In many parts of the country there is an age-old adage that is known by both pest professionals and homeowners alike. “It’s not if you will get termites but rather when”. These destructive pests linger cryptically below the soil waiting to invade our structures and make a meal out the cellulose that our homes are constructed of and contain within their walls.
To make matters worse, termite damage is not covered by homeowner insurance policies. This leaves property owners vulnerable to unexpected and potentially enormous repair bills and remedial treatments. Today we will discuss proactive steps that pest professionals can take in partnership with their customers to reduce the chances of costly damage to what is likely the customer’s largest investment… their home.
How to know if I have termites?
Because of their diminutive size and secretive behavior, termite activity can be challenging for homeowners to recognize. A well-trained technician with a keen eye and an understanding of the biology and behavior of these pest should be the first line of defense.
Sounding base boards, looking for visual evidence of activity like damaged wood, mud tubes, frass, and wings can help detect early signs of termite activity. Additionally, a technician can also identify conducive conditions that will greatly increase the chances of structural invasion.
Once the property has been thoroughly inspected, the technician can make treatment and prevention recommendations to the customer based on their findings.
Identifying and rectifying above ground moisture
Pest control technicians should place as much focused on water as on the pesky invaders from which their customers seek protection. While drywood termites get their required moisture from the wood they consume, most species need a source of moisture distinct from their food source.
For subterranean termites this source can be the soil in which they dwell. Urban environments provide a plethora of opportunities for ground moisture including sprinkler systems, air condition drains, leaking hose bibs, gutters/downspouts, the list is immense. While it is virtually impossible to eliminate all these sources, it is possible to direct moisture to areas where it is less available to pests.
Another, and far more detrimental potential source of moisture can be found above ground. Often related to maintenance issues and past due repairs. Roof leaks, stucco/siding below grade, broken pipes, and backed up gutters can provide all the moisture necessary for termites to sustain their colonies above ground without the need to return to the soil. As the soil is often the target site where chemical treatments will make their impact, above ground moisture can allow them to avoid these interventions altogether and continue their methodical destruction of the structure.
What role do pesticides play?
While reducing the attractiveness of the environment in and around the home to termites is key to any long-term prevention strategy, alone it is often insufficient. To paraphrase Paul Mitola (a former DACS inspector in Florida and instructor a Pest Management University) “all termites have is time and the drive to sustain the colony”. With the massive amount of cellulose in, on, and around the home the draw may just be too great.
Fortunately, Control Solutions Inc. offers a variety of termiticides to help keep termites from consuming our structures. In addition to our top tier chemistry including key active ingredients like fipronil and imidacloprid, we also offer resources like our termiticide calculator as well as support from our experienced territory managers and technical team to help you choose the correct products and to help you apply them correctly.
There are two key times that chemical prevention can be accomplished. Pre-construction, in which a chemical barrier can be placed before a structure is completed and post-construction, conducted once a structure is completed and in use.
A pre-construction termite treatment is a wholly preventative activity. Because it is undertaken prior to the pouring of any slabs, the entirety of the soil is open and accessible for treatment. Products like Taurus SC (Fipronil) Dominion 2L or PT (Imidacloprid), or Fuse (Fipronil + Imidacloprid) can be used to establish a barrier between the soil where the termites live and the structure to which termites seek access. Each of these chemicals are undetectable by termites. As they conduct their foraging behavior, they will contact the termiticide which prevents them from consuming the structure. Many states require construction pre-treatments before the building can be occupied and Control Solutions’ termiticides meet the requirements set forth by the states.
Structures that are occupied and beyond the construction phase can also have preventative chemical treatments performed. While the soil below the structure is no longer wholly accessible, these treatments remain extremely effective in both preventing and eliminating infestations. In a post construction scenario, the Taurus SC, Dominion, and Fuse termiticides can be applied as a barrier treatment. While some drilling may be required, the Exterior Perimeter/Limited Interior language on the labels of these products make them much more user friendly than the chemistry of decades past.
Termite prevention is accomplished through an integrated strategy requiring knowledge of pest species, prevention and control tactics, chemistry, building construction, as well as the rules and regulations that govern the practice. It is a job best left to professional using quality field tested products like those produced by Control Solutions Inc. A well-versed technician should be able to communicate to customers the risks of termites to their homes as well as devise a strategic plan of action incorporating both chemical and non-chemical strategies unique to the building and environment. At Control Solutions we give you tools to help you do what you do best!
