Frequently Asked Questions on Termites

These are the common questions we receive from our customers regarding termites. If you have a question not addressed in this list, please contact us.

Can anything be done to prevent termites?
Termites are only a problem if they gain access to wood, particularly those wooden members that make up our homes and surrounding decks and fences. Scrape wood, fire wood, or cardboard laying under homes in subareas or near foundations walls can be a source of subterranean termite attack. All cellulose materials in soil-contact need to be removed. Subterranean and dampwood termites also like water. An additional preventative tactic includes the fixing or removal of sources of water. Leaking pipes, leaky irrigation systems, and over-watered planter boxes may be sources of attraction to termites. Sand barriers, metal barriers, and wood chemically treated have varying levels of success in preventing termite attack.

For drywood termites, yearly walkabouts of your home looking for piles of pellets is a good preventive practice (remember area between walls and inaccessible locations will be difficult or impossible to visually inspect). If you are not sure if a pile was really produced by drywood termites, they can vacuumed or swept away. If the piles reappear, it probably time to seek professional help. Finally, there is some evidence that certain forms of chemically treated wood (pressure-treated and professionally topically applied) can prevent the establishment of new colonies by termite kings and queens.

Can I do the inspection & treatment myself?
No, termite inspections and treatments are very detailed and complicated. Treatments, especially underneath or in attics of homes can be dangerous. It's best to leave the inspections and treatments to professionals who are licensed and knowledgeable to the conditions unique to your area. In fact, most termite treatment materials are registered as professional use only and therefore are restricted from public use.

When do I need treatments?
A very difficult question to answer. Especially on a computer screen having not seen the particulars of the problem in your home! Let's start off with the obvious treatment situations. If thousands of subterranean termite swarmers have suddenly appeared in your bathroom or dozens of mudtubes now decorate a living room wall; Yes, its time to seek professional help. If you are suddenly ankle deep in drywood termite pellets in every room of your house; Yes its time to seek professional help.

There are some definite times not to seek help. The appearance of termite swarmers or mudtubes in a wood pile or from a tree stump are very natural and are no cause for alarm. Now for a more difficult situation. A mudtube in spring suddenly appears on your foundation wall. Is this cause for alarm? Maybe? Can the tube just simply be knocked down? Here in California, our subterranean termites can be easily disturbed. However, if the mudtube shortly reappears, or if the mudtube disappears into an inaccessible area away from normal viewing, its probably time to seek professional help. Drywood termites are even more difficult to find and determine the extent of their damage because their colonies are very small, anywhere in the structure, and it can be a long time before they make their presence known by pellets or swarmers. If you sudden notice small piles of pellets, its probably a good idea to have a professional look at it. Inspections are quick to conduct and relatively inexpensive (free to several hundred dollars depending on the locality and architectural complexity of your home).

Why do termites look so different?
Termites are social insects. This means they have different looking individuals, called castes, to carry out the tasks or jobs of the colony. These tasks include reproduction done by the king and queen, defense conducted by soldiers, and workers who conduct most the activities of the colony; finding food, building nests, and taking care of the eggs and young termites.

How do I know when I have a termite problem?
Most homeowners will rarely see termites. These are secretive, cryptic insects that hide deep in wood or soil. However, during the spring and into the fall (depending of the species), termite colonies produce swarmers. These swarmers are new kings and queens. Their job is to start new colonies. Don't worry, more than 99% will die in the first few days of life (birds, other insects, and a hostile environment all take their toll). Sometimes, for subterranean termites, you may also notice their shelter tubes. These tubes are about the diameter of a pencil (sometime larger) and are made of soil. If you break one open, you may see a live termite inside! Drywood termites will produce granular pellets, they look allot like large grains of pepper. However, they can vary in color. If you look closely with a hand lens, you have see the ridges on individual pellets. These ridges are diagnostic for drywood termites. Of course, if you are seeing mudtubes, swarmers, and pellets in all rooms of the house, its definitely a problem and time to seek professional help. Real estate transfers may also require a termite inspection (normally these are highly recommended from lending institutions, they are not mandated by law). Finding signs of termite activity in your yard, should not alarm you. Termites in and about the yard is normal and you will see these signs from time-to-time. Of course, if you do notice termite activity in the yard that appear odd or alarms you, seek out professional pest control help.

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