Termites are a group of eusocial insects that live in colonies organized by castes: the reproductives, the soldiers and the workers.

What do termites do?

• Termites eat cellulose and radiate foraging tunnels in the heart of the wood.
• Termites are found on all continents except Antarctica.
• More than 3,000 termite species exist worldwide but less than 200 can be considered structural pests.

How to eradicate subterranean termites in concrete floor?

How to kill termites infesting your timber and structural wood sections?

In the United States, there are about 45 different kinds of species of termites living in every state except Alaska.

Concentration of termites in USA and homeowner termite risk:

The most damaging termite families are:

• Subterranean (Rhinotermitidae): they live in the soil
• Drywood (Kalotermitidae): they do not require contact with soil
• Dampwood (Hodotermitidae and Termopsidae): they live in wood with high moisture content

Subterranean termite (Rhinotermitidae):

The Eastern subterranean termite is the most common termite found in North America. They nest in soil and require constant contact with soil to obtain water.

Handle the termite threat and get rid of subs now!

Life cycle:

A termite colony starts during the swarming season, a nuptial flight when a king and a queen look for a suitable place and mate.
The termite queen can lay between ten and thousands eggs a day which will become larvae and then undergo several molts to develop into a caste depending on the needs of the colony regulated by caste-regulating pheromones:

• Workers: it is the most numerous caste. Workers build galleries and shelter tubes to consume cellulose in wood and feed the colony.
• Soldiers: protect their colony with their mandibles.
• Reproductive: male and female alates or swarmers will fly to create a new colony.

 

What does a subterranean termite look like?

People often mistake termites for ants and call them “white ants”. Flying ants (ant alate) and termites can look very similar. But looking closely, there are several differences:

• waist: ants have a narrow waist and termites a broad waist
• antennae: termites have straight or slightly curved antennae and ants elbowed antennae
• wings: ants have two pairs of wings of unequal size compared to the equal size of the termite’s wings
• color: both alates are black but no-alate termites are usually light in color.

Termite vs ants:

Specificity of the Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus):

Part of the subterranean family, the highly destructive Formosan termite differs from other species with its ability to establish a secondary nest above ground if a moisture source is available, this carton nest being made of soil and wood glued together with saliva and termite excrement. The colony can include several million individuals with a high percentage of soldiers, about 10 percent.

How to kill Formosan termites with conventional and EP/LI (Exterior Perimeter / Localized Interior) termite treatments? 

Sign of subterranean termite activity:

How can you know if you have termites? Look at this Top 3 signs of a Termite Infestation before calling a PCO (Pest Control Operator):

1. Swarms and discarded termite wings

Usually the first sign is when swarming occurs with dozens of alates found indoor, near closed windows, doors, on the floor or in spider webs. As the termites land, their wings break off and you may only find the wings.

Swarming occurs when outdoor temperatures are warm so it depends on the State you live in and the specie. For example the Eastern Subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes) swarming season in Florida is between November and April.

2. Mud Tubes

As subterranean termites require moisture and avoid dry air, they build shelter tube or tunnels to travel from the colony nest underground and the food source above the home’s foundation.

3. Uneven paint, blisters and hollowed wood

With your fingers check your door jambs and wooden baseboards (skirting boards) to detect any termite galleries hidden under the surface.

For larger piece of wood, tap to listen any empty sound which is a sign of a damaged wood.

How to treat subterranean termites?

As they live underground, subterranean termites get into your home by the basement, crawlspace and slabs if not affected by a termite defense product at the entry points.

How to perform a perimeter treatment for a long-term soil protection?

How to treat wall voids behind drywall or brick veneers?

How to stop the termite progress in wood?

These reliable methods reduce time and labor, to cut treatment time and optimize your efficiency.

Combine these approved methods with a non-repellent termiticide / insecticide, for example Termidor, Taurus SC, Premise, Altriset or any other brand labelled for this pest in your state.

The carrier termites transfer the insecticide with its molecule to other termites in the colony through social interaction.

Increase the number of treatment you can complete in a day with MABI injectors , a backflow-prevention plug. It is the environmentally responsible choice to keep your house termite free.

What is the cost of a remedial termite treatment?

Instead of a Do It Yourself termite treatment, MABI advises to ask a Pest Management Professional (PMP) to help you to kill your subterranean termites. Contact us if you want us to help you find pest control and termite companies near you.

Drywood termites (Kalotermitidae):

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not require contact with soil and construct their nests in the above ground wood they infest. So, no Trench and Treat or rodding needed here. The dry wood treatment will be localized on the timber parts affected and wood elements surrounding. 

Stop drywood termite damages now! 

What do drywood termites look like?

Most drywood termite soldiers and workers (drywood pseudergates) are larger than in subterranean termite colonies The drywood termite alates have two sets of wings that are both the same length unlike the subterranean termites. Also, swarmers lose their wings very quickly and it is very likely to find dead swarmers with no wings attached to them. 

Sign of drywood termite activity:

How to know if you have drywood termites? Look at this Top 3 signs of a Termite Infestation:

1. Swarms

If you see flying termites known as swarmers in or near your home, you can start to worry.

Sometimes you only find the discarded wings, shed from the termite when they land to look for a spot to nest.

Swarming occurs when outdoor temperatures are warm so it depends on the State you live in and the specie. For example the Western drywood termite (Incisitermes minortermite) swarming season in Southern California is usually between September and November.

2. Drywood Termite Droppings (frass)

Pellets looking like sawdust are excrement of drywood termites and can be found near kick out holes.

Don’t confuse drywood termite fecal pellets with other wood-infesting insects such as wood-boring beetles.

3. Stucked doors and windows

Drywood termites produce moisture which causes wood to become lightly distorted and make the doors and windows difficult to open.

How to treat drywood termites?

Health risks are too high in whole-structure fumigation.

Follow these steps for a safe no-tent spot treatment of studs, rafters and other wood framing parts of your home 

The aim is to fill the galleries with products but also treat and protect the wooden areas not damaged yet with a precise application of a formulation deadly for termites and termite eggs.

Combine this method with Bora-Care, XT-2000 or any other brand labelled for this pest in your state.

The MABI injector  is a plug with a one-way valve inside, when you inject through it, it maximizes the product penetration into the wood. Also you can reinject later if needed.

What is the average cost of termite treatment?

Instead of a DIY termite control, MABI advises to ask a professional termite exterminator to help you to get rid of drywood termites. Contact us  if you want us to help you find a termite company near you and find the best way to kill termites.