Frequently asked Termite Control Questions - Hi Tech Termite Control

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	Hi-Tech uses 3 methods to eliminate and protect your home from termites. Microwaving- Heat is generated by a magnatron mounted on a tri-pod for easy access to walls floors and ceilings. Injections / Spraying- We use Termidor injections that spread like a virus in a termite colony to eliminate it. Tenting- If an inspector discovers heavy infestation, mostly inaccessible, fumigation will be recommended.

How to identify termites!
There are various types of termites adn can often be mitaken for carpenter and fire ants
because both of these ant species have winged swarms and swarm usually during spring and ocassionaly through-out the year. Termites only swarm during spring adn ocassionally in the fall. These subterranean termites loose their wings soon after swarming to make their descent easier. You may find piles of wings in various places around your house, htouh mainly by window sills and other areas of sunlight .
Winged ants do not loose their wings and can fly quite well.

This page will help be absolutely certain of which type of termite you may have in your home so that we can assist you with eliminating these pests that generally swarm between Feburary starting in south Florida until mid June in the northern states.

These types of termites may be workers, soldiers or swarmers and in most circumstanstances only swarm 1 to 2 times a year and unless you can identify and find the location of these termites you will be on of many unlucky residents that are left only to find dead swarmers or wings.

The Drywood Termite -This type of termite is common especially here in California. They are also swarmers

and differ from subterranean termites mainly by color. Drywood's are usually red and have blackish wings and can be easily confused with florida carpenter ants. Drywood termites live in low moisture type climates and live or feed and nest in undecayed wood. They do not require contact with soil to live and can cause serious damage to most any wooden object. These types of termites are generally found along the narrow coast line from south Florida to the northern Pacific coast of California.

The nest is chosen and created by a pair of male and female termites. To create and protect the nest the hole in which they enter is sealed off with a brownish cement-like material. This whole on average is about 1/8 of an inch and behind this sealed area that has been plugged off they excavate a chamber for the queen to lay her first eggs. These first eggs once hatched become what are called nymphs. These nymphs become Soldiers and reproductive's and don't have a distinct caste system like subterranean termites do.

The swarming season brings nymphs that make round holes 1/16 to 1/8 inch in diameter and the reproductive's leave the wood and the holes are plugged in the same way as the entrance holes. Small tunnels connect large chambers that cut across the grain of the wood. Small openings in the wood are used for Excreta Aden and other debris to help keep the tunnels used by the colony clean. This Excretal debris known as (frass) are a distinguishing characteristic of non-subterranean termites. Six concave surfaces on the sides make these pellets distinct with their rounded edges as opposed to other pests who leave rounded convex surfaces, such as that of the beetle.

A simple crack in any wood surface can be an entrance for these pests and can be as simple as a space between two pieces of wood even underneath roofing or sheathing paper. Their ability to live in wood without soil allows them to be carried inside of furniture from place to place, even in regions where they are not common.

Wood of all kinds are prey for drywood termites such as; structural timbers, woodwork in buildings, furniture and most any wooden object can be infested and damaged. Though these types of termites are less injurious than subterranean termites which can have colonies as large as 500,00 these drywood termites can and will destroy a home and other wooden objects with a colony as small as 10,000.

The most destructive of these termites is the dark western termite, Incisitermes mino(Hagen). They spread from California to Arizona and Utah and can infest a structure from foundation to roof.

The southern drywood termites or the light western drywood termite, Marginitermes hubbardi, is also found in California to Arizona.
Higher pressure and drier conditions are the preferred conditions of the light western drywood termite and have similar habits to the western drywood termite.

Learn more about the types of termites in the next chapter of Termite Facts continued on the next page.

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