Controlling Termites and Carpenter Ants

After the long snowy winter and a very wet spring…Carpenter Ants and Termites will be thriving in our New England homes if you’re not prepared. By living in the United States, you live under the constant threat of costly damage caused by wood-destroying bugs. Identifying and understanding the behavior of these pests is the first step in creating an effective pest control plan.

Carpenter ants and termites are wood-destroying insects that cost us billions of dollars every year. More than 90% of the homes in the US are wood framed. But even homes built of masonry and steel serve up delicious wood treats to these pests. Left unchecked, they systematically destroy our homes and valuable wood objects in them.
Termites pose a considerable economic threat to wood structures. As a nation, we spend two-thirds of our annual pest control budget on termites. The greatest threat exists where the average annual outdoor temperature exceeds 50 degrees. However, termites readily venture north into the comfort of centrally heated northern homes.
Carpenter ants thrive in damp climates like those found in densely populated coastal regions. They are accidental tourists in the dryer Southwestern states. Ant infestation is not as devastating as termites, but requires careful attention to avoid structural failures that can result from their tunneling in our homes. Unlike termites, ants don’t eat wood for its nutritional value. They merely use it for shelter.
TERMITES
Basically, three groups of termites attack American homes. Subterranean termites cause about 95% of the termite-related damage found in the United States and attack homes as far north as the Canadian border.
• Swarmers: Winged termites swarm each year and disperse to start new colonies. Swarming by winged reproductives is most common in the spring. The appearance of a swarm of “flying ants” indicates a nest may be near. Termites emerge inside structures and often seek light. You may see them heading toward windows or light fixtures.
• Piles of wings: Shed wings of swarmers indicate termites have entered their next phase of development. Wingless swarmers pair off with suitable mates and attempt to establish a colony in the soil.
• Live termites: Unlike ants, termites have straight antennae (no elbow), a uniform waist, and equal-sized wings. Workers are sterile and usually hidden within infested wood. They are 1/4″ long, wingless and white. Reproductive kings and queens are 1/2″ long, winged and black or brown in color
• Damaged wood: You may see tunnels or you may not see damage at all. Wood may appear crushed at structural bearing points. Damaged wood resonates with a dull hollow thud when tapped with a hammer. If you pick open damaged wood with a penknife you’ll expose tunnels running parallel to the wood’s grain. They are messy. This is one way to determine if you have ants or termites. Termite galleries are filled with soil, chewed wood and excrement. Ant tunnels are meticulously clean.

Sentricon 3-Step Termite System

You need to pull out the BIG guns against termites and A1 Pest offers you it all at a SMALL cost. We are pleased to offer the industry’s best defense system against termites at an incredible price.

When it comes to termites, the system is the solution when it’s A1 Exterminators and Sentricon.

Monitor, Bait and Eliminate
Sentricon® is a patented and proven termite elimination system that provides a continuous perimeter defense to kill termites and their colonies well before they make your home their home. Sentricon is the only system that continues to guard structures by monitoring for future invasions.

“An ounce of prevention, is worth a pound of cure,”
and has never been a better value.

When purchased alone, a typical Sentricon installation can cost on average $2,500 .* Why wait for an infestation and pay full price?** This special value offer, for A1 Pest Prevention customers only, may be added to your existing A1 Pest Prevention Plan for the initial payment of just $249 plus $30 a month.*** In return, you can rest assured that you’re covered by the best preventative protection system available today and the most effective termite treatment that money can buy.
Termites cause over $5 billion dollars of property damage each year in the US alone. Typically homeowners insurance does cover termites or the damage they cause.
The Sentricon System received the 2000 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award from the EPA for low environmental impact.
Did You Know… The Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System was recently installed around Shiga Temple, one of the Enryaku-ji sanctuaries built on the sacred mountain of Hiei in Japan. The Enryaku-ji Temple is registered as a World Cultural Asset.

*Based on 2 years average non-discount cost for treatment coverage of a 250 linear foot perimeter.
**Homes with an active termite infestation are not eligible for this program.
***Available only when combined with existing Pest Prevention Plan and paid with automatic electronic debit payment. Area of treatment covered is 400 linear feet or less.
****Additional charges may apply for installations in concrete and/or asphalt.

Call A1 at 1-800-525-4825 (1-800-499-5866 for Cape Cod) to solve your pest management problems!

Sources: Paul Fisette