Termite News: The Year Round Threat
Mastotermes
Courtesy of Wikipedia
Termites are prevalent in almost every continent on the globe. The only US state that has no termite activity is Alaska. There are an estimated four thousand species of termites on the planet with about ten percent posing an economic threat to crops and homes. Most people only know of three or four species of termites even though there are hundreds of active species in North America. Since termites are not detected in Alaska and the Arctic regions many people think that they cannot survive winter. That is far from the truth; because modern homes are heated and protected against the elements, termites are protected too.
Termites were once thought to be related to ants because of their appearance and their social habits. Termites are still referred to as “white ants” in some regions. The truth is that their closest relative is the cockroach. Learning that termites and cockroaches are related to one another has brought about great advances in the way that termites are treated and new ways to control their numbers.
The Great Northern Termite
The Great Northern Termite of Australia is the most primitive termite living today. The “mastotermes” looks like fusion of two insects, half termite and half cockroach. The threat of this species is such that the area is practically abandoned to agriculture. The Great Northern Termite deposits its eggs in a case, like cockroaches, rather than singly like “modern” termites. The Matotermes’ diet is not restricted to wood and cellulose, but can damage ivory and consume leather products as well as any plants in the area. They do not breed in as great numbers as their cellulose munching cousins, but there can be significant numbers where food and water are plentiful.
This teaches us that termites are not bound to a single law of breeding eating and more breeding. The colony will diminish in size if food and water are in short supply. This means that termites may one day be controlled by eliminating the food and water supply. Termites eat all year round and therefore are a year round threat to homes and property. Many people only worry about termites during the spring and summer when they are likely to swarm and start new colonies.
In order to eliminate the threat that termites pose to homes in North America there must be a barrier between the termites and their food and water sources. The barriers must be in place all year round in order to establish colony control. This can be done several ways, the first of which is poisoning the termites so that they cannot process food and water, therefore dying off. The second is to make the food and water inaccessible to them, but termites are crafty and will seek the path of least resistance to the nearest available source. The final way is to lure them with bait and direct their path. When baits are used they act as an alarm system, warning homeowners of the threat. The bait stations are then filled with a chemical treatment that spreads to the rest of the colony as the termites groom each other and feed the young.
Termites in Chandler are usually first detected during a free termite inspection. Occasionally the homeowner will notice damage during a routine repair or inspection. If termites are detected then the first order of business is removal, followed by repair and then future protection. If termites are not detected in the home the process is different. Barriers to termite infestation may be set up to protect the home. Knowing that the threat is present all year round may be the most important piece of the puzzle. Termites attack from underneath the ground, so weather is not a deterrent. Give your home the gift of protection that will last a lifetime.
Scottsdale AZ –
Termite Control Arizona
6501 East Greenway Parkway #103
Scottsdale AZ
(480) 582-1085
