Termites in Pennsylvania damage can cause thousands of dollars in damage to a home. These wood destroying insects can go un-noticed for years but when discovered, the damage can be extensive.
Termites, unlike carpenter ants or carpenter bees, have a bacteria in their gut that allows them to actually digest wood and cellulose fibers. This means that the wood is actually a food source for them. Each termite colony will have queen, who lives in the colony and creates termite workers. All of the workers in the colony have a job to benefit the colony as a whole.
In Pennsylvania we have subterranean termites, which means they live underground. White or clear in color, termites work slowly to consume wood and cellulose. Subterranean termites cannot be exposed long to the open air which is why they go un-noticed for so long. Slowly and quietly eating the wood of your home until there is extensive damage.
Termite Treatments in Pennsylvania
There are many different methods for treating for termites in Pennsylvania. We prefer to use a liquid treatment called Termidor HE. There are also termite baiting and monitoring systems that we can use to treat for termites as well.
Liquid Termite Treatments using Termidor
Our liquid termite treatments are very effective at treating and preventing termite infestations. We use the premiere termite treatment product in our industry, Termidor HE, to eradicate termite colonies. The treatment works by injecting the Termidor around the exterior foundation of the structure under the ground. When the termites cross over the Termidor barrier, they take the product back to the colony and the colony is destroyed.
Termidor treatments work great for active termite infestations as well as preventative termite treatments. Whether you currently have termites or simply don’t want to have termites, our Termidor treatments are the way to go.
We are Certified Termidor Professionals!
Termite Baits and Monitoring
There are circumstances where a Termidor liquid treatment is not preferred. Maybe the home has a well that is close to the foundation or the homeowner simply prefers not having a liquid termite treatment. For these situations we employ a termite baiting and monitoring system.
Termite bait systems work by attracting termites into stations installed into the ground. The stations have a block of cellulose (wood) treated with a termite chemical. The termites feed on the treated cellulose and take the chemical back to the colony where it is eradicated.
In addition to the actual treatment, termite bait systems will also monitor for termite activity. The stations can be opened periodically throughout the year to see if there are active termites feeding. Since the termite are subterranean, these monitoring and bait stations allow us to physically see if there is termite activity.
One drawback of using termite bait systems is how the stations are installed. Typically, termite bait stations are installed every 10 or 15 feet around the exterior perimeter of the home. There is always a chance that the termites go in-between the stations and find the home. Liquid termite treatments don’t have this problem because the entire foundation is treated.
How do you know you have termites?
There are a few ways we verify that a homeowner has termites. Confirming that it is termites is the first step to the process. This is because other wood destroying pests such as wood beetles, carpenter bees, and carpenter ants all have very different treatment methods, and one will not work for another.
Termite Swarmers
Termites create winged reproductives called swarmers or alates. These members of the termite colony look and act different than the rest of the termites.
Termite swarmers look similar to ants with wings. They are darker in color and have 2 sets of wings.
Termite Swarmers unlike ants, will have no node or pinch point on their body and their wings are the same size.
Termite swarmers or alates are created by the queen when the termite colony is healthy and strong. Typically it takes a termite colony a few years to get to the point where they can create swarmers. In Pennsylvania, we see swarmers in mid to late spring through summer. They will appear for a few days and will gather in mass at window sills and basements.
If you see what looks like winged ants, they may be termites. Have a professional check it out to verify.
Termite Mud Shelter Tubes
As we learned above, termites cannot be exposed to the open air for long. To avoid the open environment, termites will create mud shelter tubes. These tunnels allow the termites to travel from soil to wood while still maintaining their environmental conditions.
Finding termite mud shelter tubes confirms that a home has termites as only termites will create them.
The mud shelter tubes can also be created on the outside of wood beams and joists. The picture shows termite mud shelter tubes on the outside of a wooden beam in a basement.
During a termite treatment, we will remove the mud shelter tubes so that we can monitor for future termite activity. If the tubes are re-built, we know that there are still active termites.
Termite Damage found during construction
Another common way homeowners in Pennsylvania they have a termite infestation is when they are remodeling their home. Termite activity and damage can often be hidden behind walls or under floors. During construction in a home, a contractor may remove drywall or flooring and discover termite damage.
In this pictured example, the termites had been active for years eating and damaging the wood behind this wall.
Contractors were remodeling the home and removed the drywall exposing this vast termite damage.
The damage was on the first floor and the termites in Pennsylvania are under the ground. This means that the termites chewed their way up through the basement and into the wall of the first floor.
Thats a lot of damage!
Termite Treatments in Pennsylvania
Prudential Pest Solutions are a full service termite control and treatment company. We always perform a thorough inspection to verify it is termites and then recommend a termite treatment option that works best for you.
If you have termites or think you have termites, it’s time to call the experts at Prudential Pest Solutions!
Termite Control Company near you
Prudential Pest Solutions provides termite control, treatments, and inspections for all of Berks County, Chester County, and Southeastern Pennsylvania.
If you live in Pennsylvania, we have a termite solution for you!
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