F@stSheet Ent-1006

Commonly Asked Questions About Subterranean Termite Control IN THIS FASTSHEET What are these black, winged insects in my home? Does my house need to be treated? Can I treat my home myself? How dangerous are these termite control chemicals? What termiticide is best? Does my whole house need to be treated? Which is better, baits or liquid insecticide soil treatments? Can I save money with do-it-yourself termite baits? What about termite detector stations offered by my pest control company? What about non-chemical and "organic" controls for termites? How important is the warranty? Do I need a warranty that covers Formosan termites? FOR MORE INFORMATION

As one of your biggest financial investments, protecting your home should be a high priority.  Termites cost Texas homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars each year.   Everyone who owns a home owes it to themselves to be able to recognize a termite problem and know what to do about it.  This publication provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about termites and termite control.

Q. What are these black, winged insects in my home?
A. Adult reproductive termites are dark-brown to blackish insects, about 3/8 inch-long. Commonly referred to as "swarmers", the job of reproductive termites is to mate and start new colonies. Termite swarmers may or may not have wings.  Shortly after they emerge from their underground tunnels, swarmer termites shed their wings.  Swarming termites are often confused with ants but can be distinguished by two characters.   Termites lack the "pinched" waist of ants.  Termite wings are all equal in length and almost twice as long as the body, compared to ants that have distinctly longer front wings. Although termite swarmers can, occasionally, enter homes through open windows, finding termite swarmers indoors is a reliable signal of an indoor infestation.  Termite swarms can occur throughout the year, but are most commonly seen between the months of February and May in Texas.

Q. I just found termites in my yard. Does my house need to be treated?
A. Not necessarily. In Texas, termites abound in the soil wherever wood is to be found. Most yards, especially those in older, established neighborhoods, support termites. While termites are more abundant in some locations chances are good that your yard has termites.   Finding termites in a fence or woodpile, or in landscape timbers, does not necessarily mean that your home needs to be treated, but it should alert you to the presence of termites around your home.
        Should you find termites in your yard, a few simple steps can help reduce your risk of becoming infested.  First, familiarize yourself with what termites look like so that if you notice swarms of any unusual indoor insects, you will know whether your house should be inspected.  Second, examine the foundation of your home to see whether mud shelter tubes are present that might indicate termite activity. Termite shelter tubes are hollow soil tunnels extending from the soil to your house, and provide runways for termites to travel between their underground nest and their food supply (your home). If you find any suspicious mud structures, leave at least part of the material in place for a professional termite inspector to examine.  Finally, keep soil and debris, such as stacked wood, away from the foundation of your home. This reduces the chance of termite entry and makes it easier to inspect your home for termite signs.
        If you suspect termites, it's a good idea to have a professional inspect your home.   Termite inspections are generally free, unless you need a formal wood destroying insect report.

Q. Can I treat my home myself?
A. Because of the specialized equipment and chemicals needed to effectively and safely treat your home, it's nearly always best to hire a professional.  Do-it-yourself termite control chemicals are commonly sold through feed, hardware, and nursery supply stores.  For spot treatments, these products may be as effective as some professional products; however it takes a professional to thoroughly treat a home.  Do-it-yourself termite control projects should be limited to smaller, less valuable structures such as sheds, fence post, decks and wood piles.

Q. How dangerous are these termite control chemicals?
A. All pesticides should be considered potentially dangerous; however, when used properly, termite control products (termiticides) can be applied quite safely. Your chance of being exposed to trace amounts of pesticide after a termite treatment is low--less than the exposure risk following a spray treatment for cockroaches or fleas. This is because a termite treatment is generally directed into the soil under and around the home, rather than to indoor portions of the house. As an added precaution, children and pregnant women should plan to leave the home during an application and the home aired out for 1-2 hours following treatment. If these precautions are followed, risks are minimal and residents should notice no unusual odors.
        Although toxicity does vary slightly among commercial termiticide formulations, there is little practical difference in toxicity among the products used by termite control companies.

