A termite infestation is particularly unpleasant because of the amount of damage it can cause to your property. These little insects can eat away at the home’s foundation, insulation, wood structures, and even pool liners. The fact that most home insurance policies don’t cover termite damage only compounds your issues. That’s why you need quick and effective termite control in Palm City. And first, you’ll need to identify the kind of infestation to apply a suitable treatment option.
Types of Termites and Treatment
There are primarily two types of termites that infest US homes: subterranean and dry wood. Both species are dangerous for a house but have different nesting habits and require different treatments. An expert can identify the difference and provide the right treatment for residential pest control in Stuart.
Drywood termites are larger than subterranean ones and feed on and nest inside wooden structures. They may have wings and their colors range from deep yellow to dark brown. You may come across them in warmer coastal regions like California, Florida, and Hawaii. They live in small colonies with up to 2500 members.
Subterranean termites nest underneath the ground and tunnel into your homes through mud tubes. Their colonies are much larger, ranging from 100,000 to 1 million members.
Treatment of Drywood Termites
Common treatment methods used for dry wood termite control in Palm City include sprays, spot treatments, and essential oils.
- Boric acid: Boric acid kills termites by dehydrating them but you want to be careful using it indoors because it can harm pets and children if they ingest it.
- Orange oil or neem oil: They aren’t effective for large infestations but can work for minor issues. They prevent or eliminate termites by stopping them from successfully reproducing or shedding their skin. You can make a spray out of them by mixing them with some water and dish soap.
- Repairing wood: Drill holes ten inches apart into the infested piece of wood until you hit the nest. Fill them with termiticide and putty over them. This method is best for finished or painted wood rather than hardwood.
Treatment of Subterranean Termites
- Beneficial nematodes: These microscopic, parasitic roundworms burrow into termites and poison them. You can use them for termite control in Palm City by sprinkling the affected areas with potting soil, water and beneficial nematodes.
- Insecticides: Termite foams fill the cracks and crevices where termites hide and evaporate, leaving behind a chemical residue that kills the bugs upon contact. Dust agents can be used for killing termites that foam or liquid can’t.
- Termite baits: Termites lured by baits carry back poison to their colonies as a food source. They are killed during the molting process.
- Termite barriers: Create a termite barrier outside your home by spraying liquid termiticides like fipronil and imidacloprid on mulch, soil or wood chips. Most barriers kill termites upon ingestion and the pesticide spreads upon contact, killing the colony slowly.
How To Identify Termites
Termites are sometimes mistaken for ants because of their similarities but have key differences:
- Antenna shape: Ants have bent antennas, termites have them straight.
- Body shape: Ants have a thinner waist and narrow body while termites have a wide and straight shape.
- Colors: An ant can be red, black or deep brown while a termite can be anything between tan and light brown.
- Wings: A flying termite has two equally sized pairs of wings while a flying ant has a larger pair and a smaller pair.
Signs of Termite Infestation
Other than looking at the insect, here’s how you can tell that you need residential pest control in Stuart for termites:
- Strange small clicks inside the wall
- Damaged wood
- Discarded wings
- Frass (termite droppings)
- Hollow wood
- Mud tubes
- Paint damage
Prevention Tips
- Avoid moisture
- Clear wood away from home
- Use mulch, rubber, or gravel with no wood
- Maintain clean pipes and gutters
- Schedule termite inspections
DIY vs Professional
DIY is a viable option for the earliest stages when the problem is small. But you may need a professional for termite control in Palm City for large-scale infestations or if you don’t feel like you can treat it effectively.
