California Termite

There are numerous species of social insects that cause damage to wooden structures categorized as termites. Termites are wood eating insects that are very common in most areas of California, and they cause over a million dollars in damage every year. Termites belong to the insect order Isoptera, an ancient insect group that dates back more than 100 million years. The termite species is so destructive because they are long lived, with colonies that are self-repeating, with a constant supply of food. The termite season occurs in late February through May when swarming begins. Termite pests in California include the dry wood, damp wood, and subterranean termite species. They exist primarily in three forms: winged reproductive, soldiers, and workers. Termite control is an ongoing process and a control plan should be in place to avoid infestation and damage repair costs. If a plan is not set in place professionals will have to be called in, and this could be costly.

For California the termite prevention method for a structure most commonly used is the chemical barrier placement, which is done by placing a wall of chemicals between the termites and the structure your protecting. If you find termites are in the area of the structure it is best to use a combination of pesticides are injected into the ground by either rodding, drilling, or trenching. It is best to use a few of the methods at once to prevent a costly termite attack. If a termite has reached the structure itself it is wise to use a combination of soil methods ( rodding, drilling,etc), along with wooden treatments because the termites can live in the walls of wood off of the water for some a long time.

Wooden structures in California have more than a 70 percent chance of being attacked by termites within 10 to 20 years. You can place Bait Blocks containing Boric Acid around a structure. The Boric Acid will then attract a kill the termites without having to use a large amount of chemicals . Boric acid can be a less costly attempt. Continued swarming after a conventional soil treatment can mean a few things: The termites are still finding an "untreated" access point into structures where the termiticide application has not created an effective barrier to prevent entry. Treating infested lumber in a structure requires drilling and injecting chemicals into the wood to reach the colony. An excellent prevention tactic for Termite control is to remove all the tree stumps around, get rid of all excess stored lumber or scrap wood, and all untreated fence posting in the surrounding area.

You can usually contain the problem within 12 weeks. Termite baits can eradicate termites by eliminating the termite colony. Termite baits can help in situations where a structure may be untreatable with the use of soil termiticides. For this particular situation there can be pesticide concerns, or the soil treatments may have failed in previous trials. Termites can begin feeding once they find a bait station. Termite baits are designed to suppress or eliminate the termite colonies living in the soil. Termite baits are ideal for use around structures inhabited by persons with chemical sensitivity as termite baits are designed to suppress or eliminate the termite colony living in the soil.

Termites can gain access into your home through foundation cracks as small as 1/64 inch. Termites cause over 5 billion dollars in property damage in the United States and destroy over $750,000,000 in property annually. Termites eat 24/7, never stopping to rest or sleep so control is a necessary action. Termite baits such as boric acid can eliminate the pests where soil baits and rods cannot, although a combination of soil solutions and bait are usually required to eliminate the problem. Termites are amazing tiny insects who have cooperation down to a science. This allows termites to do things like build giant towers by hollowing large trees, or transferring large amounts of dirt and, or, eating the wood from your home. The key to termite control is using proper prevention measures and consistent application.