1. What are the different types of termites?

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Over 2,300 species of termites, most of them tropical, have been described by entomologists. In the U.S. we have only four groups of termites of economic importance: Subterranean, Drywood, Dampwood, and Powderpost Termites. The Subterranean and Drywood are the two types of termites that cause damage to buildings in Southern California.

Subterranean: Termites live in the soil and must maintain contact with the ground or some other moisture source to survive. They build earthen tubes from the ground into the structure for protection from predators and to help maintain a moist environment. In some rare situations, if water and wood are available from a source other than the soil, subterranean termites can establish a colony with no ground contact.

Drywood: Termites live inside wood and do not make contact with soil. They get the moisture they need to live from humid air. For this reason, Drywood termites are most common along humid coastal areas.

Termite Colony: Termites are social insects that live in highly organized colonies. Like many insects, they have an egg, an immature, and an adult stage. There are three main types of adults colony members: reproductives, workers, and soldiers. When the colony is several years old and relatively large, it may produce another form of an adult termite called a "swarmer." Swarmers are the termite's way of sending out new kings and queens to start colonies. Normally, at least three to four years or more will pass before any swarming or winged termites from the colony occur.

Swarmers are the most visible form of termites. These termites can be confused with many ants that also swarm in the spring. However, swarming ants have elbowed antennae, a narrow waist, and front wings that are longer than the back wings; swarming termites have straight antennae, a thick waist, and all wings the same length.

TERMITE CONTROL

2. Subterranean termite control

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Most subterranean termite control is done by applying either termiticides to the soil or termite monitoring bait stations in or around the structure. The goal is to establish a continuous insecticide barrier between the termite colony (usually in the soil) and wood in a building. Sometimes, there may be a secondary termite colony above the soil (in the roof or other areas with a constant moisture supply) that requires additional treatment. The termite baits do not leave a residual chemical in the soil. However, they can reduce and may eliminate a termite colony. While this method of controlling termites is very appealing because it does not require extensive site preparation such as drilling or trenching and extensive application of insecticide to the soil or structure, research is still ongoing to develop the most effective baits and delivery systems.

WHOLE-STRUCTURE VS. LOCALIZED OR SPOT TREATMENTS

3. What are the different drywood termite controls?

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All drywood termite control methods can be categorized as either whole-structure or localized. A whole-structure treatment is defined as the simultaneous treatment of all infestations, accessible, and inaccessible in a structure. A localized or spot treatment is more restrictive often applied to a single board or small group of boards. Homeowners are advised to know the distinction between whole-structure and spot treatments when deciding which method to select because all treatment methods are not equivalent.

Whole-structure treatments have an advantage over spot treatments in that they are detection independent. This means whole-structure treatments, if applied properly, can eliminate all infestations, even hidden ones. With the unreliability of current detection methods, there is always some doubt as to the extent of drywood termite colony boundaries within homes. Consequently, one can never be sure that all infestations have been treated.

FUMIGATION AS A WHOLE-STRUCTURE TREATMENT

4. What is a fumigation?

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Fumigation is the process where insects are eliminated from a structure with the use of lethal gas. Fumigations are carried out using essentially two chemicals: Sulfuryl Fluoride and Methyl Bromide. These gases are odorless and colorless and leave no residue. Therefore, prior to the fumigation, applicators introduce trace amounts of Chloropicrin. Chloropicrin (a warning agent) has a strong odor and will cause respiratory and eye irritation.
In September 2000, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation initiated new procedural regulations that have made the use of Methyl Bromide fumigant extremely impractical and costly. The result, of these new regulations, was to essentially stop the use of Methyl Bromide as a structural fumigant in the State of California.

5. Fumigation preparation

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Items to be addressed in preparation for the fumigation of the average home are:

All mattresses encased in permanent, waterproof coverings must be removed from the structure prior to the introduction of the fumigant, including infant mattresses. Detachable waterproof covers may be removed from the mattress or pillow in lieu of removing the object from the structure. Box springs are considered mattresses for the purposes of this determination.

6. How do I know how much will be used?

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Fumigant Dosage Determination: Because of a multitude of structural, environmental, and fumigation variations, there are no two fumigation jobs that are identical. The required dosage of Sulfuryl Fluoride is influenced by the temperature at the site, the length of exposure period, and the susceptibility of the pest to be controlled. The typical single family home fumigation involves the use of a 16-18 ounces/1000 cubic foot.

7. How long will the fumigation last?

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Fumigation period: Sulfuryl fluoride is usually held in the structure for approximately 16-30 hours. Fumigation time is depending upon the factors mentioned previously.

8. How does the fumigant leave the house?

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Aeration: The fumigator aerates the structure with use of fans and inlet devices for a minimum of 12 hours.

9. When will it be safe to return?

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Entering the structure: Absolutely no one can enter a structure until it has been certified safe for reentry by the licencee in-charge of the fumigation. To ensure that even the owner or tenant cannot reenter a structure, the company is required to put a secondary lock on all outside doors that only the company can open.

Certification: Certification is the final step of the fumigation. The fumigator must aerate a structure, so that the concentration of gas in the air is less than one (1) parts per million (ppm) or less prior to allowing reentry. This one (1) ppm Permissible Exposure Level (PEL) is substantially lower than the level that may affect people and pets following even long-term exposure.
The fumigator is required to post a reentry notice on the property at the time the structure is actually deemed safe for occupancy. If within 24 hours following aeration, you experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, tearing, coughing, nose/throat irritation, shortness of breath, double vision, unusual drowsiness, or tremors, leave the fumigated structure and immediately contact your physician, poison control center, the fumigation company, and your local agricultural commissioner to report the incident.

10. What if you are not satisfied with the service of a structural pest control company?

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If the company does not resolve the problem to your satisfaction, you can contact the Structural Pest Control Board for assistance by calling (800) 737 - 8188 Ext. 2, or write to: