Size:  Worker: 1/8-inch in length.  Primary Reproductive “Swarmer”: About one inch in length. Color:  Worker: Light colored . Primary Reproductive: Dark brown/black. Soldiers have an elongated head with pincer-like mandibles. Primary Reproductives have four wings of equal size. Primary Reproductives are the termites most often seen in the open. They are commonly referred to as “swarmers.” These termites more commonly swarm in May and June, but small flights can occur at any time of the year.

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Swarming is the primary way the termite naturally spreads after it has been transported to a new area. Three elements are needed for swarming to be effective: 1) Proper food resources (cellulose and wood), 2) moisture, and 3) a physical niche. As the colony grows, specialized castes are produced for the different tasks required. The first caste produced is the workers. The second caste is the soldiers. The third caste is the reproductives. Primary reproductives swarm and start new colonies. They are called alates or swarmers. Although thousands of primary reproductives are produced each year, they all leave the nest. Primaries cannot become reproductive if they remain in their colony of origin.Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground, building vertical tunnels that look like mud tubes above ground level so that they can search for food. Because subterranean termites will die if exposed to air for an extended period of time, the tunnels provide protection from the open air, allowing workers to carry food to the nest. Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites. They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive, unlike drywood termites that only need low moisture. If your infestation is widespread, then you may want to consider the help of a professional.  However, if your problem is centered around one or two areas, you should get tremendous success by following a number of  processes.  The first step involves making a spot treatment to a localized area in order to stop existing termite infestations and to stop more damage from occurring.  Products such as Premise Foam or Termidor Foam can be used for spot treating wall voids or the like on the interior. Products such as Bora Care, would be a great choice for treating wood.  Most treatments are made to areas where termites are active and about 5 – 10 feet on each side of the infestation.  Spot treatments with these products can be made in advance of incorporating a conventional soil and/or foundation treatment.  Because of the equipment required for conventional soil treatments, most people hire a professional pest management company to complete this process.  One of the best products for soil treatments is Termidor SC and Termidor HE If you suspect or have evidence of termites foraging in the soil on the exterior of the structure, you may get good kill results by applying Premise Granules. This product is a ready-to-use formulation of imidacloprid intended to kill subterranean termites. This product is formulated on a granulated carrier for perimeter band and/or soil incorporation applications. When applied to soil, precipitation and/or soil moisture cause the active ingredient to release from the granule and establish residues in the top few inches of soil at concentrations that will kill foraging termites which may be present at the time of application. USE SITES- This product can be applied as directed to bare soils, landscaped areas and turfgrass immediately surrounding commercial and residential structures, as well as other wooden constructions subject to termite attack. An exterior preventative approach to controlling termites is to go after them with a baiting system.  Our technicians use one of the most popular bait systems in the professional market, the Advance Termite Bait System.  Termite Baiting Systems are simple and can be used to detect and kill termites foraging in the soil around your structure.  Baits allow termite control in conditions where soil termiticides are not desirable ( near a body of water, a well or cistern for example),  or there is a concern about pesticide use in general.The bait stations are placed in the ground around the perimeter of the structure, and as foraging termites find the stations, they will start to feed on the bait, recruit other members of the colony to the station, and will eventually die.

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Insecticide Concentrates

– These concentrates are mixed with water and used in a compressed hand held sprayer to make your application.

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Aerosols & Ready to Use Products

These “ready to use” products are convenient and great for a contact kill and great for flushing out insects. Most offer great residual properties as well.

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Dust Insecticides

These dust insecticides are ready to use products that are most commonly used with hand-held duster to make your application.  We carry some of the more popular products commonly used in the professional pest control market.