Solider and Worker Termites in Wood Monitor

Management of Blow/Bottle Flies

                                                                     

Blow flies and Bottle flies are common out door/indoor pest. The blue bottle fly is slightly larger than the house fly and is commonly seen in early spring. The green bottle fly which is about twice the size of the house fly is usually seen during the summer months. Both flies breed in decaying flesh such as rodents, animal waste, and garbage. Both flies are comparable to the house fly in that they present similar health hazards as the house fly.

Some of the diseases they carry can affect both humans and animals such as intestinal tract problems like Escherichia coli (Migula) and Shigella dysenteriae (shiga) which cause diarrhea and Vibrio comma which causes cholera. They also carry non - intestinal diseases tuberculosis.

                                                                   Management/Treatment

 If found out doors keep lids on garage cans sealed. Regularly clean and dry the interior of garbage cans to eliminate breeding. Remove any excrement around the property. Keep screens to doors, windows and vents in good repair. If found indoors check attic spaces, chimneys, dryer vents and other voids for carcasses of bats, raccoon, mice and birds. If voids are not accessible call a pest control professional who will then drill holes into voids and apply an insecticide which is effective in eliminating these disease carrying pest.

Carpenter Bees And The Damage They Cause

Termites and carpenter ants are the most destructive insects of wood in structures found in the United States. Yet another insect that must be addressed are Carpenter Bees. Although not as destructive as termites, or carpenter ants, carpenter bees can do their fair share of damage to the exterior of structures. During the summer months, Home Inspectors and Pest Control Professionals (PCP) will be attentive to the damage that results from an infestation of carpenter bees.

                                                                    Characteristics of Carpenter Bees

                                                                                   

Carpenter bees Closely resemble bumble bees in that they both have a stocky or robust build. The major difference in their physical characteristic is that the top surface of the abdomen of the carpenter bee is bare black and shiny, whereas the bumble bee has many body hairs and appears fuzzy. Carpenter bees have a dense area of hairs on the hind legs, bumble bees however have dense yellow hairs on the abdomen and large pollen baskets on the hind legs.

                                                                           Structural Damage

                                                                               

Carpenter bees do not eat wood, but the females bore circular holes, about 1/2 inch wide at a right angle for about an inch deep into the wood they infest. They begin to excavate galleries in the direction of the wood grain for about 4-6 inches and this is where they make their nest. They can nest in all species of dried seasoned wood, but they prefer softwood like cedar, redwood, cypress, pine, and fir. They will bore in wooden members on houses such as eves constructed with pine and on decks, fences and dead tree limbs.  It's these areas that home inspectors and pest control professionals will take a closer look to determine if any activity exist. Carpenter bees are known to return to the same wood year after year to drill nests and lay eggs. If left untreated the wooden members can weaken resulting in costly repairs.

                                                                                   Treatment

How can you determine if carpenter bees are nesting in structural wood on your property? If you see a number of bees hovering around the eves for an example, they're protecting the entrance to a gallery and will chase away any intruders, including humans. The males do not sting, however who wants to wait around to determine males from females? If you suspect you have carpenter bees, call a pest control operator. Many have found closing the holes with corks helpful. Painting the wood will not protect it from carpenter bees, but it is helpful since they prefer bare, exposed wood. Some pest control professionals as a last resort use a pesticide in the form of dust that's applied inside the galleries that acts as a residual and is effective in the control of carpenter bees.

For more on home inspections, insects and treatments visit us at:

www.closerlookpi.com

Difference Between Termite Swarmer and Flying Ant

 Termites that are most often seen by the general public are the winged reproductive adult termite also known as swarmers, alate, and flying termites. These termites have dark bodies about 3/8-inch in length. They are equipped with two pairs of gauzy wings identical in size and shape that extends beyond the body to twice its length. The antennae resemble a string of little beads.

Ants also have colonies that release winged reproductive,and because they swarm at the same time, (usually from March to July) flying ants are often mistaken for termites. Ant swarmers, like termite swarmers are dark in color. An example is the northeastern carpenter ant which is typically dark brown to black. Both species have wings that extend beyond its body. With both being similar in size and color and the fact they swarm at the same time, its easy to see why some mistake one for the other. Telling the difference between the two is very important for the purpose of an effective treatment.


                                                          Termite Swarmer vs Flying Ant 

                                        termite swarmer (left) and a flying ant (right) 

The termite has wings of equal size and cloudy.              Ant hind-wings smaller than fore-wings      

Many fine conspicuous veins through out wings            Very few dark conspicuous veins in wings

 Broad Waist                                                                      Constricted, slender Waist

Straight Antenna resembles string of beads                       Elbowed Antenna

                                                                      Inspection

If you suspect you have either one of these insects, or both contact a pest control company licensed in wood destroying insect extermination. Over the counter products cannot and will not get rid of these pest. A pest control professional (PCP) will conduct an inspection of your property to locate the nest(s), assess any damage, determine the extent of the infestation, ascertain conditions conducive for infestation and prescribe the proper treatment.                                    

               

Preventing Wooden Decks & Porches from Termite Infestation

  Wooden decks and porches if not properly cared for can be an all day breakfast, lunch and dinner buffet. Termites, the most destructive insect of wooden structures are opportunist with an unending appetite . They are masters of taking advantage of a neglected home. So how can home owners keep their outside recreational areas free from termite infestation? Well, there are three key ways.

First, it's important to give a visual inspection of all accessible components of your deck and/or porch. The illustration above gives the names and shows the areas of the components you should inspect. The posts, beams, joist and face-boards are the areas you want to especially examine because they are closest to the ground where subterranean termites emerge from. In these areas look for mud-tubes that termites construct to travel back and forth from their nest in the ground to the wooden members. Have with you an instrument with a pointed edge, like a knife, screwdriver, or ice pick. Gently but firmly probe areas of the wood. If the instrument goes through, likely there's termite damage. If you see a lot of cream colored insects, about 1/8 to 3/8's of an inch in length you have termites.

Check for loose rails, steps and balusters as well as columns. Probe them too because the outside of the wood may look fine, but could be hollow inside. If the wood is sound, then tighten them with nails, screws or bolts. Check the decking for damage such as splinting and loose deck boards. Walk across the deck to determine if any areas are weak or sinking. If possible check underneath the deck or porch, especially the undersides of all joist, beams and decking.

Second, make sure that you have good drainage. If you don't have a deck or porch cover make sure the deck boards are spaced so that rain water will not accumulate on the deck. The grounds around the house should be sloped so that water drains away from the house, not towards it. Post should be mounted on piers, not in the dirt or ground. Wooden steps should rest not on dirt, but upon a concrete base or apron that extends at least 6 inches above grade. Paint or stain all wooden members, including the undersides and cut edges.

Finally remove any wood debris from under and around the house and deck. Scrape wood, tree stumps, mulch, boxes and branches all attract termites to your home.
A visual inspection is the beginning of protecting your home from termite infestation.

 If you think you have a termite infestation on your porch or deck, call a pest control professional for an inspection and treatment options.

www.empestcontrol.com

Spring has SPRUNG which means Termites! These nasty little guys cause over 5 billion dollars in damage a year in the United States alone. Mature termite colonies contain about 60,000 to 1 million workers. Here are some of the signs to look for which may be an indication of termites:

-damage to wood (wood may be brittle or make a hollow sound)

-mud tubes (these long tubes are built to provide access from the soil to the food source. When exposed to open air termites die quickly )

-broken wings (typically termite swarmers lose their wings)

Pavement Ants? No Problem!

Pavement Ants nesting under slabs or sidewalks create difficult control challenges. The challenge in this situation was the nest was underneath the slab behind the wall. After a careful inspection we used a dust to treat the voids of the bathroom as well as a liquid residual around the baseboards, cracks and crevices. HERE WERE THE RESULTS!! ENJOY!

Opossums

Opossums live in many parts of urban and suburban areas in New York State. Often they take up residence in homes, window wells, enclosed porches, garages and sheds. Anywhere they can find seclusion is where they will go to nest. Sometimes they can be found sleeping in garbage cans if the lids are not securely fasten.

Activity -  Opossums are nocturnal and can be seen moving about year round. During extremely cold weather however, when temperatures are below 20 degrees they have been known to remain in their dens. Also it is not uncommon for them to use multiple dens especially if they are around good food sources. Most people usually see one opossum, this is because they are solitary animals.

Damage to Structures -  Damage to structures are not usually associated with opossums. Most times they take over a den that has been abandoned by another animal. Most calls that Pest Control Professionals, or Wildlife Control Operators receive are from home owners who left a door open to their garages or sheds. If garages and sheds has lots of clutter, open or broken doors and windows, its an ideal nesting site.
Opossums aren't too picky when it comes to food. They will eat table food, birdseed, grapes and corn. They will raid poultry barns, attacking birds which will look mauled with intestines ripped out.