Q. Each company tells us that the termiticide they use is best. How do I know what to believe?
A. Most companies that engage in termite control develop a preference for one or more termiticides based on their experiences with that product. Because product performance can vary from one locality and soil type to another, these preferences may be quite valid. Ask salespersons to justify their choice of a product. Inquire about how long that product has been used by the company.
        Recent tests conducted by Texas A&M University at five sites throughout the state show that all currently registered termiticides have a life expectancy of from four to seven years. Non-repellent type termiticides (fipronil, imidacloprid, chlorfenpyr) appear to work better (especially in Texas' alkaline, heavy clay soils) compared to termiticides that are repellent to termites (e.g., permethrin, cypermethrin, bifenthrin). It's generally better to choose a company based on its service, reputation and warranty, rather than which termiticide it uses. Also, most termite control companies will give you a product choice, should you request it.
        Regardless of which product is used, insist on the highest permitted application rate. This may cost slightly more, but research shows that higher rates result in the best performance over the life of your termite warranty. In addition, treatments should include trenching around all foundation walls and closely-placed drill holes wherever slabs must be drilled (12-inch spacing is preferred).

Q. Does my whole house need to be treated? I've been told that a partial treatment will be much cheaper.
A. "Spot" or partial treatments for termites can be very attractive because of their lower cost. Whether this is a good idea depends on many factors including future plans for the house, your willingness to take risks and the size of your pocketbook. Spot treatments can be done successfully; however, it's important to know that termites frequently enter structures at points far removed from the site where they are discovered. Spot treatments frequently come with limited warranties, which may require you to pay for additional treatments should termites reappear in another part of your home. Compared to a spot treatments with a limited warranty, a complete treatment may be a better value. New home buyers, in particular, should be wary of purchasing a home that has recently been spot-treated for termites.

Q. I'm confused.  One company uses baits and one company uses liquid insecticides applied under my house.   Which is better?
A. This is the most common question we receive about termite control.   Unfortunately there is no simple answer.  Both techniques have their advantages.  Termite baits are a more recent technology for control of termites.  Unlike conventional treatments which provide a chemical barrier to termites, baits are designed to suppress or elimininate entire termite colonies.   Baits incorporate a slow-acting toxicant or growth regulator into a suitable termite food.  The toxicants are delivered to the colony by foraging worker termites, who share their food with other colony members.
        The Sentricon™ and Hex-Pro™ baiting systems are the most commonly used commercial baits. Both systems use a bait tube placed inside special in-ground stations.   These stations are inserted into the soil around an infested building.  There are several other registered bait products including Exterra™, Firstline® and the Advance® Termite Baiting System. There is currently less research data available about the effectiveness of these products. If used, they should generally be used in combination with spot or partial treatments of conventional soil termiticides.
        Because of their precise delivery system and the small amounts of actual pesticide used, termite baiting systems are generally perceived as the "safest" of the available termite treatment methods. Drawbacks of bait systems include their higher price tag (generally about twice as expensive as conventional treatments), the unpredicatable time delay between installation and termite feeding on baits and the lack of ongoing termite protection once the baiting service is stopped.  Nevertheless, termite baiting systems have successfully eliminated long-standing termite problems in many homes.  Pest control companies report a generally high level of satisfaction among their bait customers.
        Baiting systems continue to undergo improvements.  Evidence is accumulating in favor of baits as useful termite control tools, though there is still little hard evidence that termite colonies can be completely eradicated with baits.
        Soil-applied liquid insecticides provide the fastest, most economical termite control.  However, if conventional soil treatments have failed to stop termites in your home, or if your home is difficult or impossible to treat using standard methods, you should consider baits.  Many companies today use a combination of a baiting system and spot or partial treatments as part of an integrated termite management system. 

Q. I've recently seen my local hardware store selling a do-it-yourself termite bait.   Can I save money by baiting my home myself?
A. The consumer bait product, Terminate™, contains the same active ingredient as the commercial Firstline™ bait stations used by some termite control companies. While do-it-yourself baiting may sound like a good idea - considering the high cost of professional baiting programs - homes with active termite infestations should not rely on Terminate™ stations as their sole termite treatment program.  Baiting for termites is not always satisfactory, even when done by experienced professionals.  In addition, professional baiting programs include special, non-toxic bait tubes that enable the applicator to monitor termite feeding activity at bait sites. Terminate™ bait stations are not designed to be checked without disrupting termite activities. The paper used in baits tend to decay and decompose after a month or so in the soil. For this reason, stations need to be replaced as often as every 3-4 months, adding to the cost.
        The greatest danger of using do-it-yourself baits is a false sense of security. Commercial baits require continual monitoring and maintenance. So do do-it-yourself products. A money-back guarantee is insufficient insurance against the costs of expensive repairs due to termite damage, should your do-it-yourself treatment not work. If you have a confirmed termite problem, you should seek help from a professional termite control company. 

