Tehama Country Real Estate

Tehama Country Real Estate ��� How to treat a termite problem T ermites are houseguests few homeowners want to experience. With their reputation for voracity and the damage they can inflict on a home, termites are something most people want to avoid at all costs. If termites are already a problem or something homeowners simply want to prevent, there are effective ways to banish these unwelcome guests or keep them from ever entering a home. recognize the subtle signs. He or she will identify certain signs of an infestation, such as mud-looking material on wooden surfaces, discarded wings from a swarm, piles of sawdust, termite tubes running out doors from the soil to a home, buckling paint, and other indications. There are different ways to prevent or treat a termite infestation. To prevent termites, there are What is a termite? applications of termiticides that are put into the soil surrounding Termites are small social a home or structure. Also, insects that have the capa- removal of moisture in and bility to destroy wood. around the house is key because Sometimes they are mistak- termites need moist conditions en for ants, but the two for survival. Poisoning of nests is insects are quite different. also a treatment option. Termites are actually close If termites already have infil- relatives to the cockroach. trated a home, fumigation may be Many termites appear as necessary to remedy that prob- white or light-colored and lem. However, fumigation is not may translucent. always effective at killing eggs Winged termites are darker and all of the termites. Most in color. Termites have a exterminators will use a combina- grub-shaped tion of treatments to rid a home of seem body but, unlike ants, no discernable hourglass-shaped termites. waist. Also, their antennae are straight and look beaded, Plants and gardens touching exterior walls of the home may provide the right environment for a termite colony. like a string of pearls, while If extreme wood damage has occurred, portions of the structure may have to be removed and rebuilt. This also may help alleviate ants have elbowed antennae. Another way to differen- some of the scent trails termites use to travel to and tiate ants from termites is that termite eyes are very from nests and food sources. small or nonexistent, while ants' eyes are clearly visible. Termites live in a nest or colony in large numbers. Their primary food source is plant fiber, known as cellulose. Most termites are rarely seen unless they are swarming or if their nest or a portion of wood has been opened revealing the insects inside. Treating termites Many people do not even know they have a termite problem until that problem has escalated. Because they remain hidden most of the time, termites can be diffi- Other termite prevention tips There are other tactics to prevent a termite problem. * Don't store firewood in contact with the ground. * Use chemically treated wood for building structures. * Disguise wood by painting it or using a shellac or varnish. Termites may not like the taste of treated wood. * Prevent hidden entry points where termites can go unseen. * Remove cardboard, newspaper, cotton materials cult to detect. Incidences of soft wood or visual recog- and any other cellulose from the floor. * Vent kitchens and baths so that they will not trap nition of swarming termites that occur in the spring can indicate that termites could be residing in a struc- moisture. * Fix any and all water leaks. ture or nearby. There are different types of termites, and proper identification is necessary to find the correct treatment option. Unlike other pests, termites are pests whose detection and removal is best left to a professional who can * Don't plant gardens or put soil directly against a home's exterior walls. Some simple precautions and a routine inspection can prevent termites from becoming a problem. 3

• Cover