Termite Identification

It may sound preposterous or even disgusting to some but there have been poems written about termites! Since everyone knows that poetry can be about anything, some writers figured they may as well write about something that has been plaguing homes the world over.

Humor

Termite poems are characteristically humorous, though. No matter how great a poet, one can hardly be inspired to write a poem on friendship or love story between humans and termites! One poet, Ogden Nash is known for his witty poems including one short one on termites.

The Termite by Ogden Nash:

Some primal termite knocked on wood
And tasted it, and found it good!
And that is why your Cousin May
Fell through the parlor floor today.

In one stanza or in 4 short lines, Mr. Nash basically summed up in this termite poem what these little insects can do. While it may sound hilarious in a poem, we can hardly say the same in reality. Termites can not only eat up a home literally, their damage may also prove to be dangerous for the people living in it.

Termite poems does more than entertain readers. If we look deeper and closer into the wit and warning embedded in termite poems, we may find out that termites are enemies that are not to be taken lightly.

The best thing to handle termites is to go for termite control. However, the question remains: how do you know when to do termite control?

Termites usually reproduce or lay eggs during spring. The worker termites work on eating up wood while waiting for the eggs to hatch. This provides ready nourishment to the babies that are about to join the colony. If you want to perform termite control effectively, do it right before spring.

Theoretically, that is the best answer. However, the question of when to do termite control should be considered throughout the year to prevent pesky insect from getting into the moist soil beneath the house. This will prevent termite from inhabiting your house in the first place.

As soon as the weather warms and the rain begins, you should even be doubly careful about possible swarming of termites. This is the best time to know whether you need to do a termite control.

Check for leaks around the house. Where water can leak out of the house, termites can also get in the same leak holes. The next step is to assess the situation and find out if your termite control measures will involve chemicals or not. Chemicals can get rid of the termites effectively. Most chemicals used for termite control these days are already safe to use and won’t cause any dangerous or adverse effects to humans.

A termite inspector does more than inspect your home for termites and other home-wrecking pests. Like any other job, termite inspection requires a certain amount of training, too Furthermore, termite inspectors have to be certified with the American Association of Pest Control Services.

Here are some of the duties and responsibilities of a termite inspector:

1. Every home being sold by a realtor must undergo termite inspection. If you’re planning to buy a new home, inquire from your real estate agent if the home you are about to buy has been inspected by a professional termite inspector.

2. Termite inspector and termite inspection companies should provide their clients with price quotes so the clients can have the option of going for your services or looking for cheaper options.

3. A termite inspector should provide the homeowner or the client with a complete assessment of the problem areas and he or she must be able to walk the client through his or her report in case the client needs to clarify something.

Owning a home requires constant vigilance against termites. If your home is infested with termites, it is important for you to realize that the sooner it is treated, the better.

Termites feed on wood - the wooden beams that hold up the roof, support the walls and ceiling. Weakened wood is therefore dangerous to the whole structure and to the family. The most common termite home treatment starts with having your home assessed for termites by a licensed pest control company regularly. Usually, these companies apply termite prevention treatments. However, once termites are detected, the pest control company can recommend a suitable solution based on the extent of damage done by the termites.

As a homeowner, you have several options when it comes to termite home treatment program. You can choose between chemical and non-chemical treatments. Homeowners who are careful about maintaining the environment may opt for non-chemical treatments. This treatment usually involves using natural components to prevent termites from infesting wood sources.

In extreme cases though, chemical treatment may be necessary. Today, chemicals for termite treatments have undergone research, study and modification in such a way that these chemicals are strong enough to get rid of the termites but safe enough for the human inhabitants.

For DIY termite home treatment, click here to check out Termite Identification, Treatment and Control.

Like most insects, termites are also reproduced and bred through the laying and hatching of eggs. The queen termite can be impregnated with eggs from several colony members to keep the society thriving. Since termites aren’t exactly what we call monogamous, it is therefore easier for them to multiply.

A mature queen termite can lay several thousands of each every single day. Some species of termites, the queen can even grow several ovaries allowing them to reproduce even more eggs! Like any pregnant creature, queen termites also have enlarged abdomen. While they are immobilized in their condition, the hundred of worker termites around it work to move and feed her.

Once they are hatch, the eggs will eventually turn into nymphs and further on, into different members of the termite colony. Worker termites make up the largest part of the community.

Just like many other insects, the termite is reproduced through the laying and hatching of eggs. Unlike the typical male/female dynamic that we, as humans, know, the queen of the termite colony can become impregnated with eggs from multiple colony members just so that the society is kept going. In other words, termites arent monogamous. These worker termites are wingless, are blind and are the ones mostly found in infested wood. Although the soldier termites are blind and wingless as well, the group has the capability to defend the colony when under attack - by humans and termite deterrents.

Winged termites are the reproductives and supplementary reproductives of the colony. During swarming season, these group swarm to a new location, shed their old wings and pair up with a new termite colony. Supplementary reproductives stand the chance of being replacement when a termite king or queen dies.

Fortunately for termites and unfortunately for the homeowners, termites can reproduce into hundreds and even a thousand in a matter of days. Thus termite colonies and their respective damages are almost always difficult to battle with.

Looking for more information on termites and how they can be controlled? Click here to check out Termite Identification, Treatment and Control.

Proper and regular maintenance make homes last longer. One aspect of maintenance is to make sure your home is free from termite.

Termite deterrents are anything that keeps or prevents termites from foraging your home. Deterrents can be in the form of an object, a smell or chemicals that discourage these pests and insects from damaging your home.

Most termite deterrents come in the form of chemicals. Today, these chemicals are readily available for the specific purpose of termite prevention. These chemicals are simply sprayed on thewooden parts of the the structure or in wood or ground tunnels where termites are known to inhabit. Since termites can crawl even into the most miniscule hole and thrive most especially on dark areas, spraying these chemicals can become a bit tricky. Homeowners or termite pest controller companies should make sure to include these parts when applying termite deterrent chemicals.

In 2005, a study has been conducted showing the sap of sugar pine tree as one of the best termite deterrent to use. The research showed termites were appalled by the smell and by the sap of the sugar pine tree.

For more tips on termite control, click here to check out Termite Identification, Treatment and Control.

Photo by Editor B

One of the major concerns of owning a home or a building is termite destruction. As a homeowner, it is important to understand that once your home is infested with termites, the structure can become weak and thus dangerous.

To the uninformed homeowner, termite damages are barely visible. However, once you know what to look for, it will be quite easy for you to tell if your home is infested with termites or not. Periodical or regular inspection of your property can help you spot early signs of damages. Employing the services of a professional pest control company to do the job is even better.

As mentioned, there are several ways of determining termite infestation. Here are some of them:

1. Since termites love damp wood, start your inspecting wooden parts that are close to the ground.

2. Termites swarm at certain times of the year. Swarms of small flying insects can be a tell-tale sign that termites are thriving in your home.

If you are looking for termite control in Waldorf Maryland, you have many, many options you can choose from.  The number of pest control companies in an around this area are many and varied, and all offer many choices when it comes to termite control for your home or building.  Termite control in Waldorf Maryland is important because once termites get into your home, they can cause devastating damage that must be stopped before they take over your home and make it expensive to repair.  Let’s take a look at a few of the companies we’ve found for termite control in Waldorf Maryland that can help you with your termite problems.

All American Pest Control is located at 2109 Gibbons Court in Waldorf.  Their telephone number is (301) 638-3467
Rudd’s Termite Control is located at 41 Industrial Park also in Waldorf.  Their telephone number is (301) 863-8888
You can find Home Paramount Pest Control Company at 22A Industrial Park, Suite 3 in Waldorf or online at www.homeparamount.com.  Call them at (301) 645-9133
If you are more comfortable going with a national company, Orkin Pest Control has a branch in Waldorf and you can call them at (877) 886-4883

Just as with any other part of the country, finding termite control in Waldorf Maryland is important if you own a home or any other type of building.  Termites can devastate a wood structure because they feed on the wood that constructs the structure.  A licensed pest control company can check your home first and find out if you have an existing termite problem.  Then they can work with you to formulate a plan to get rid of those termites and keep them from coming back

Termite control in Waldorf Maryland is just as important as in any other part of the country.  You must take steps to make sure that your property is protected, if nothing else for your own piece of mind.  The last thing you want is to have to worry about whether or not these boring insects are making a meal of your home and destroying the wood a little at a time.  That’s why you need to contact a pest control company for complete termite control in Waldorf Maryland. 

