5 Tell-Tale Signs of a Termite Infestation

Termites are one of the biggest problems homeowners face. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, termite damage occurs in approximately 600,000 homes across America each year. If you want to stop termite problems early, here are five signs you might have an infestation.

1. Pinpoint Holes in Drywall

If you notice small pinpoint holes in drywall that you didn't make, that's a sign that you've got a termite infestation. Termites will happily eat drywall because it's partially made of cellulose, so keep an eye out for any pinpoint holes and call a pest control company if you spot them.

2. Hollow Sounding Wood

You can also knock lightly on some of the wood structures around your home to see if they sound hollow. When you knock or tap on wood, you should be able to hear that it's solid. If wood sounds hollow, there's a good chance it is a result of a termite infestation.

3. Unusually Squeaky Floorboards

It's not unusual for floorboards to get a bit squeaky over time, but your floorboards shouldn't be especially squeaky. Unusually squeaky floorboards, especially if it's happening all of a sudden, might be a result of termite damage.

4. Buckling Floorboards

In some cases, termites can cause so much damage to your floorboards that they can actually cause them to buckle. Buckling floorboards are a big problem because when one floorboard buckles, it affects all the other floorboards in its vicinity. If you notice a floorboard buckling suddenly, it may be time to call the pest control company.

5. Discolored Drywall or Peeling Paint

Discolored drywall and peeling paint, especially peeling paint that looks like the result of water damage, are two common signs of termites. Termites can cause extensive damage as they eat through different parts of your home, so you need to do more than keep an eye on exposed support beams and other structures that are obvious targets.

Termites can be a big problem for homeowners, especially if you don't recognize the signs early on. It's important to keep an eye out for these top five signs and call a pest control company if you think you have an infestation. If you've got a termite problem you can't get rid of, contact Essential Pest Control today to get it under control.

Termites Vs. Ants-Here's How to Tell Them Apart

Are you not quite sure whether you’re seeing termites vs. ants? These tips can help you identify which insect you're seeing around your property and if you need professional help.

1. Antennae - Termites have straight antennae while ants antennae are elbowed

If you look closely at the antennae of the species you’re trying to identify to determine whether it’s an ant or a termite. While ants have elbowed or bent antennae, termites have straight antennae. Although this may seem like a subtle difference, it’s enough to tell the insects apart so you can proceed with extermination or other services should you need them.

2. Body - Termites have straight, wide bodies but ants have narrow, segmented bodies.

If you’re close enough to compare the bodies of termites to ants, you’ll see that the abdomen on a termite has no defined waist. Ants, which have a well-defined, segmented body, are very narrow towards the mid-section.. If you can inspect both insects closely, this difference can help you determine which pest is present.

3. Food - Ants are drawn to food debris. Termites prefer cellulose-rich things like wood and paper.

Ants are omnivores, so their diet consists of both plants and animals. They’re also attracted to debris from food, which is why you might have seen a line or group of ants surrounding waste from a public trash can or pet food bowl. Termites, vs ants however, strictly consume cellulose-based items such as wood and paper. They’re more likely to be found in drywall, cardboard, insulation, wood, and other materials containing cellulose.

Wings - Termites have wings of equal lengths, while flying ants have different sized wings

Both flying ants and winged termites have four wings and the appearance may help you determine which one you may be dealing with. Termites have wings that are equal in length and are longer than their bodies, while flying ants’ wings are unequal in length. An ant’s back hind wings are shorter than its front fore wings, and they are pretty proportional to their bodies. Termites also have very fragile wings that can fall off easily, and if you see fallen wings in your home, this can sometimes indicate an infestation.

If you believe you've identified the invader or need help, give us a call. Professionals like Essential Pest Control can help with next steps to rid your home of ants and termites. 520-886-3029

Detect Termites Before Your Home Is Infested

Like bed bugs, termites are often able to infect your home easily. They're often difficult to detect before they become a full infestation and you need to call professional termite control. Did you know a termite can enter your home through a space as small as 1/32nd of an inch? You do now.

But how can you protect your home from an insect that can go undetected for so long? By knowing the five reasons why termites frequently go undetected, you'll know how to find these annoying insects before they can infest your house and cause a ton of damage.

• Termites are tiny One of the biggest factors why termites are so difficult to detect is because of their size. An average termite is between one-fourth to one-half of an inch in length. However, the queen termite is often up to an inch long. Their pale color is often what allows them to blend into wood and carpet.

•Termites look like ants Ants and termites could be twins from the height of an average person. Because of their small and similar body types, termites can often go undetected as a harmless ant looking for crumbs. However, don't be fooled. Ants may infest your home in a search for shelter and food, but termites will cause some serious damage.

•New termites have wings Another reason why termites are difficult to detect is because their wings, when swarming, can often make them look like winged ants. One of the ways you can tell the difference between these pests is that an ant's wings will typically be larger in the front and smaller in the back. A termite's wings, also four in number, will all be the same size.

• They stay hidden Finally, the number one reason why termites are so difficult to detect is because they prefer to stay hidden in the walls. In some cases, a homeowner may not even know they have termites until they discover the damage and call termite control for an inspection. You may be able to find signs of an infestation if there's a pile of wings outside your home. After swarming, termites lose their wings because they're not needed anymore. Additionally, termites often leave tiny tubes in the mud in order to provide safer travel.

By being able to detect termites in your home, you'll be able to keep your family safe from any damage these pesky pests may cause. To get rid of your termites fast and to be sure they're gone for good, contact the professional termite control services at Essential Pest Control today.

How Termites Can Make Water Damage Worse

Termites are damaging enough by themselves, but did you know that water damage can worsen the problem? Residents in Southern Arizona might not have to worry about hurricanes and typhoons, but water damage from flash floods during the monsoon season is definitely a concern. If you suspect you might have termites, or if you’re thinking of buying a new home, call a pest control company to schedule a termite inspection right away.

