K.M. Minemier & Associates is a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB) engaged in full service real estate asset management and marketing.

Articles

Destructive Termites in North Carolina

October 16, 2018

Destructive Termites in North Carolina

Article information from www.termite.com/termites/north-carolina.html

Submitted by Paula Fields, My Favorite Realty Inc. PFields2@triad.com 336-543-8683

 

It is critical to identify the species of destructive termites to formulate an appropriate control program. There are two main species of destructive termites in North Carolina. 

Eastern subterranean termites constantly search for new food sources. They are known to enter buildings through cracks in concrete flooring or to travel under parquetry or tile flooring through gaps of less than 1/16" wide. The colony nests of Eastern subterranean termites are usually located in the ground below the frost line, but above the water table. Mud galleries or "shelter tubes" are constructed across hard objects in order to gain access to timber food sources. Subterranean termites travel in these mud shelter tubes as protection from predators, sun-burn, dehydration and to maintain a high humidity environment which is essential for their survival. These termites are highly secretive, preferring to enter a building through areas inaccessible to inspection, such as, through in-fill patios, fire heaths, expansion joints and cracks in concrete slab (on-ground) flooring. Eastern subterranean termites can pass through a 1/8" crack or an expansion joint (eating through the rubber compound) between adjoining concrete on ground flooring. They can also travel under parquetry and floor tiles to get to the wall framing timbers.

AREAS OF HIGH RISK IN NORTH CAROLINA include AlbemarleApexAsheboroAsheville,Boone, NC, CarrboroCaryChapel HillCharlotteClayton-NCClemmons VillageConcord, NC CorneliusDurhamEdenElizabeth, NCFayetteville, NC Garner,GastoniaGoldsboroGrahamGreensboroGreenville-NCHavelockHenderson-NC,Hendersonville-NCHickoryHigh PointHolly SpringsHope MillsHuntersvilleIndian TrailJacksonville-NCKannapolisKernersvilleKings MountainKinston, Laurinburg, Lenoir Lexington-NCLumbertonMatthewsMint HillMonroe-NCMooresville-NC, MorgantonNew BernNewton-NCPinehurstRaleighReidsvilleRoanoke RapidsRocky MountSalisbury-NCSanford-NCShelbySmithfieldSouthern PinesStatesvilleTarboro, Thomasville-NCWake ForestWilmington-NCWilson and Winston Salem.

West Indian powderpost termites eat across the wood grain and make chambers or galleries connected by tunnels. Other signs of infestation include the presence of swarmers or their shed wings, piles of faecal pellets, termite plugs which seal all openings in infested wood, and surface blisters caused by older enlarged galleries very close to the wood surface. Occasionally they may build shelter tubes constructed of pellets cemented together to bridge over to an adjacent piece of wood. West Indian powderpost termite infestations tend to be localised in buildings, in doors, window trims, fascias, even picture frames. They eat the springwood as well as the summerwood. The cavities they excavate in timbers are clean and smooth, and do not contain any mud packing, in contrast with subterran termites.

Area of Distribution: West Indian powderpost termites are found mainly in the humid coastal areas of the southern states of the United States from Virginia to Florida, through the desert southwest, along the Pacific coast to northern California and in Hawaii.

If You find these termites do NOT disturb them

Eastern subterranean termites have acute survival instincts. If they are shaken up or disturbed, the termites often will abandon the associated area and move on to secretly cause damage in other areas in the building. If you find eastern subterranean termites in or around your property, it is essential that you do NOT disturb them and promptly arrange for a professional inspection and application of a termite bait to the live termites, if present in abundance.

Only the worker termite caste can digest timber by the use of symbiotic protozoa in their gut. Worker termites feed their partly digested semi-liquid food, regurgitated from their mouth or passing from their anus, to the other termites, a process known as trophallaxis. The mutual feeding, constant grooming and close social habits of termites are used to advantage in modern termite control baiting systems.

The termite baits are designed to be non-repellant to the termites and has a unique delayed effect. Time enough to be passed onto the other termites in the colony including the queen, with a sufficient dosage leading to the elimination of the entire colony. This process is explained in detail in the Termite Control section of this website. www.termite.com/termites/north-carolina.html

 

CONSUMER NOTE: the installation of a chemical soil barrier does not negate the need for regular competent inspections - at least 3 to 6 months where the termite risk is high. 

FIRSTLY, it is essential for the termite controller to complete a thorough inspection of the buildings and surrounds. The property owner should be supplied with a written inspection report and detailed specifications for an integrated termite control program. It is essential that the inspection and report be received before any protective measures are commenced.

A professional termite inspection and report, including a termite control protection advice costs vary depending on the size of the house and the style of construction and ease of inspection access.

A professional termite inspection and report could save you thousands of dollars. Specific areas inspected should include accessible timbers within the crawl space in the sub-floor, roof void, interior, exterior, garden landscaping, fences, other timber structures and trees in the locality.

A Word of Warning: the correct identification of a destructive termite species, inspection of a building for tell-tale signs, analysis of your circumstances and the design and implementation of an effective program for the protection of a building from termite infestations, requires expert skill and judgment based upon professional training and extensive field-work experience in termite control in a wide variety of circumstances.

Summary of Professional Termite Control Methods

 

INITIAL INSPECTION & REPORT requires a complete thorough inspection of the buildings and surrounds, and a detailed written report on areas inspected, evidence found of termite activity, high risk termite entry areas inaccessible to inspection and termite control options and limitations thereto. Recommended as essential.


CHEMICAL SOIL TREATMENT around the perimeter and sub-floor of a building to eradicate termites attempting to gain entry into the building through a treated soil area. On the grounds of safety and effectiveness Termidor or Premise termiticide, are recommended for this purpose - discussed in detail later in this website.


TERMITE BAITING and potential TERMITE COLONY ELIMINATION involves the installation and monitoring of termite bait stations, such as Exterra and Sentricon systems. This method relies heavily on the termites "finding" and consuming sufficient bait. Recommended in some circumstances.


BUILDING MODIFICATIONS and MAINTENANCE including some termite risk reduction measures the homeowner carry out, such as, improving sub-floor ventilation, removal of timber in contact with the soil, opening and clearing important inspection access areas.


Regular FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS are essential and should be carried out at least every 3 to 6 months where signs of termite activity has been located in the vicinity of susceptible buildings or timber structures.


Back To Article List



top