You have many options.  Just make sure that you choose a company that is licensed and insured so you don’t waste your money on a fly-by-night operation.  Check out their references and find someone you trust.  All homeowners need to take the risk of termites seriously.  Getting termite control in Waldorf Maryland is easy, so get on top of it right away!

If you own any type of wood structure or farm crops, termite control should be one of the top things you should be thinking about if you want to keep your crops and your buildings.  Termite control is such a huge issue for people who own their own homes whether they live there or not, that termite control companies are making money hand over fist as they struggle to take charge over termites and keep them from destroying structures and crops.

Essentially, termite control is most often done with the use of chemicals.  The chemical manufacturing companies have developed all sorts of eco-friendly chemicals that can help with termite control.  Most of these chemicals are not harmful to humans and are extremely effective when it comes to eradicating a termite problem both before and after it starts.

There are lots of ways that you can approach termite control, however.  If you are concerned about the effects of chemicals on our environment, then you might want to consider a green approach to termite control.  That means you will have to remove any possible food sources for these foraging pests that can take over your home and eradicate the wood before you even know it is happening.

Termites lay their eggs in damp, moist soil.  That means if you have a crawl space, you should take steps to either spray that crawl space with chemicals to kill off the living termites and prevent the hatchlings from growing to maturity.  What happens when you do this type of termite control is that you are killing off the living bugs and when the eggs hatch, there are no worker termites that can help get food to those “children” and so they die from starvation.  It might sound cruel, but it is even crueler when you consider what those “babies” can do to your home if they grow to adulthood.

You must make sure that you eliminate any type of moisture leakage that can make the wood that holds your house up structurally unsound.  Wet wood is a buffet table for the common termite, so eliminating the source of the moisture is the best start toward termite control you can take.

Having the expertise of a professionally licensed pest control company is another great step you can take toward termite control.  No one wants termites in their home, so taking steps to make sure that they don’t come around in the first place is the best thing you can do for yourself and your home.  Termite control begins with making sure that you don’t get a problem started.  A professionally licensed pest control company can help you come up with a termite control plan that works for you and can keep your home safe from infesting termites.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control

If you are interested in becoming a termite inspector, a good way to break into the field is to find a place as a termite apprentice.  There are many termite apprentice programs that are offered by accredited schools and even universities that only take a couple of days to take.  These termite apprentice programs are in the form of intense classes that will teach you all sorts of information including termite biology, practical field identification of wood-destroying organisms, their damage, and the safe use of tools, chemicals, and other equipment used to rid the home of these devastating insects.

Because these courses are short, they can be quite intense and require a lot of work.  But when you want to become a termite inspector, the termite apprentice program is a great way to get into the field and know what you’re doing right off the bat.  These courses are often not very expensive, but when you consider the experience that you are able to pick up, you will soon realize that they are well worth the money.

Once you have taken a termite apprentice course, you will probably want to hook up with a licensed professional termite inspector and ask if you can be their termite apprentice so you can gain experience in the field.  Many termite inspectors are happy to take on a termite apprentice – especially if you are willing to work with them in the field to help alleviate their work load.  Often, your termite apprentice course will be able to find someone who is willing to work with you and teach you the business.  Sometimes these will be paid positions and sometimes they won’t.  What you have to do is weigh the experience you are getting with the necessity of a paycheck.  Some people just can’t sign on to be a termite apprentice because they need the money, so find someone you trust and talk honestly with them about your expectations as well as theirs.

Often, when you are trying to get into a new field of work, the best thing you can do for yourself is get some on-the-job training.  Plus, for a termite inspector, it is a welcome advantage having some help in the field as well.  So if you are interested in the lucrative field of termite inspection, you may want to seriously check out becoming a termite apprentice.  Not only with the experience be invaluable, but you will learn so much more than you could ever hope to find from a textbook.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Termite Identification Treatment & Control