Subterranean termites live on wood, and create mud tubes to get from one location to the next. They have colonies underground but can reach above-ground food sources through their tunnels. The swarmers have wings, can be up to a 1/2 inch long and are dark brown to black. The soldiers and the workers are cream colored without wings. Worker termites are about 1/4 inch long. Like all termites, they can do a considerable amount of damage quickly. Unlike all termites, they can be harder to find.

Barrier Treatments Vs. Baits

This is a bit of a debate in the world of pest control, and both have their own benefits. Baits can take a while before termites are actually lured out to feed on the poison, and seconds truly do count when it comes to getting rid of them. They can also be quite expensive considering the amount you’ll need. However, they are designed to actually eliminate the colony completely. The workers can take the food back to the group so the soldiers, queen, and swarmers are all affected. Although it should be noted that due to the amount of food sources that a termite actually has, it can still be difficult to entirely exterminate them. Baits are considered safer because it’s a targeted approach rather than spreading poison everywhere. A termiticide liquid treatment is meant to be a barrier that goes in the soil, and it contains a large amount of chemicals. This was really the only way to treat against subterranean termites for many years. This treatment may work faster than the baiting system.

Spot Treatments

The swarmers may look like flying ants, so it’s necessary to try to get closer to see exactly what you have. You may see a pile of wings that look like fish scales in your home too as they shed after mating. If you spot workers in your wood pile in the backyard, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should call the exterminator at that second, but it should make you more cautious that they could be in your home. The most effective way to treat a home is before it’s even built. If your home was recently built, you may already have a pretreatment barrier around your property. However, sometimes even the most careful homeowner will need to bring in a ringer to help them control it all. If you have termites, call Preventive Pest Control right away!