Does termite damage worry you? If so, you are not alone. Every year termites cause billions of dollars in structural damage, and property owners spend over two billion dollars to treat them. This fact sheet focuses on how you, as a consumer, can identify and help protect your property from termites through effective prevention measures and appropriate use of termite treatments. Contact the professionals for termite control services in Lufkin, TX.
The first step in prevention is to be on the alert for termites. Termites rarely emerge from soil, mud tubes, or food sources through which they are tunneling. Most people are not aware they have termites until they see a swarm or come across damage during construction. Some of the ways to discover if you have termites are listed below: Look for mud tubes with small, creamy-white insects. Examine, by probing, exposed wood for hollow spots using a flathead screwdriver or similar tool. Identify termite swarms (sometimes ant swarms are mistaken)
Make the structure less attractive to termites - During construction use a concrete foundation or if your using a pier and beam foundation leave a ventilation space between the soil and wood. Cover exposed wood surfaces with a sealant or metal barrier.
Before a company can sell or distribute any pesticide, other than certain minimum risk pesticides, in the United States, EPA must review studies on the pesticide to determine that it will not pose unreasonable risks to human health or the environment. Once we have made that determination, we will license or register that pesticide for use in strict accordance with label directions. The pesticides used for the prevention or treatment of termite infestations are called termiticides. They must demonstrate the ability to provide structural protection before we register them. In all cases, termiticide application can only be properly performed by a trained licensed pest management professional.
Approved treatments include: