YOUR TERMITE QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1. How do I know if I have termites?
   Unfortunately, most homeowners don’t. They usually find out when they discover damage, or experience a springtime swarm. Every homeowner should have his or her house inspected once a year by a licensed pest control operator.
2. Are brick houses or those on a concrete slab in danger?
   Yes! Termites can enter a building through cracks as small as 1/64-inch wide to attack floor joists, subflooring and furniture.
3. Is termite control a do-it-yourself project?
   Termite control is best left up to professionals who are trained in building techniques and the safe handling of pesticides, as well as the proper equipment to perform treatments.
4. What can I do when a swarm occurs?
   During a swarm, hundreds of termites leave their mud tubes. The first thing to do is to collect a few of the insects in a jar so they can be properly identified. Then, for temporary relief until proper control measures can be performed, use either a non-residual insecticide or a vacuum cleaner to suck up the insects. This in no way means you have dealt with the infestation that is damaging your house, but is a helpful measure to manage the initial effects of the swarm.
5. What happens if termite swarmers land on furniture and other objects in the home?
   The swarmer is the reproductive member of the colony and does not do any actual damage. The worker termite, the caste that does the damage, is concealed in the wood and mud tubes.
6. If I don’t experience a termite swarm, does this mean I don’t have termites?
   No! Not all colonies swarm every year. Also, young colonies will typically not develop swarmers until they are three to five years old.
7. How many times per year does a colony swarm?
   Usually only once, in the springtime. However, it is possible that a colony will swarm in other times of the year for other reasons.
8. If I have a termite swarm, does that mean I have damage?
   The extent of damage depends upon the age and size of the colony as well as the length of time they have been working in an area. If caught early, damage can be minimized; however, some damage should be expected even though it may not be easily seen.
9. Is there anywhere in the Cincinnati or surrounding areas that is free from termites?
   No. Termites live in the soil throughout all areas of the United States.
10. Is there any way I can prevent termites from entering my home?
    There are many alternatives when it comes to treatments. Contact us for the best advice on treatments and programs.
11. What are the most common methods of treatment?
    With today’s advances, there are two recommended programs for protection from termites:
    1. The first is the traditional method of placing a barrier of a termiticide under and around the house. This protects the house as long as the barrier is unbroken, and the termites are either repelled by the termiticide or killed as they crawl through the barrier.
    2. The second and most advanced method is “baiting” for termites using a bait with stomach poison or specialized hormone. The foraging termites take the bait back to the colony and feed the soldiers, larvae and the reproductives – this is called trophallaxis. The other members of the colony then die and the colony is eliminated.