Bug Briefs
Termites
Spell Trouble
Some homeowners think the
biggest sign of termite infestation is a tent over
their neighbor's house. The thought of termites so
close to home sends them into a panic.
The cost of waging an all-out
attack on the offensive creatures, however, is enough
to tame that paranoia and cause homeowners to look
for tangible signs of infestation.
Treating a home for termites is
an expensive proposition. The price varies with the
house's style, size and building materials, but
generally starts at about $500 for treating
subterranean termites. Many companies promise free
treatment if termites are found again within a year,
a guarantee that can be extended every year for 15
percent to 20 percent of the treatment's original
cost. Damage caused by the termites usually is not
covered.
Tenting a house, for those
infested with dry-wood termites, usually costs at
least $100 more than the soil treatment for
subterranean termites. Rates are about $18-$25 per
thousand cubic feet, a measurement you can take by
multiplying the height, width and length of your
house. Most tent treatments are guaranteed for a
year, and the guarantee can be renewed each year for
five years.
Termites have several
distinguishing habits. One of the most obvious is
their practice of leaving wings behind when they
mate. The wings are clear, and show up on window
sills and light fixtures.
In Florida, you are most likely
to detect termites in the late winter, when they
often swarm. Subterranean termites, the most common
type in the state, wait until the first warm day
after the state's cold season. Subterranean termites
usually swarm in February.
Dry-wood termites, more common
along the coast, usually swarm in June. A handful of
termites in the house indicates they have probably
flown in from outside, he said, but if you find 100
or more, it is likely they came from within the
house, where they already have set up residence.
Termites are not the only
insects that swarm. Flying ants do, too, but if you
take a close look at them, you will be able to see a
clear difference between the classic, slim-waisted
ant body and the termite's chunky, less graceful
figure.
Another sign of Florida's most
common termite, the subterranean or underground type,
is mud. The termites use mud tubes to get from soil
to wood. Shelter tubes often go right up the side of
the house, where they are easy to spot.
Wood damage is not necessarily
a sign of termites, or at least not active ones. The
termites may be long gone, and there are other
reasons for wood to disintegrate, but termites leave
a distinctive pattern as compared with ordinary
rotting. They prefer the softer parts of the wood, so
they chew the areas between the rings, leaving a
brittle skeleton in the shape of tree rings.
Another trouble spot he checks
is wood fencing connected directly to the wall of the
house. Big nails driven into the concrete leave the
termites room to invade the house. Piles of wood
leaning against the house pose similar danger.
In Florida, homes must be
inspected for wood-destroying organisms when they are
sold, but homeowners often misunderstand the extent
of the inspection. They mistakenly view it as a kind
of guarantee that there are no termites in the house.
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