Termites
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Since termites are a constant threat to your home, here
are some things you
can do during the year to help maintain the
effectiveness of a quality termite treatment plan.
What Can You Do to Help Protect Your Home?
Small steps make a big difference. Start by
eliminating food and moisture
conditions around your home. These simple steps will
deter termites, making
your home a less attractive target.
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Repair leaking faucets, water pipes, and a/c units
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Divert water from foundation
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Keep gutters and down-spouts clean
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Ventilate crawl spaces
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Remove excessive plant cover and wood mulch
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Get rid of standing water on roof
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Keep all vents clear and open
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Seal entry points around water and utility lines or pipes
Eliminate Moisture Problems
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Keep firewood, lumber, or paper away from foundation or crawl space
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Get rid of stumps and debris near house
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Place screens on outside vents
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Check decks and wooden fences for damage
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Wood on your home shouldnt contact the soil
Remove Food Sources
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A temporary swarm of winged insects in your home or from the soil around
your home.
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Any cracked or bubbling paint or frass (termite droppings).
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Wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
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Mud tubes on exterior walls, wooden beams, or in crawl spaces.
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Discarded wings from swarmers.
Subterranean Termites
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Order Isoptera
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Four "castes" of a termite colony: workers are approximately 1/4-inch long, light-colored and wingless; soldiers have elongated heads with mandibles; supplementary reproductives are light-colored and wingless or have very short, nonfunctional wings.
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Live in colonies underground, from which they build tunnels in search of food; able to reach food above the ground level by building mud tubes; dependent on moisture for survival.
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Wood and other cellulose material.
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Different rates of growth from egg stage to adult depending on individual species; one queen per colony, which can lay tens of thousands of eggs in its lifetime, but most eggs are laid by supplementary reproductives in an established colony.
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Termites cause over $2 billion in damages each year. Subterranean termites cause 95% of all termite damage in North America. Colonies can contain up to 1 million members.
Latin Name:
Appearance:
Habit:
Diet:
Reproduction:
Other:
Warning Signs
Some indications you may have termites include:




