Termites
 Termite damage (USDA photo) |
Why Termite Protection Is Critical
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The US Department of Agriculture estimates that termites destroy literally billions of dollars of property each year in the United States. In 1998, the Agency initiated a campaign against termites that today costs $5 million per year. So firmly entrenched is the termite that eradicating it seems unlikely, scientists say. The immediate goal is to minimize its destruction with population-management techniques and to wipe out individual colonies within a large geographical area. Other goals include improving detection, precision placement of termiticides, discovering and using biological control agents, and gaining new knowledge of this pest's biology and behavior to use against it. The USDA's campaign is an important step against termites in the southeast, but it is not specific enough to protect your individual home or business. That's what MSI does. |
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Workers Termites eat wood, paper on sheetrock, boxes, and even furniture if they can get to it (USDA photo).
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 Queen termite. The expanded abdomen of an older queen can produce thousands of eggs per day (USDA photo). |
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Termite alates, also known as swarmers, captured on a sticky trap used to monitor populations (USDA photo). |
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Floor beam damage (USDA photo) |
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| What Is The Best Way To Protect My Home from Termite Devastation? | |||||
| We firmly believe that a liquid barrier treatment is your best defense against damaging subterranean termites. We have used the industry's two best products, Termidor© and Premise© for a combined ten years with outstanding effectiveness. These products are placed where termites live, in the ground, then covered with dirt. Both of our our products also have very little odor. We have extensive experience in treating both new construction and existing structures with this proven defense against subterranean termites. Get on our plan and forget about termites. |
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New Construction We treat the soil before the slab and/or foundation is poured. This service must be done on all new construction. We can also apply a borate treatment on wall studs before sheetrock is installed. When an inspection is performed, a clearance letter is also issued. |
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Existing construction We dig a narrow trench around the perimeter of the structure's foundation, and drill small holes into non-pourous areas where we cannot ditch (such as concrete patios). Our technicians take special care around shrubs and flower beds that are next to the house. Then we apply Termidor© or Premise© liquid treatment into the trench and holes; we also treat voids between interior & extrior surfaces of your home, as well as expansion joints. The trench is filled in and the small holes are sealed. Annual inspections will further protect your property from termites. |
Trench around foundation |
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Typical hole, sealed after an application |
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Q: I've also heard about termite 'bait & treatment' programs; how do they work?
A: With a bait & treat strategy, bait stations are placed into the ground at intervals around your property, with a bait strip, such as soft pine wood, inside. The stations are monitored several times a year for the presence of termites on the bait. If termites are found in a baited station, the bait is replaced with an active product that termites ingest and later feed to other termites in the colony. If termites who feed on the treatment feed the queen, she will die. Since the queen sustains the colony with new termites, the colony will eventually die without her. Q: Does MSI offer such a program? |
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