They are also known to suck out sap from most of the plants they infest as they seek for food to be used by the colony’s King, queen, larvae, soldiers, and workers. The rest is stored in special granaries found inside their nests. Larger colonies create large soil mounds on the surface, which are said to contain large amounts of phosphorous, calcium and organic matter that are essential for supporting plant life. The top soil that they use to build mounds contains vital components and nutrients that are crucial in the survival of plants. Personal effects are also a preferred meal for termites, as they will feed on photographs, clothes, documents, cardboard and even electric and telephone cables. Those building houses are often advised to keep off areas that have a history of termite infestations.

Crops that have been robbed of nutrients by these insects often appear frail in the first stages of the infestation, before wilting takes a toll in the final stages. They at times feed on growing buds thus rendering the plants non-productive. Other than feeding on anything that they come across, termites have a tendency of dirtying houses such that they build mud passageways almost everywhere. Once broken, the soil disperses and as such, houses are dirtied. Since their activity takes place behind walls, doors and materials stored in the basement, it is almost impossible to discover their activities at early stages. The presence of multiple colonies in a house or field means that that the damaging effects of termites are not only doubled but also wide spread and would naturally result in greater negative results.

To be in a safe position, homeowners have been asked to consider enlisting the services of qualified termite inspectors, who will verify whether their homes are infested and give them advice on how well to prevent termites. Better still, they could recommend the necessary action to be taken in dealing with the menace. Termites are destructive and any ignorance could lead to severe consequences.

When termites have invaded the home, one will have to employ the services of a registered pest controller. This is because when the termites have already begun infesting the home, it is hard to get rid of them on one’s own. Pest control services will not only take care of your home but will also show you ways on how to treat termites in the event that they return. The most common way that pest control will eradicate termites from ones home is through fumigation. This is the spraying of the home, particularly the infested areas, with a combination of chemicals to not only get rid of the termites, but to also ensure that they do not return for a long time. When fumigation is taking place, the residents of the home will be advised to find alternative accommodation, as the fumes from the sprays are toxic and harmful to one’s health.

Another way that a home can be treated for termites is through heating. It is said that termites cannot survive in temperatures 120 degrees and higher. This treatment involves a tent being placed around the home and forms of heat are introduced and allowed to kill the termites already invading the home. Another way that one can treat termites, which is also a preventive measure, is soaking the wood in boric acid treatments. This mix of chemicals will prevent termites from invading ones home. This is a preventive measure because it is most effective if the wood is treated during construction of the home. There are liquid chemicals that one can purchase which are safe and can be used by the owner of the home. These are sprayed all over the home and the positive thing is that these solutions will work for years. Another form of treatment is by using bait in order to use the worker termites as carriers of poisonous chemicals placed in bait soil and are used to kill off colonies of termites.

These methods of treatment of termites will tend to cost the homeowner a pretty penny especially when the pest control people are brought in. What one is advised is to take early measures to avoid termites from invading ones home. One could ensure there are no damp spots through which the termites can crawl. One should also ensure that all opening like drains and ventilation is clean and well away from plants, a way termites use to enter the home. These measures will go a long way in avoiding taking drastic measures at a later stage to get rid of termites.

One of the best termite prevention tips that one can follow is to have ones home regularly inspected by licensed pest professional. This is because one could find sagging spots in the house hardwood, or even holes and mud tubes that are a definite sign that there are termites present or frequenting one’s home. The mud tubes are the path created by the termites that guides them to the hardwood around the home while the holes and the sagging hardwood are a sign that they have began feasting. A professional will let the homeowner know if these and other signs are present and advise one accordingly on how to avoid them from re-entering the premises.

One of the tips that one could use is to purchase adequate amounts of boric acid. This chemical comes in powder form and is effective when it comes to killing not only termites but also other insects that may be making an ecosystem out of one’s home. One is advised to treat poles or pieces of hardwood and place them in spots suspected to be frequented by termites. One can also treat any hardwood pieces intended to build a home and can be r the exterior of the home to stop them from entering the home.

Other termite prevention tips include ensuring that ventilation or openings near the home are well covered and well away from plants, as this is one way that termites invade the home. One can also ensure that the home is well ventilated to avoid damp spots that tend to invite these critters in. One should also ensure that drains and other openings near the home are clean and free of leaves and silt that may gather moisture and be used as a gateway into the house. One can also avoid too much use of hardwood to construct a home or if the wood is necessary to build the home, then it must be well treated and frequently to keep them away. One should also be sure to repair faulty plumbing, faucets, and pipes to avoid the termites from using that route into the home. One can also ensure that they do not keep firewood in the home or too close to the furniture. When building a home, one should try and have the foundation well above the top soil levels because it is comforting to know that termites will not climb too far in search of food and this will help prevent them from penetrating into ones home.

