Termites

• Distinguish flying ants from termites

• Refer to the Pest Quicklist and check the antennae, wings, and waist to confirm that insects are termites.

• Design your building to keep termites out

• Keep a 12-inch barrier of smooth concrete, sand, of other material between the soil surface and substructure wood beneath a building.

• Choose termite resistant wood for fences or other structures that must contact soil.

• Remove woodpiles, untreated fence posts, and buried scrap wood near structures.

• Provide adequate ventilation to substructures and keep them dry. Immediately repair cracks to foundations.

If termites are invading your home

• Destroy shelter tubes that subterranean termites build between the soil and wood structure.

• If dampwood termite nests are accessible (in moist wood or damp soil), remove infested wood and eliminate excess moisture.

• Drywood termites (nest above ground) can be controlled with heat, freezing, electricity, microwaves, fumigation, or spot treatments of chemicals.

• For any infestation, call for professional help. Pesticides are usually necessary to control subterranean and dampwood infestations and do-it-yourself sprays are rarely effective.

Pesticides for termite control

• Pesticides may be injected by professionals into the soil. Special procedures must be followed to prevent contamination of ground or surface water.

• For soil injections, ask your applicator to use a product other than chlorpyrifos. Newer types of products such as pyrethroids and chloronicotinyls are safer for health and the environment.

• Baiting can be effective, but may take many months to control a problem and must be constantly followed up with monitoring.