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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 home 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 doorways.

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. outside in the yard are not necessarily cause for concern, and do not necessarily mean the house 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 jaws modified for defense.  Termite-damaged timber is hollowed out along the grain, with pieces of dried sand or soil lining the feeding galleries. Wood damaged by moisture or other types 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 soil lining the feeding galleries.Oftentimes there will be no obvious indication of infestation. Termites are cryptic creatures and infestations can go undetected for decades, hidden behind partitions, floor coverings, insulation, and other obstructions.

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

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A knowledge of building construction is needed to identify crucial areas where termites are likely to enter. Many of these potential points of entry are hidden and difficult to access. Termite control also uses 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 home was infested. "Do-it-yourself" goods, offered to homeowners in retail stores or purchased on the internet, will rarely 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 firm with access to technical and training information needed to do the job correctly. As with any service, references are very helpful. Consider calling at least a few companies. Requesting inspections and estimates from more than one will help verify the existence of a termite infestation and allow you to compare services.Companies offer different types of treatment procedures and warranties.

Some companies also will fix damage occurring following their treatment, even though dating onset of termite damage is a tough thing to determine. In some cases, no warranty will be offered if wells, drainage systems, sub-slab heating ducts, or inaccessible crawl spaces make it impossible to treat in accordance with industry standards.Take your time when selecting a company.

Avoid companies that try to pressure you into signing a contract immediately with specials or scare tactics. The general grade of the project depends less on the sales person than the individual who finally does the work. A safe and effective termite treatment requires an experienced technician, not someone hired a few weeks ago.Q: Which treatment procedure is 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 scenarios, termites within the building die off as well, since they cannot return to the soil for supplemental moisture. Most former liquid termiticides were repellent rather than fatal to termites foraging in the dirt.

Such products are often more reliable controlling infestations in the first attempt.Fig. 8: Two treatment options for termites: liquid application (abandoned ), 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 yard in cylindrical check plastic stations.