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Removal can be achieved with a broom or vacuum.Fig. 2: Winged termites emerging indoors are a telltale sign of infestation.Q: How can I know if my house is infestedA: Discovering winged termites indoors almost always indicates an infestation warranting treatment. Since the swarmers are attracted to light, they often are seen around windows and doors.

Termites have straight antennae, a uniformly thickened waist, and wings of equal dimensions. Conversely, ants have elbowed antennae, constricted waists, and forewings that are longer than the hind wings.Fig. 3: Termite swarmers are often confused with winged ants.Swarms of termites emerging from tree stumps, woodpiles, etc. out in the lawn are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not necessarily mean the home is infested.

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Termites construct the tubes for shelter as they travel between their underground colonies and also the structure. To help determine if an infestation is busy, the tubes might be broken open and checked for the presence of little, creamy-white worker termites. If a tube happens to be vacant, it does not necessarily mean that the infestation is inactive; termites often abandon sections of tubing while foraging elsewhere in the structure.Fig.

5: Termite colonies contain many employees that consume wood and smaller numbers of soldiers (center) with limbs modified for defense.  Termite-damaged wood is hollowed out along the grain, with pieces of dried mud or dirt lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other kinds of insects (e.g., carpenter ants) will not have this appearance.

Rippled or sunken traces behind wall coverings can also be indicative of termites tunneling underneath.Fig. 6: Termite-damaged wood has dirt lining the feeding galleries.Oftentimes there'll be no obvious indication of infestation. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for years, hidden behind walls, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions.

Confirmation of termites often necessitates the keen eye of a professional -- nonetheless, even the most experienced inspector can overlook signs that are hidden.Fig. 7: Termites are cryptic. This damage was discovered when a vacuum head broke through a baseboard.  Q: Can I treat the house myselfA: Its best not to for home infestations.

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A knowledge of building construction is needed to identify critical areas where termites are likely to enter. Many of these potential points of entry are hidden and difficult to access. Termite control additionally utilizes specialized equipment such as powerful masonry drills, large-capacity spray tanks, and long metal rods for injecting soil.

A possible exception might be if a mailbox post or other small wooden object not attached to the house was infested. "Do-it-yourself" products, sold to homeowners at retail stores or bought over the internet, will seldom eradicate an existing termite problem.Q: How do I select a termite company Why is there such variance in priceA: These are complicated questions.

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Membership in their state pest control association and/or National Pest Management Association suggest the company is an established company using technical and training information needed to perform the job correctly. Just like any support, references are very helpful. Consider calling at least a few companies. Requesting inspections and estimates from more than one can help confirm the existence of a termite infestation and make it possible for you to compare services.Companies offer you different forms of treatment procedures and warranties.

Some companies will also repair damage occurring after their treatment, although dating onset of termite damage is a hard thing to determine. In some cases, check out here no warranty will be provided in case wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heating ducts, or even inaccessible crawl spaces make it impossible to treat in accordance with industry standards.Take your time when selecting a company.

Avoid firms that attempt to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with specials or scare tactics. The overall quality of the project depends less on the sales person than the individual who finally does the job. A safe and effective termite treatment requires an experienced technician, not someone hired a few weeks ago.Q: This treatment procedure is most effectiveA: There are two general categories of termite treatment -- liquids and baits.

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Their purpose is to provide a long-lasting barrier in the soil that prevents termites from entering and infesting buildings. In most cases, termites already within the building die off too, since they cannot return to the dirt for supplemental moisture. Most former liquid termiticides were repellent rather than lethal to termites foraging in the soil.

Such products are often more dependable controlling infestations in the very first attempt.Fig. 8: Two treatment options for termites: liquid application (left), baiting (appropriate ) Another treatment category is baiting. Termite baits consist of cellulose-based food combined with some slow-acting substance lethal to termites. The baits are installed below ground outside in the lawn in cylindrical plastic stations.