 Schedule an Appointment
Submit your information and we will contact you. |
 Termites
Damage: Subterranean termites are the most destructive insect pests of wood in the United States. They cause more than $2 billion in damages each year, more property damage than that caused by fire and wind storms combined. Dead trees and brush are the original food source of subterranean termites. When land is cleared of this material and houses are built on these sites, termites attack the structures. Termites can enter buildings through wood in direct contact with the soil, by building shelter tubes over or through foundations, or by entering directly through cracks or joints in and under foundations.
Habitat: Subterranean termites have a crypto biotic or "hidden" lifestyle. This means that they are always hidden from our view either beneath the surface of the soil, beneath the surface of the wood, or in their mud tunnels. This crypto biotic nature contributes to their success in invading human structures. The termites enter our buildings from beneath the soil surface and forage within the wood. We usually do not detect their presence until damage becomes evident or termite swarming takes place. Often we have no idea how the termites got into our home. This can make it very difficult to control them.
Breeding: The sudden, dramatic appearance of alate termites is commonly referred to as swarming, and when it occurs indoors is often one of the first signs of a structural infestation. Subterranean termites swarm in an attempt to initiate new colonies. Termites are opportunistic, a trait most aptly demonstrated by the variety of developmental options available to this small, delicate social insect. The ultimate caste, or life form, of an immature termite is not determined at the egg stage. Each newly hatched termite can develop into any one of a number of castes. These complexities are highlighted by the subterranean termite life cycle. A worker can remain a worker for its entire life span (estimated range from 1-4 years) as it undergoes numerous molts (sheds its skin) without changing into another caste. Alternatively, a worker can molt twice, where it first becomes a pre-soldier, then subsequently a soldier. The soldier caste can no longer molt and is considered a terminal (final) stage.
|
| |
| Most insurance policies don’t protect homeowners from damage caused by pests. Protecting your home from pests is an important part of protecting your investment. The following pests commonly cause problems in this area: |
Animal Trapping
Ants
Bed Bugs
Bees, Wasps, & Hornets
Birds
| Cockroaches
Crickets
Fabric Pests
Fleas/Ticks
Flies
| Moths
Rodents
Spiders & Centipedes
Termites
And many more... |
| If you have questions about specific pests and how to control them, please feel free to call or email us. One of our associates would be more than happy to answer your questions. |
|