One of the reasons houses get termites is because of soil found under or near the home. When a home is built on soil and the foundation is not adequately above top soil level, then it is a guarantee that these termites will burrow their way into the home from below. It is then advised that the foundation of the home be well above soil level and this is an advantage because termites will rarely climb to their food and this will minimize, if not stop the infestation of one’s home by termites. Another reason why houses are infested by termites is the presence of damp spots in the home. If there are damp places around the home due to inadequate ventilation, then the home is bound to be attacked by termites. Leaves and silt that accumulates over drains and near ventilation holes close to the ground is another reason that houses are attacked by termites as they tend to become damp and hence a passageway into your home for termites and other insects.,

When one has dry wood around the home or firewood stored in the home, then there is a slight chance that termites could attack the home. This is because the dead cellulose in the wood is the stuff that they feed on and they will surely find a way to get to it. It is advised that one gets rid of dead branches, tree stumps and other dead forms of wood found around the home. When it comes to firewood, be sure to store it well away from furniture or a place that is sure to gather moisture and this will be a great way to avoid getting termites in the home. In addition, one must ensure that no plants are growing near home openings or near crawling spaces to avoid them from entering the home.

If one has, unfixed plumbing around the home, then one is sure to get termite infestation in the home and this is due to the fact that they will use these damp unused avenues to creep into the home. It is advised that one check on their pipes, faulty drainage, and other plumbing faults and fixes any problem areas. In order to prevent termites from attacking the home, it is a good idea that if the house is being constructed that the wood used be treated with boric acid treatments or termite pesticide and this will keep the termites out. In addition, one must ensure that no plants are growing near home openings or near crawling spaces to avoid them from entering the home.

2. If microwaving is advised, we’ll set up a treatment date that’s best for
you. Once our Treatment Team arrives, you (and your pets) will have to
leave for the day.

3. Small holes are drilled in walls to locate the presence and the species
of termites with a special fiber-optic wall scope.

4. Once termites are located, the magnatron is set up and the
microwaving begins. However, there are wall voids that can also
be treated with our foam injection equipment. This system is used
when microwaving is not applicable, such as mirrored walls.

5. HI TECH also utilizes the Borate Foam Injection method.
In this model of a wall, the foam is manually injected into the
wall void and insulation. Within 30 minutes the foam permeates
wood in the walls for termite control and for protection from further
infestation.

6. Another method we use is non-repellant Termidor. This is done
with pinpoint drilling then injecting the chemical into the infested area.

7. All exposed, uncoated wood is sprayed with Tim-Bor for lasting
protection from further infestation. (Examples: attic framing and sub floors.)

8. Subterranean termites are attacked by drilling in key areas then
chemicals are applied.

9. All holes are carefully filled and restored to their previous state.
At left, wallpaper peeled back for drilling now covers any evidence of
the drill hole.

10. Drill filings and evidence of termites are removed before leaving.

Known to mostly feed on wood, termites also do collect seeds and some green grasses that they store in their nests’ granaries. The food is used to feed growing nymphs. The queen in each colony lays about five eggs and once hatched, the larvae are fed by her gastric juices. Expansion of the colony is accompanied by an increase in the number of eggs laid, and they are either in double or single rows comprising of sixteen to twenty four eggs bound together by a gelatinous secretion. The incubation period varies from species to the other and once hatched, the larvae undergo seven nymph stages, but this again varies from species to species.

Just like bees a termite colony, according to general termite information, comprises of four castes namely the king, queen, worker, and soldier. The Queen’s work involves laying of eggs and feeding of larvae. She is the largest termite in the colony and the king is always by her side ready to mate her. She has a capacity of laying up to one thousand eggs in a day. The soldiers have onion shaped, rounded heads which sport powerful jaws. They are known to emit a liquid when disturbed. However, outnumbering every termite in the colony are the workers. Theirs is to look for food, feed the queen, and take care of the larvae and constructing and general nest maintenance. Unlike ants, termite kings and queens can also be workers.

A farmer needs to know some of this general termite information, to avoid going into huge losses after a termite infestation. Termites love wood and have in the recent past contributed to the insertion of a termite infestation report in the overall evaluation before the sale of any house in the United States of America. The thought of the mites chewing away at ones largest investment is always a nightmare to many homeowners. Therefore necessary precautions such as regular spraying of homes is a must do for those living in wooden house lest they collapse on them. Some of the signs of infestation include swarming of the mites near light and construction of mud tube like passageways, which the insects use when shuttling between their colonies underground and the structure on which they are infesting. Homeowners are advised to leave the job of termite treatment to professionals, as it requires someone with skills in basic termite inspection.