Termite Information

Services Offered

  • Conventional Termite Inspection
  • Termite Control
  • Residential pest control including homes and apartments.
  • Commercial pest control including:
    • Office Buildings
    • Factories
    • Apartment Buildings
    • Co-ops
    • Condominiums
    • Hospitals
    • Schools
    • Nursing Homes

And Much More

Why Inspect?
Every year thousands of homes are attacked by termites or other wood destroying pests. Home purchasers need to know if these pests are present before investing their money. Therefore it is wise to have the property inspected by a representative of a licensed pest control company who can detect the presence of wood destroying pests and can provide a report on his findings.

Who Orders An Inspection?
A pest control firm may be selected by the seller or his agent, lending institution, or buyer, depending on the state's real estate laws or established practice. As a purchaser, you should be advised as to which company is doing the inspection and in some areas as a buyer you can make the selection.

What Does The Inspection Entail?
A qualified representative from the licensed pest control company will perform the inspection. He inspects all visible areas of the structure which are readily accessible to him. If he finds evidence of an infestation he reports the evidences on a specified form. An inspection may include sounding or probing areas where infestations are suspected.

What If Evidence Of An Infestation Is Found?
The company will recommend the appropriate treatment to control the pest. For termites, a treatment is usually warranted for a year, Meaning if an infestation is found while the warranty is in effect, the company will retreat at no charge to you.

THREE TYPES OF REPORTS

1. No Visible Signs of termite activity.
During this inspection we found that the house appeared to have never had termite treatment.

2. No Active Signs of termite activity.
This report finds no active termite activity at the time of our inspection, however, our interview with the owner of the house, in addition to other visible evidence, makes it clear that at one time in the past there was as active condition of termites and it has been corrected. We suggest that you contact the home owner, and verify if a service contract is currently in effect. If not, a one year renewable service contract is available from Craig Thomas Pest Control at an additional cost.

3. Active Signs of Termites.
A current active termite condition has been found. A proposal for the correction of both the termites and the damage caused by the termites will be provided. Once Craig Thomas Pest Control has corrected the termite problem, a renewable one year service contract will be issued.

Eastern Subterranean Termites

Characteristics – Size: Worker: 1/8-inch in length. Soldier: Body is similar to that of the worker. Supplementary Reproductive: About 1 inch in length. Primary Reproductive: About 1 inch in length.

Color: Worker: Light colored. Soldier: Light colored with brown head. Supplementary Reproductive: Light colored. Primary Reproductive: Dark brown/black.

  • Soldiers have an elongated head with pincer-like mandibles. Supplementary Reproductives have either no wings or very short non-functional wings, while Primary Reproductives have four wings of equal size. Primary Reproductives are the termites most often seen in the open. They are commonly referred to as "swarmers."
  • Behavior – This termite is known to swarm in May and June, but small flights can occur at any time of the year. Swarming is the primary way the termite naturally spreads after it has been transported to a new area. Three elements are needed for swarming to be effective: 1) Proper food resources (cellulose and wood), 2) moisture, and 3) a physical niche. As the colony grows, specialized castes are produced for the different tasks required. The first caste produced is the workers. The second caste is the soldiers. The third caste is the reproductives. Two types, primary and supplementary, are produced in a Formosan subterranean termite colony. The two types have different functions. Primary reproductives swarm and start new colonies. They are called alates or swarmers. Although thousands of primary reproductives are produced each year, they all leave the nest. Primaries cannot become reproductive if they remain in their colony of origin. In a Formosan colony, the only primaries that reproduce are the original king and queen that started the colony. Supplementary reproductives, on the other hand, can become reproductive only in the colonies in which they were born. They take over reproduction when the primary king or queen dies or becomes separated from the main colony.
  • Habitat – Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground, building vertical tunnels that look like mud tubes above ground level so that they can search for food. Because subterranean termites will die if exposed to air for an extended period of time, the tunnels provide protection from the open air, allowing workers to carry food to the nest. Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites. They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive, unlike drywood termites that only need low moisture.
  • Tips for Control – There are several things a homeowner can do which can help prevent termite infestations or make them easier to detect.
  • Store firewood away from the house. Make sure at least four inches of the foundation can be seen all around the home. Siding should not extend into the soil. Mulch and soil should not be high enough to cover the siding. Make sure water drains away from the foundation. Accumulation of water next to the foundation is important for the survival of a termite colony next to a home. Rain gutters are ideal; however, the downspout should direct the water away from the home. Roof or plumbing leaks can allow termites to survive above ground in a house. These should be corrected as soon as possible. Paint will protect exposed wood against termites for about five years, and commercial pressure-treated wood will provide longer lasting protection. Before painting, all cracks and crevices should be filled with putty or plastic wood.
  • Certain woods are naturally resistant to termite attacks. Among these woods are redwood core, bald-cypress, mahogany, and Spanish cedar. These types of wood, however, will become susceptible after several years of exposure to weather.

Termite Control

Advanced Termite Interception and Baiting System is superior to other baiting systems and methods. This is because it represents a simplified approach to termite baiting. This simplified approach results in a minimization of the disturbance of termites during inspections and baiting, a key attribute of an effective baiting system.

Termites have been around for over 250 million years. They are social insects that have caused billions of dollars of damage to homes throughout the United States. Termites feed on cellulose materials with wood being the most common source. They even cause damage to non-cellulose materials, such as plastic pool liners and plastic coating on electrical cables.

Subterranean termites can forage as far as 250 feet from the colony in the soil. Termite workers do not expose themselves to light; they build mud tubes in the soil to the food source above to protect them to exposure to light and dry air. A colony of termites consisting of 250,000 workers, can consume approximately one cubic foot of wood per year. This is equivalent to 20 linear feet of 2 X 4. A regular termite inspection of your home can help you save thousands of dollars in damage. How do you know if you have Termites?

Look for these clues:

  • There are winged insects flying around your house.
  • There are many wings lying near windows and the edge of walls.
  • You may find mud tubes or pellets in your crawl space or basement.
  • Your wall studs will sound hollow.
  • Termites are small and are pale to brownish black in coloring.

People often mistake ants for termites. Ants keep their wings, while termites loose theirs and ants' front wings are larger than their back wings. Ants tend to be longer and have curvier antennae. If you suspect that you have termites, call us immediately so that a professional can appraise your home and recommend a course of action. Termites work slowly, so there is no need to panic, but it is best that you take the time to get your home properly evaluated.