(Figure1) (Figure 2) (Figure 3)

(Figure 4) (Figure 5)

Subterranean Termites

Termites are the #1 structure damaging insect in our area. We've seen homes literally caving in do to Termites eating away at the wood. They get into everything, from your sill plate to your main support beams to the baseboards and trim work around your doors. They can be found from ground level all the way up to the attic. These insects are also one of the toughest to detect & iradicate due to the fact that they live in the soil, hence the name Subterranean. Termites aren't just going to go away either, the earliest fossil is approx. 120 million years old. It also seems like in our region, from Lake George south, if you don't have them it's just a matter of time before you do. Just like ants termites are social insects, this basicaly means they work together and share tasks within the colony. Termites are usually found when they "SWARM", this usually happens in April & May. Swarming Termites (Figure 2) is a sign that a colony is nearby and mature. You have male & female swarmers, females will eventually become a queen or secondary reproductive and the males a king. Termite mud tubes (Figure 3) are also a way to spot activity. These tubes are built to protect the termites, and as you can see they form them just about any place. Other then these signs termites usually go undetected until the damage is found. Figure 4 shows typical Termite damage. Preventitive maintenence can be done to help keep them away. Wood soil contact should be avoided, proper drainage should be in place (Gutters), mulch should be away from the structure, these are some examples of preventitive maintanence.

Termite monitors can be installed to monitor and destroy colonies on the property. Figure 5 shows a termite monitor installed. Basically a monitor is a plastic capsule with a wooden attraction inside. Termites eat cellulose so over time they find the monitor and start eating the wood. We will inspect the monitors on a regular basis and when we find activity we replace it with a "bait". The termites will feed on the bait take it back to the colony and it will start killing the colony. The monitoring system works well, the only problem is it may take a while before the termites "hit".

If termites are already present within the structure the best thing to do is call us for a free inspection. Treatments can be very indepth and will entail a thorough inspection of the structure. Termite baits alone without a liquid treatment isn't recommended. The reason is it may take them a while to "hit" the monitors, and also in the mean time they are doing damage to the structure.

TERMITE MUD TUBES  Foam Injection