Treatments for Formosan and Subterranean Termites
It’s a common misconception that termites like to infest older structures more than newer ones; in reality, termites feed on homes and buildings of all ages, and when it comes to termite damage, subterranean termites are the most common culprits.
While most structures tend to be affected by regular subterranean termites, some are unfortunate enough to feel the effects of a devastating type of subterranean termite known as the Formosan. There are some differences between the two and at Ledford’s, we treat them both.
Where Do Termites Live
Subterranean termites live underground in a colony and dig mud tubes (or tunnels) to their food source. This is a different lifestyle than drywood termites, which actually live inside of the wood that they eat.
While both subterranean and drywood termites can cause significant damage to homes and buildings, Formosan termites are considered the most destructive. While the average subterranean termite colony can consist of several hundred thousand members, the average Formosan termite colony can be several million, causing catastrophic amounts of damage in a shorter amount of time.
What They Look Like
When it comes to worker termites and soldier termites, there are only subtle differences between the looks of subterranean and Formosan. While worker subterranean termites have rectangular heads, Formosan termites have oval heads. The same goes for soldier termites, however, the heads of soldier Formosan termites are smaller, too.
While the workers and soldiers are similar looking, the alates (or winged termites) are quite different. Subterranean alates are a dark brown or black color with translucent wings while Formosan alates are light brown or gold in color and have yellowish wings.
What to Look For
Termites can be tough to detect, but there are a few signs you can look for that may indicate an infestation:
- Signs similar to water damage (such as peeling paint, buckling wood, or swollen areas)
- A scent similar to mold or mildew
- Mud tunnels near your foundation
- Discarded wings from alates (usually near windows or doors)
Powderpost Beetles, Old House Borers, & Drywood Termites
Where They Live
Unlike subterranean termites, powderpost beetles, old house borers, and drywood termites all live inside of wood, feeding on it from the inside out instead of the outside in. Once females find cracks in the wood to lay their eggs, these pests hatch and immediately begin feeding on the wood. With both mature and young living in and feeding on the wood, the damage can become significant in a short amount of time.
What They Look Like
Powderpost beetles are long, flat beetles that are brown or black in color. They have long, rectangular bodies and are less than ¼” in size.
Because old house borers are also a type of beetle, they look similar to powderpost beetles. These beetles are also long and flat, but tend to be black or grey in color. They’re also larger, at about 5/8” to 1” in size.
Drywood termites are similar in looks to subterranean termites, but smaller and thinner in size. They’re usually about 3/8” in size.
What to Look For
Even though the damage caused by powderpost beetles, old house borers, and drywood termites is underneath the surface of the wood, adult pests emerge from the wood and leave behind small holes that can be seen. This is the first sign of an infestation and should be addressed quickly. These pests can also leave behind fecal pellets found in mounds near their infestation site. In addition, drywood termites may leave behind discarded wings.
Our Termite Treatments
We know how devastating termites can be – especially Formosan termites. That’s why we use fast, effective treatments to completely eliminate any termite infestation you may have, whether it’s large or small. We’ll track, find, and get rid of your subterranean or Formosan termites once and for all.
At Ledford’s, we can utilize both our Termidor treatments and our Nisus treatments to treat all three of these wood-eating pests.
Our Termidor dry treatment, Termidor foam treatment, Nisus spray, and Nisus gel can all be applied directly to the wood that is being infested and will work quickly to eliminate your pest problem.
Termidor
Termidor HE is our most popular termite treatment, and can be used for both regular subterranean termites and Formosan termites. The treatment comes in a liquid application, foam application, and dry application.
While the liquid is applied to the soil where the termite colony is located, the dry and foam treatments are applied to foundations, windows, doors, walls, and other areas of intrusion. They are also applied to affected wood, carton nests, and/or shelter tubes.
All of our Termidor treatments are virtually odor free and undetectable to termites, which means they’ll work effectively without disrupting your lifestyle.
Nisus
For an environmentally friendly solution, our pest control experts use Nisus for both pretreatments and targeted treatments. Nisus can be used on both regular subterranean and Formosan termites, and feature a borate salt ingredient that is ingested by the pests.
Nisus comes in both spray and gel treatments, and both are applied to the wood and remain there for the life of the wood, protecting it from future infestations.
