Termidor

Termites Cause Billions of Dollars of Damage to Homes Each Year

When it’s your property that’s part of the statistic, that’s when it really hits home.

termidor_logoTermidor® termiticide/insecticide has a number of flexible application options. Parker Pest Control will determine what type of Termidor treatment will work best for your particular situation. If there are no active termites in your home, Termidor will help ensure there won’t be any in the future. This not only protects your peace of mind but adds value to your home as well.

Termites can’t avoid what they can’t detect.

Termidor is an advanced undetectable liquid technology. That means termites cannot see, smell, taste, or avoid it. Instead, they contact, ingest and share Termidor, completely unaware that doing so inevitably will kill them.

Termidor eliminates termites several ways.

When termites eat Termidor-treated material, they will die. But Termidor doesn’t stop there. It eliminates termites by contact as well. And since termites can’t detect its presence, termites can directly ingest and contact Termidor as they go about their normal routines

The Termidor “Transfer Effect™

Whenever a termite ingests or touches Termidor, it can become a “carrier,” transferring Termidor to other termites it contacts. These termites, in turn, can become secondary carriers, behaving normally while they transfer Termidor to other termites they contact—and so on within the colony. Because Termidor is slow-acting, it gives individual termites ample time to transfer it to others in the population. This unique, spiraling process is called the “Transfer Effect,” and its devastating results maximize the protection of your structure.

 


 

The Truth About Termites

Termites – A concern in 49 out of 50 states

There are about 2,000 known species of termites throughout the world. In the U.S., Subterranean termites, including Eastern, Western, Desert, and Formosans, which build underground nests, are a concern in every state except Alaska. Subterranean termites are extremely destructive because they tunnel their way to wooden structures (like your home), into which they burrow to obtain food. Termites all share a virtually insatiable appetite for wood and other cellulose-containing materials. Given enough time, they will feed on the wood until nothing is left but a shell.

A caste of hundreds of thousands

Termites are highly social insects that live in large colonies where populations can reach more than one million. A colony consists of several structurally differentiated forms living together as castes (including reproductives, soldiers, and workers) with different functions in community life.

In the spring, winged reproductives leave the parental nest in swarms to create a new colony. The swarming lasts less than an hour, so it’s very likely you’ll never even see it. The winged reproductives themselves look quite a bit like flying ants, for which they are often mistaken.

Those ants might be termites

Both ants and termites have two pairs of wings, but ants’ wings are different sizes, while termites’ wings are all the same size. Also, ants have narrowed waists and elbowed antennae, while termites have thick waists and short, straight antennae that resemble strings of beads. Don’t be fooled by color or size. Ants can vary in size and winged termites can be brown or black like ants.

Look for signs

You’re more likely to discover you have a termite problem by discovering the evidence they leave behind, rather than the actual termites themselves. If you encounter any of these telltale signs, there’s a good chance termites are busy snacking on your home:

  • Piles of small, delicate wings shed by reproductives
  • Mud tubes built by termites for above-ground travel
  • Damaged or hollow-sounding wood
  • Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper

Of course, it’s quite possible to have a hidden termite problem even if you never notice any of these signs. The best way to be sure is to contact Parker Pest Control to conduct a complete inspection of your home.

 


 

Termite Prevention Tips

When it comes to gaining access to your home, termites are amazingly proficient. The last thing you want to do is make their job easier. Follow these 3 steps to effective termite defense and make sure that your home doesn’t become their home.

Step 1: Get Professional Help

Small holes in wood, crumbling drywall, sagging doors or floors, insect wings, and small mud tubes are some of the more obvious signs of potential termites. But even if you don’t notice any of these signs, that doesn’t necessarily mean termites, or the conditions that invite them, aren’t there.

Regular inspections by Parker Pest Control are the only way to ensure your home truly is, and remains, free from termites and the damage that they cause. Qualified pest professionals have the training in termite biology and behavior to identify, prevent and treat termite problems. A Termidor-certified pest professional will perform a thorough inspection of your home to determine if, where, and how termites are getting in. They can also explain how to correct any conditions in your home that invite termites.

For Example:

  • Don’t affix wooden trellises to exterior walls.
  • Keep mulch, wood debris, scrap lumber, sawdust, and firewood away from your home. If you do keep firewood outside your house during the winter, keep it raised off of the ground.
  • Trim all shrubs, bushes, and other dense greenery away from the foundation of your home. Move mulch away from the foundation as well.
  • Don’t bury wood debris near your home.
  • Remove infested trees and stumps.
  • Repair leaking faucets and water lines, both indoors and outdoors.
  • Fix leaky roofs and gutters.
  • Don’t allow leaves to accumulate in gutters and drains.
  • Grade soil so that water (including air conditioning condensate) runs away from foundations.
  • Ventilate crawl spaces and attics to reduce humidity.
  • Cover at least 90% of the soil in crawl spaces with plastic sheeting.
  • Ideally, wood siding, stucco, and foam board should be at least six inches away from the ground.
  • Seal all cracks and holes in your home’s foundation, which may provide a handy access point for termites.
Step 2: Employ the best defense: Termidor

If the inspection reveals termites, Parker Pest Control can get rid of them and keep them from returning. If your home is currently free of termites, congratulations! Now, it’s time for your pest professional to take preventative action to ensure it stays that way. For the fastest, most effective way to address either situation, your pest professional will recommend Termidor® termiticide/insecticide, America’s #1 Termite Defense Product.

Step 3: Schedule regular professional check-ups

A clean bill of health from a doctor today doesn’t mean it’s not important for you to get regular check-ups in the future. Your home after a Termidor treatment is no different. Regular check-ups by your pest professional will make sure Termidor continues to do its job and that your home remains termite-free for as long as you live there.