Who To Call - If you suspect a opossum, or any wildlife in your home or property don't go near it. Keep children and pets away from them since they can carry rabies and will attack if threaten. Call a Wildlife Control Operator or Pest Control Professional since they are trained and have the equipment to handle wildlife.
     

EM Pest Control: "CAREFUL" Inspections

EM Pest Control: "CAREFUL" Inspections: Careful inspections are the key to any pest control treatment. A proper inspection can help to determine the pest, the extent of inf...

Pest Entry Points

Pests can invade homes in a number of different ways. Some gain access from luggage when returning home from trips. Some get in from package deliveries  Another way is from the purchase of used furniture. If you ride public transportation, you could bring an unwanted visitor in with you. Even movie theaters have been known to harbor insects that would love to come home with you, such as bedbugs and roaches. Sometimes even our guest that comes by for a visit may leave behind a few unwanted visitors.

The most common way pests gain access is from unsealed openings in and around our homes. Ants, spiders, earwigs, and termites are just a few of the insects that take advantage of unsealed openings and invite themselves in. Even rodents such as mice and squirrels enter attics, basements and crawlspaces through unsealed openings. An example is the house mouse that can squeeze through any opening that is larger than 1/4 of an inch. A rat needs 1/2 an inch or more. Rats and mice can climb any vertical surface where they can get a claw hold, this would include any  vegetation growing on exterior wall surfaces, and rough exterior wall surfaces like masonry, brick and stucco. They have even been seen descending head first down a rough wall.


                                                         How To Prevent Entry

Seal cracks in exterior foundation walls

The best way to prevent rodents and insects from getting in to your living space is by periodically inspecting the exterior of your home. Look for worn caulk around windows and door frames. This includes garage vehicle doors with weather strips. If you find the caulk is worn, remove the rest of the caulk completely and reseal with new caulk. Another area to inspect is the exterior walls. Cracks in foundation walls like the one in the picture above should be sealed to keep out not only insects such as termites, but also moisture which can lead to mold growth.

Unsealed plumbing penetrations is another area for observation. Outside water faucets and/or plumbing lines for a central air condition unit check that all wall penetrations are properly sealed. The picture below shows enough space for rodents and insects to enter with ease.

Seal exterior wall penetrations

Finally all interior walls should be repaired. If insects and rodents have access to the inside of walls, floors, and ceilings, they can roam through out your house, reproduce and spread germs and diseases. Your pest control professional will check these areas and more to help aid and prevent pest entry.


                               

Repair interior walls

                            

 

 

 

 

Why Termites Build Hanging Shelter Tubes

Because subterranean termites have a rather high moisture requirement, they need an environment of high relative humidity. The moisture in the soil and the air spaces between the soil particles usually provides the termite colony the atmosphere they need to thrive. Areas where high humidity are commonly found are unventilated basements and crawlspaces.  If sustained over long periods of time however, other sources of moisture can serve a colony of termites needs such as roof or gutter leaks, and defective plumbing.


                                                        Hanging Shelter Tubes

Often it is very difficult for subterranean termites to maintain humidity near or at the saturation point in their feeding galleries and shelter tubes. When they build their shelter tubes on masonry and wood, these materials will absorb moisture, thus causing problems within the tubes. In an effort to reduce the loss of moisture to the environment termites line their tunnels with secretions that hardens and forms a moisture-resistant layer.
 Another problem presents itself in the form of distance. Termites are often unable to feed on wall studs more than a few feet from the floor because they would be to far from a humidity source. Floor joist too represents an increased linear distance from the moisture source. So to provide more moisture to the joist, termites construct hanging earthen lined shelter tubes downward from the joist as shown in the picture below.


                                                                   

 

 

Poor ventilation in basements and crawlspaces often provide an atmosphere of high relative humidity. It's under these conditions that the joist will absorb moisture and become more susceptible to damage. In this basement the humidity level was well over 70%, enough for a major infestation. Severe damage was found in the support beams and floor joist.

 

 

                            Remember, even though subterranean termites are associated with wet or moist soil, it's not always necessary that soil contact is maintained. If moisture and temperature is suitable colonies can survive indefinitely isolated from the soil.  So it's important, particularly in basements and crawlspaces that humidity levels are low and walls and floors are kept dry.