Q. How do these termite detector stakes work that are offered by my pest control company?
A. Recently some pest control companies have begun to offer special termite monitoring stations as part of their pest control service. These stakes work by providing an electronic signal or a mechanical pop-up tab to indicate when termites have fed upon the monitoring station. Although these stations provide a clever way to "see" termite activity in your landscape, they should not be interpreted to mean that your home requires a termite treatment. Most urban landscapes have termites living in the soil, but not all homes become infested. If your pest control company points out that you have termite activity near your home, you may want to request an inspection and ask them to point out any risk factors you might be able to correct to reduce your chances of getting termites.

Q. What about non-chemical and "organic" controls for termites?
A. Several non-chemical and "organic" treatments are sometimes promoted for termite control. These include the use of nematodes and fungi, sand barriers, and "borate" sprays. "Beneficial nematodes" are microscopic worms that feed on a variety of insects, including termites. Nematodes have not proved effective in treating termites in actual structures and cannot be recommended.  One commercial formulation of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae, has been used by some pest control companies to successfully treat isolated, above-ground colonies of drywood, powderpost and subterranean termites.  Fungal treatments should be used in combination with a professionally applied soil treatment when used against subterranean termites.
        Sand barriers are layers of uniform sized particles (2-2.8 mm diameter) that are difficult for termites to penetrate. Sand barriers should be at least 3-6 inches deep and 20 inches wide. They are placed around foundation walls and in bath traps and other slab openings. Sand barriers are not commonly used in Texas because they are too easily disturbed around the outside perimeters of slab-constructed homes.  Also, there are no commercial sources of sands suitable for termite barrier use in the state. 
        Borate sprays are based on the use of boron compounds, similar to boric acid.   Borate salts are water soluble and are relatively low in toxicity.  Treated wood effectively prevents termite feeding and many forms of wood decay.  The most effective application method is to spray or immerse structural wood with a borate solution prior to, or during, construction. Treating existing homes with borate sprays applied to wall voids or exposed wood provides only partial protection from termites and wood decay, because of the difficulty in obtaining a complete treatment.  Applying borate dusts to attics for termites provides no protection from subterranean termite attack.
        Recently stainless steel (Termimesh™) and polyethylene (Impasse™) barriers have become available for preventing termite entry into homes. These products are generally available for installation at the time the house is constructed and appear to provide excellent termite protection if installed correctly. The Impasse™ system does use an insecticide barrier incorporated into a heavy plastic laminate.

Q. How important is the warranty?
A. The warranty is one of the most important parts of your termite contract. The warranty spells out the conditions and time limits under which the company will assume responsibility for continued termite activity. You should compare the warranties offered by different companies carefully. In addition to the standard one-year warranty, you should be offered the chance to extended your warranty for one or more years. Annual warranty renewals should not exceed 20% of the original treatment cost. Extended warranties are a good idea, at least for the first one to two years after treatment, or for at least one full year since termites activity is detected.

Q. Do I need a warranty that covers Formosan termites?
A. The most common termite pest in Texas is the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes species. Another termite species, the Formosan termite, Coptotermes formosanus, is a foreign pest that has become established in California, Hawaii, and parts of the southern U.S. including some areas of Texas. This species is more destructive than our native termites. Unless you happen to live in one of the few communities along the upper Texas Gulf coast where Formosan termites are established, there is little need to purchase a pest control contract solely because it includes coverage for this species. The few isolated cases where Formosan termites have been detected in central and north-central Texas appear to be related to use of recycled railroad ties used as landscape timbers.  If you are aware of one of these infestations in your immediate neighborhood, discuss your options with your pest control inspector prior to purchasing a contract.  For most homeowners warranties for Formosan termites are usually unecessary.  To find out whether the Formosan termite is a problem in your area, contact your local county Extension office.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION For more information about termite identification, biology and control refer to Extension fact sheet B-6080, Subterranean Termites. For specific suggestions on how to choose a termite control company, refer to Extension publication L-1785, How to Select a Termite Control Service. These publications, and help with additional questions about termites or other pest problems, can be obtained by contacting your local county Extension office. 

Authors:
Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist, Texas Agricultural Extension Service
Roger Gold, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University.

Publication information:
This publication is part of the House & Landscape Pest Series produced by the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2475. Series Editor: M. Merchant. For more information about arthropods, check out the Texas A&M Entomology Website at http://insects.tamu.edu
Last revised: 07/19/2003