Subterranean Termites are the most common and economically important wood-destroying organisms in the United States. Termites feed on materials that contain cellulose, primarily dead wood and wood by-products. Subterranean termites are closely associated with the soil habitat where they excavate a network of tunnels through the soil to reach water and food. These termites need moisture to survive. We treat your house or business using a liquid Termidor treatment that eliminates the entire colony.

Termidor Liquid Barrier

Termidor is a revolutionary new nonrepellant which means that it is undetectable by termites. Termites can't see, smell, or taste Termidor. Chemicals prior to Termidor were repellants which termites can avoid and also find breaks in.

Termidor also utilizes the transfer effect. When termites come into contact or injest the chemical they transfer it back to the rest of the colony. This is made possibe because Termidor is engineered to be slow-acting. Termites are given just enough time to contaminate the entire colony before they all die.

Biology

Subterranean termites are social insects that live in colonies that may contain hundreds of thousands of individuals. Termite colony members are dispersed throughout the soil and can extend underground tunnels tens to hundreds of feet to reach feeding sites.

Each termite colony contains three forms or castes, which are the workers, soldiers, and reproductives. These castes are physically distinct and perform different tasks in the termite society.

Workers (picture A) are about 1/8 inch long and are blind, wingless, soft-bodied, creamy white to grayish-white with a round head. Workers are the most numerous individuals in a termite colony, and they are the termite caste that actually eats the wood.

Soldiers (picture B) are also wingless and resemble workers except that they have a large, rectangular, yellowish-brown head with large mandibles (jaws). The soldiers’ primary function is colony defense.

Male and female reproductives (picture C) can be winged (primary) or wingless (neotenic). Each can produce new offspring. Winged primary reproductives are called alates or swarmers.

Detection of Termites

It is important for homeowners to recognize the signs of a subterranean termite infestation. Subterranean termites may be detected by the sudden emergence of winged termites (alates or swarmers), or by the presence of mud tubes (picture D) and wood damage.