Termite Awareness

TERMITE AWARENESS WEEK 2023

It’s that time of year again! Termite Awareness Week, March 12th through 18th. Meaning that it’s the perfect time to ask Landlock Pest Control to provide you with a FREE termite inspection.

With warmer weather just around the corner, termites become more active and destructive. Just in the United States alone, termites cause $5 billion annually in property damage which in almost all cases is not covered by homeowners’ insurance. Termites are truly nothing to mess with and definitely not a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ type of job. Termites can total a home, if left to feed long enough and these little destructive critters never sleep. They literally eat non-stop, 24 hours a day, seven days a week! These “silent destroyers” have the ability to chew through wood, flooring, and even wallpaper, all undetected. Having existed for over 55 million years, termites are really good at what they do.

There are over 2,000 known species of termites in the world. The most common species of termite in Virginia being Subterranean Termites. Subterranean termites live in colonies of upto 2 million members and are easily the most destructive species in the state. Building their colonies underground, as their name suggests, provides them with food, moisture, and protection. Each subterranean termite colony has groups of specialized castes to complete various tasks within the colony; Reproductive Swarmers, Worker Termites, Soldier Termites, and of course a king and queen.

TERMITE SWARMER

WORKER TERMITE

SOLDIER TERMITE

Reproductive Swarmers are the only members of the caste with functional eyes. These winged termites start appearing in large numbers in the daylight hours during March through May. Termite Swarmers are new king and queen termites that are leaving their parent colony to mate and establish new colonies of their own. Shortly after mating and landing their wings break off, at which point they will be excavating an area to start their own colony.

King and Queen termites have the longest life span within their colony and will spend the rest of their life underground mating, tending to their young, and expanding their family, producing over 500 offspring a year. A mature colony inhabits 60,000 to 2 million termites! You may think that eliminating the King and Queen will take care of the colony, but no. Secondary reproductives will develop the necessary organs to get the job done and keep the colony growing and thriving at a much more accelerated rate!

Workers, found in infested wood, are the laborers for the colony. They repair the nest, build tunnels, locate food, and feed and groom other members of the castes. These milky white workers have no wings or eyes and are by far the most numerous in the colony, totaling anywhere from 90 to 98% of the colony's population. The majority of their foraging takes place in the top 6 to 12 inches of soil until they find a source of cellulose. Once they have found their buffet they call other workers to action and completely exploit the area, usually our homes!

Soldier Termites have enlarged, darker colored heads, and distinct mandibles adapted for fighting. Like their name suggests they are incharge of the defense of the colony. Called into action at any breach within the tunnel walls, they protect the colony against other invasive species, marauding ants and even foreign termites.

Termites eat cellulose from wood and plants. They prefer soft wood like pine, even sheetrock, books, cardboard, and photographs. So having a concrete and steel structure doesn’t mean you are immune to termites.

What can you do? Here are a few things to look out for!

Look for WOOD DAMAGE. One sign that there is compromised wood damage due to termite activity is bubbling or peeling paint around entryways, windowsills, and baseboards, blisters in wood flooring and even hollowed or damaged wood within your crawl space, porch, and deck. Ask Landlock Pest Control for a FREE inspection.

Look for MOISTURE. Termites dehydrate easily and thrive in warm, moist environments. Make sure water drains away from your home. Get rid of wood piles and debris from under or around the house. Keep plants and mulch away from your foundation walls. Hire a termite professional to inspect and treat your home!

Look for TERMITE TUNNELS! Termite mud tubes are pencil-sized tubes found where the ground meets your foundation. Because termites are so sensitive to temperature and humidity levels these tunnels provide the perfect protection from the elements while they chow down on your home, deck, or shed. They are typically discovered within your crawlspace, garage, along your patio, or even inside your home around the baseboards. Termite mud tubes are often mistaken for water staining so be sure to ask a Termite Professional for an in depth inspection of your home.

Yikes, you have termites!?

Well not to worry. Landlock Pest Control is a Termidor Certified Professional and we have your back! This liquid defense termite control is excellent and more effective over alternative methods used within our industry. Our liquid defense is a non-repellant system that allows termites to pass, allowing the active ingredient to spread throughout the colony, killing them on a colony level both safely and effectively.

Landlock Pest Control even takes things one step further to protect your home. Once you’ve had the subterranean termite treatment from us we will provide a structural warranty on your home for up to $100,000. We will return once a year to perform an Annual Termite Warranty Renewal service to reinspect for termites, put down another layer of preventative termite treatment, and renew your structural warranty for another year. Planning on moving in the future or have a chance of being relocated due to your job? The warranty is transferable to the new homeowner as long as it’s been maintained yearly by you!