Termites

Here are five things that every homeowner should know about termites.

1. The winged, dark bodied insects that " swarm " at your window or door every year in the spring and lose their wings are more than likely termites.
    
2. The swarmers are strictly reproductives, a signal that there is a mature colony very close by.  Killing them will not eliminate the termites damaging your home.
    
3. Worker termites travel inside mud tunnels or tubes to protect their delicate bodies from predators and from drying out in the air or sunlight.
    
4. Worker termites do not expose themselves. Swarmers only appear once a year and it is very difficult to detect a termite infestation until it has become a significant problem unless you are trained to do so.
    
5. TERMITES EAT WOOD

Every house has wood in it.  Even brick houses have wood framing and sub structure, and since termites are responsible for more damage to homes than fire and storms combined it would be a good idea to let the professionals at PermaTreat inspect your home at least once a year.

PermaTreat offers several options to guard against termites.  We trust Termidor the world's most effective termiticide and America's #1 Termite Defense product to protect our customer's homes.

Homeowners have options other than liquid treatments to protect their home.  PermaTreat offers the Sentricon Baiting System as well as the Advance Baiting System, both are safe, effective and environmentally friendly.

Ant or Termite?

Powder Post Beetles

Powder Post Beetles and other wood-boring beetles are second only to termites in destruction of wood articles and structural timbers

You can easily recognize the work of powder post beetles. When the adults emerge, usually in June, some species leave small holes about the size of a pin in the surface of the wood; others make holes the size of pencil lead. Normally, these insects have a 1-year life cycle; this means that the adults will appear only once each year. The larvae have a feeding period of many months. Powder post beetles can be serious pests in structures. The larvae of these beetles live in and consume dry, seasoned wood.

Powder Post Beetles are controlled by a general surface treatment which basically entails treating all exposed wood.

Wood Borers

The key to avoiding serious problems with old house borers is early detection and control. Usually, homeowners see the damage rather than the beetles. The damage occurs entirely below the surface of the wood where larvae produce tunnels. The frass is a fine, powder-like dust that is found loosely packed in tunnels and in small piles outside of the hole. Adult emergence holes are oval and 1/4 to 3/8 inch in diameter.  Wood Borers (old house borers) are controlled by a general surface treatment which basically entails treating all exposed wood.