Category: Termites

Learn About The Different Types of Termites

Posted on May 21, 2020 by brewadmin - Termites

Due to COVID-19, families living in Louisiana are at their homes more than ever. Not only should you be taking necessary health precautions, but you should also be looking out for persistent pests like termites! We are in the midst of termite season and it’s important to know if they are swarming your home at this time. Termites cause billions of dollars of damage every year, and they can infest any and all structures. Believe it or not, no home is safe from termites without the appropriate preventative measures.

Termite colonies are working 24 hours a day by feeding, eating and/or reproducing. One termite colony can have over 1 million members. A colony can travel over three football fields in length looking for a food source. Once a termite finds a food source, it leaves a pheromone trail to help other termites locate the source as well. Within each colony, termites perform different jobs according to their caste. There are five different members of the termite family: the Queen, King, Soldier, Worker and Alate aka “Swarmer”. Learning about the different types and how termites reproduce can help you learn what to look out for and how to control them so they don’t take over your home.

Queen

The king and queen are the breeding types of termites. The alates emerge from an existing nest, spread their wings and fly to another place. Once there, the queen sheds her wings and she and the male burrow into the ground where they start to reproduce.

The Queen’s only job is to reproduce! A queen can lay an egg every 15 seconds for many years, sometimes thousands in a single day. They are the largest in size and weigh several times that of worker termites.

King

The King’s only job is to reproduce with the Queen to build a colony. The king termite lives next to the queen, creating a very close existence for the two of them. They are buried deep within the center of the surrounding termite nest, making them the hardest to find and see.

Soldier

A soldier’s job is to protect the colony at all costs by fighting off invaders such as ants. They fight off their predators with a front pair of mandibles in a pinching motion. They are considered the protectors of the colony. These unwanted guests can vary greatly in appearance from other members of the termite colony. They have been seen to have darker heads and larger mandibles than the workers.

Worker

The workers make up the majority of the colony and are responsible for damage to structures. They feed on structures to provide a food source for themselves as well as bring the food source back to the other colony members. In most colonies, workers are wingless and soft-bodied and are the largest single group in most termite colonies.

One thing that most people don’t know is that the workers take care of the eggs and immature termites (nymphs). They also take care of the building and maintenance of the colony structures.

Swarmer

These winged flying termites do not cause any termite damage. Their job is to swarm out, mate and return underground to start a new colony. They have a very short life span outside the colony, which is why you see many dead during swarm season.

Termite swarmers emerge from tubes built by worker termites. They range in color – from yellow to black – depending on the species. These insects are often noticed around exterior lighting and window sills.

———————–
Termites are no joke and can destroy your residence before you know it! The Bug Man is happy to explain to you more about these insects and how or when you should proceed with treatment.

If swarming insects invade your home or you’ve noticed them in the soil around your property, contact The Bug Man today. You can also request a free estimate today or call us for all your pest control needs at (225) 923-2847.

How to Best Prepare For Termite Season

Posted on February 21, 2020 by brewadmin - Termites, Uncategorized

Believe it or not, termite season is already here! Termites love warm humid climates, meaning Louisiana truly is the perfect home for termites to establish their colonies. Since we have such a short winter season down here in the South, we typically have “termite season” practically year-round with swarming starting as early as February. Once a termite colony has settled comfortably into your home, they will continue to feast upon wood and other materials, not leaving until they’ve depleted their food source.

While you may be a little preoccupied with crawfish boils and Mardi Gras parades this time of year, you shouldn’t overlook termite prevention to keep these unwanted guests from destroying your home. Termites cause over $5 billion in damages each year, but luckily, there are some good preventative measures you can take to keep your home out of that statistic.

Early Detection of Termites

Depending on the species of the termite, there are many warning signs to look out for:

Mude tubes – Subterranean termites are known for digging mud tubes. They connect their colonies through a mud tube in the soil underground to their above-ground food sources. These mud tubes look like small, pencil-like dirt tunnels, which are located at the base of your home. They are made out of small pieces of soil and wood.
Very hollowed/damaged wood – One thing for sure: termites are very hungry. They will do just about anything to eat wood. Some people often see ‘sawdust’ by the base of their wood or gaps between the wood where they have been eating.
Droppings or Pellets – Like other pests, one of the easiest ways to discover an infestation is by finding droppings. Drywood termites usually leave behind small, wood-colored pellets.
Discarded wings – You may discover wings left behind near a closed window or door. After the termite’s swarm, they will shed their wings.

Pick up Loose Wood

Termites love wood, moisture, and soil. Make sure you are picking up loose pieces of wood which touch the ground. Leaving wood within snacking distance is a huge target for termites. Make sure to remove all wood, lumber, mulch, plants, paper, etc. from around your home’s foundation. If you have wood touching the ground and your home, you should try to create some distance by keeping them at least 20 feet from your home.

Reduce Moisture

Make sure you eliminate any water leaks or moisture buildup from your residence. Remember, termites love moisture. Try to fix leaking AC units, faucets, gutters, and water pipes. Also, try to keep all sprinkler heads pointed away from your home’s foundation. You don’t want any standing pools of water touching the exterior of your home.

Preventative maintenance can go a long way when it comes to termites. One of the best prevention methods for termites is receiving regular (typically annual) termite inspections from a qualified expert. The Bug Man offers two main termite removal and prevention services: a baiting system treatment called Sentricon as well as Termidor, a chemical barrier treatment. Both treatments are proven to defend and remove any type of termite.

Do you have any termites invading your home or are interested in a preventative maintenance plan? Request an in-home estimate today before it’s too late! Please contact The Bug Man for all your termite needs at (225) 923-2847 or visit our contact page.

The Do’s and Don’ts of Termites

Posted on May 20, 2019 by brewadmin - Termites

Termite season is officially here, and if you aren’t proactively preventing them, then they just may be eating your home and multiplying in your house as we speak!

Did you know that termites don’t sleep? Yep, that’s right. They can build their colonies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And get this, the termite queens have the longest lifespan of any insect in the world, averaging between 30 and 50 years. No wonder you can’t seem to get rid of them! Typically, termites swarm after their colony has reached their capacity level and is ready to expand. The swarming happens about once a year, usually in late spring, typically around mothers day, depending on the type of wood: dry wood or damp wood. Additionally, a termite queen can lay up to 30,000 eggs per day and one colony can have over 1 million members. These pesky intruders cause a whopping $5 billion dollars a year in damage. Follow along to find out the do’s and don’ts of termites so you can finally get rid of these unwanted guests and provide a safe environment for you and your loved ones.

Do’s

Do have your home under a termite contract with a company licensed by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture.
Do notify your termite company anytime you perform any construction around your property such as additions or open walls. Home additions need to be treated as a preventative and if termite activity is found. When walls are open during construction it gives the company an opportunity to look at the studs of your home to inspect for any termite related issues.
Do always retreat your home every 5 years due to the breakdown in the chemical barrier under your soil if you have a chemical contract.

If you have a termite baiting program, contact your termite company if stations are removed for any reason so they can be reinstalled as soon as possible to avoid a break in termite protection.

Dont’s

Don’t put off repairing moisture issues on your home. Termites are attracted to moisture and will feed heavily on this area. Seal up all leaking windows and door frames to prevent water rot and moisture issues.
Don’t dig out your flower beds close to your slab area if your home is under a termite contract without contacting your termite company. By digging into our treatment area, you are breaking the chemical barrier in place to keep termites out. Notify your termite company of flower bed repair and have them come back and retreat the area once work is done.
Don’t skip your yearly inspections! The inspections are very important due to the termite pressure in South Louisiana. This gives our technicians the opportunity to look for conducive conditions and check your slab for termite evidence and to check your bait stations if you have a termite baiting contract. Skipping your inspection will void your termite contract.

If you think you have termite damage or evidence, never disturb the suspected area. Call your termite company first to inspect as to not disperse the possible termites.

The Bug Man has offered the Sentricon Termite Baiting program since the late ’90s and has proven to be a force to be reckoned with when it comes to termites. The Bug Man also offers a chemical treatment option for termite control called the Termidor HP Injector. We are the only company in Baton Rouge and one of three in the state utilizing this new technology which eliminates the old “trench and treat” method that disturbs landscaping by instead injecting an accurate dose of chemical around the slab of a property. We also offer pre-construction options to treat the soil, slab and frame of a home while a property is being built. With these termite treatment methods, we are able to offer our customers the best options in the industry to keep termites out of your property for good!

Have a termite problem you can’t seem to fix, or just have questions about these unwanted guests? Good news, we offer FREE termite estimates. Please contact The Bug Man for all your termite needs at (225) 923-2847 or visit our contact page to get in touch.