How Termites Worsen Flood Damage

Termites love to snack on wood products. They feast on the cellulose in wood products, including floorboards and joists. They also eat trees, and sometimes they’ll eat drywall. If you tap on a structure affected by termite damage, you’ll notice that it sounds hollow. When the monsoon season causes flash flooding, structures that have been damaged by termites are far more likely to sustain greater damage because their strength has been compromised. Likewise, trees are more likely to topple over if they’ve already been munched on by termites.

How Termites Survive Flash Floods

Unlike humans, termites do not seek higher ground in flooded areas. Instead, they enter a state that is similar to suspended animation. This greatly cuts down on the amount of oxygen they use. Depending on the specific species of termite, it’s possible for them to survive for 16 to 30 hours underwater. Termites can survive in water-saturated soil, as long as their tunnels aren’t flooded. And while termites won’t climb up out of the water to save themselves, they will survive if they were already living in trees above the flood line.

How Termites Spread in Flooded Areas

Unfortunately, termites can thrive in flooded areas. When the water damage in a region is severe, people start ripping out their damaged housing materials to replace them. Some of those materials are relocated and repurposed in other buildings. If the materials are infested with termites, the relocation gives the bugs easy access to new areas to infest.

Essential Pest Control provides professional and reliable termite inspections and treatments throughout Southern Arizona. You can contact our office at (520) 886-3029 to schedule a service visit. From our family to yours, we hope you stay safe during the upcoming monsoon season.

How Termiticides Work on Termites

Termites are one of a homeowner’s biggest concerns, and with good reason. Each year in the U.S., termites inflict billions of dollars in property damage. It’s disheartening to see small insects literally eating up your investment, but pest control technicians can help. Termiticides are materials that pest control experts can apply to kill off a termite colony.

Repellent and Non-Repellent Termiticides

Most of the early generations of liquid termiticides work by repelling termites. They also kill some of the termites, but not very efficiently. When the repellent termiticides wear off, the termites can simply re-enter the area. Newer termiticides aren’t repellents. They work by killing termites that come into contact with the chemicals. Since the termites have trouble detecting non-repellent termiticides, they don’t avoid the area and so they die off more readily.

Liquid Termiticides

Termiticides come in two primary forms—liquids and baits. Most liquid termiticides are repellents, although some of the newer ones are non-repellent. Pest control technicians can apply liquid termiticides so that there is a barrier that completely surrounds the building. In new construction sites, technicians can thoroughly drench the foundation walls and graded soil prior to the slab being poured. For existing buildings, it’s necessary to dig a trench around the perimeter and treat it with the termiticide.

Bait Termiticides

Bait termiticides are a newer method of termite control. They are a targeted system that limits the total amount of chemicals that are applied. Typically, a technician will insert plastic stations into the ground around the perimeter of the building. Untreated wood monitors are attached to these stations. Periodically, the technician will return to the property to check each station. If he or she detects any termites inside, the technician will insert a bait.

At Essential Pest Control, we’ve been providing effective termite control services for more than three decades. If you have any questions about treating your termite problem, you can reach us at (520) 886-3029. Our expert technicians proudly serve families throughout Southern Arizona, including in Marana and Oro Valley.

Treating for Termites and Termite Prevention

With Termites causing more damage than fire, floods, and and other natural disasters, Termites threat to wood-based structures is of high priority. This is especially true in Arizona, as both Subterranean Termites and Drywood Termites tend to be more active in warmer climates. As a homeowner, the key to preventing Termite damage is by learning how to recognize the warning signs of an infestation.

Your best defense when it comes to Termite control is to take preventative steps before any occurrence of Termites. Essential is licensed, insured, and holds an excellent record with the Office of Pest Management. When it comes to Termite control and Termite prevention, Essential uses only the latest technology to document the discoveries of Termite activity.

Treatment of Termites will depend upon the construction of a structure and personal preferences of the property owner. There are two treatment options; a conventional liquid treatment or a Termite baiting system. To help a property owner form such an executive decision, a Termite inspection must be completed.

Another step when preventing Termite activity is to keep conducive conditions under control. In the photo to the right you will see a house with a corner covered by vines. This is a conducive condition for Termites to begin their activity, as well as other pests to become a nuisance entering your home.

Termite inspections should be performed annually to keep Termite infestation and Termite prevention under control.

Essential Provides

• Quality Service & Affordable Rates
• Free Estimates & Plan Reviews
• 24-hour service and flexible scheduling
• Complete Wood Report & Inspection
• Supplemental Reports after Corrective Action
• Complete Termite Treatments
• Termite Warranties Available

Sentricon System

Sentricon Always Active

The Sentricon System is the most advance baiting system on the market. It works by taking advantage of the continuous foraging behavior of Termites and targets their biology. Bait stations containing the new Always Active Recruit HD bait material are placed around the structure. When Termites consume the material it is transferred throughout the colony and within a short period of time Termites are eliminated.

Technician Checking Sentricon Station

Sentricon System Difference

Sentricon eliminates entire Termite colonies, thus eliminating the need for traditional chemical barriers. No more termites, no more problems. The Sentricon System reduces chemical usage, does not require drilling around the home, and is more effective than traditional liquid barriers.

The process is simple. Stations with bait material are placed around the home. Stations are monitored regularly for maintenance and replenishment of bait material.

Sentricon Advantages

• Eliminates the termites
• Reduces chemical use & potential exposure
• Works on all property construction types
• Eliminates the unsightly results of drilling a home Learn More at Sentricon.com For more information on Sentricon and other pest, termite, and rodent control services and products; please give us a call or visit our Contact Us page.