view the state regulations or obtain a replica from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services - Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division (NCDA&CS) in Raleigh. These specifications are the present minimum requirements for a treatment under state regulations.
Some pest control companies still drill and treat the whole foundation wall and piers. Some companies offer "spot treatments", i.e., they treat only the area(s) of the house where termites are found. A spot treatment could seem sort of a good idea because it costs but a whole shebang. However, there are some details to recollect.
First, a spot treatment might not correct the matter. Second, except when done under an existing contract, a spot treatment often carries a really limited guarantee (or no guarantee at all). it is your house, your money, your choice. Don't let economics be your only determining point about the way to protect your house from termites.
On a replacement contract (treatment), any treatment procedures which will not be done consistent with NC regulations must be noted on a politician Waiver of Minimum Standards form.
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