A building I’m working on (garage/ apartment) has a severe termite infestation. (subterrainian)
I’m pulling off all the old T-111 siding and roof sheathing. I’ve sprayed with Talstar (termitecide) And I’ve treated the perimeter. Halting where the termites made their initial entry.
While I feel I’ve killed the majority of the termites, how much worry do I have about continued activity?
I’ve heard that if you stop the termites access from the nest (below ground) you will not have additional bugs. But what about the termites that are in the building now? I plan on sistering any damaged framing members with new lumber, but can any termites that survived my chemical warfare still thrive and cause damage?
Replies
From what I have learned they need water. Unless the structure is wet they have to go to the ground to drink. If you have killed their path, and they have no access to moisture in given time they are gone. I would say forget it, they are dead. Or will be.
An old timer although not environmental correct said to put burnt motor oil in a trench around the house or structure. You will never have a problem.
Then you have Formosan termites.......
Apparently they do not have to go to the ground. they get their moisture else where. They can stay in a structure and eat away without "ground" water. They nest inside the house where subterranean termites do not. NO is ate up with Formosan type bugs. Be sure to find out the exact species.
To get a termite bond on a structure, you have to get both. Termites are apparently not just termites......
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.”
Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor.
-Truman Capote
Eric,
This building I'm working on is detached from the main house and pretty dilapidated. Each piece of sheathing I pull off I find more termites.
I've already cut off their retreat, and killing them as I go. Bldg. had holes in the roof and all kind of leaks.
I plan on leaving it open (no sheathing) for about a week to dry out before I start reroofing and siding.
I heard on the radio that the formosan's were starting to swarm. But they still need /crave moisture to do their damage??
I heard on the radio that the formosan's were starting to swarm. But they still need /crave moisture to do their damage??
I don't know this for gospel, I'll research it but from what my understanding they do not or might I say don't Need to go to ground for moisture. They get it from their food source, building. I guess there is just enough. I've heard of them building huge nests in the wall cavities. Not just tunnels like the subterranean types.
Here, just found this......Looks like they are subterranean But can build above groun with no contact to earth. That is why we fear them here. They fly in. Treatments in the ground won't affect them.......This site has a map too. They are all over the gulf coast.
One thing I did do was quit using that great looking wood mulch in my plant beds! I use pine straw now. I found termites in my beds one day when I disturbed the wood mulch. Right against the house! RRRGGG.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MG064
Where Do They Live?
Subterranean termite species, such as the Formosan termite, generally live underground. They tunnel through the soil in search of food. Unlike native subterranean termites, Formosan termites build large nests. These are made of carton, a hard material the workers make from soil, chewed wood or plant matter, and their own saliva and ####. Carton nests are quite impressive - a large, rock-like mass constructed by hundreds of thousands or millions of termites.
Although nesting mostly below ground, some Formosan termite colonies will build above-ground nests that are not connected to the soil. Nests can be made in structures where the temperature does not get too hot or cold and there is plenty of moisture. Sources of moisture include:
plumbing, water heater, and roof leaks
condensation from air conditioning units
poor drainage from gutters and flat roofs
seepage and rainfall on boats and ships
porches, balconies, rooftops, etc. with plants or landscaping that are frequently watered
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Termites live in a nest in the ground. The nest can be quite a distance from the structure they are consuming. The termites left in the structure are good as dead. It's the new ones in the nest finding alternate routes to the building you need to be concerned with.
I'm working with someone who is selling their house.
The buyer had the req'd termite inspection completed about a week ago and the technician found termite colony in the crawl space !!!
He found a termite nest !!!!
He brought the termite nest out of the crawl space for us to see and it just kind of looked like a large dirt clod.
About the size of a soccer ball.
We could see the termite crawling around.
So he treated the crawl space.
They say the treatment will only last 5-6 years and then it has to be redone.
Around here you're not supposed to apply chemicals to the ground if there is a water well on the property.
I had a termite treatment completed 5-6 years ago and it cost $700 to have it done professionally.
It was 1200 sq ft house with a basement.
Good luck!
I've never seen any nests in S. La. Everything is below ground I think.
I did some work in West Africa a few years back and saw huge termite mounds. Some as high as 10" and 20' in diameter. Don't have a clue what species of termites they were.
I've never seen any nests in S. La. Everything is below ground I think.
I remember Formosans are the ones that ate up NO in those old historic homes by nesting in the buildings.
http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/9703/28/formosa.termites/
This is part of it.........
NEW ORLEANS (CNN) -- New Orleans' historic French Quarter has survived devastating hurricanes, sweeping fires and countless Mardi Gras parties over the years. And now it's under attack from a pesky pest -- the Formosan subterranean termite.
New Orleans officials estimate the termites inflict more than $300 million damage a year. About 30 to 50 percent of the city's 4,000 live oaks are believed to be infested.
But at a cost of $100,000 per city block, the city's greatest battle may be coming up with enough funds.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Boats,
Termite workers can live up to 2 years but the Talstar probably knocked them down a bit. Termidor would kill the colony so they don't reinfest.
http://store.doyourownpestcontrol.com/cgi-bin/Pestcontrol.storefront/47fd4fa2017ee672273f4200c15f067c/Product/View/I359&2D4
Might not have to worry about any termites if they open the Morganza Spillway. http://www.johnweeks.com/lower_mississippi/pages/lmiss24.html
KK
Thanks to all that replied.
The survivors are the ones I was worried about.
I just talked to a salesman at a DIY pest contrll outfit and he recommended TimBor also. It treats and preserves the wood with boric acid/salts that remain for over 10 years if they don't get washed away.
I just hate getting info from a salesperson due to their biased approach.
We got a big crawfish boil going on today.... maybe I can use the seasoned water for a repellant. They're putting cayenne in bottom paint now to repel barnacles and algae.
The termite guy tells the truth on this one. Locally, they sell a product called Termite Out which is just fine grain boric acid like the Timbor product. This is completely safe to use, I wouldn't drink the stuff but getting it on you isn't so serious, and basically is the same as the old 20 mule team Borax laundry detergent. I mix it up according to listed instructions, one pound per gallon of water, and spray it on the surface of wood and let it soak in. Once it dries, it's there for the duration and no termite is going to touch it. Wood that has termites in it, just drill several small holes in the wood, hold the pump spray nozzle against the hole and fill up the existing gallery with the solution. One gallon treats about 300 ft2 area.The termites that eat wood treated with this stuff will die in short order. If the wood is dry and stays dry the treated area will remain untouched by termites for as long as the structure stands. It doesn't degrade with time but can be washed off with rain or water splash. The material that soaks into the wood will eventually become diluted with exposure to water and lose it's effectiveness, kept dry your good to go.
agree with what everyone else wrote. Nothing to add really but it seems that my termite repairs are only on properties where the owners eradicated the fire ants. Fire ants IMHO do a good job of keeping termites in check. At least they're good for something.
Edited 4/18/2008 10:53 pm ET by john7g
Until they get into an AC unit outside...or a breaker box.
Sparkies out here love'em.
Hand't heard of fire ants doing physical damage to houses yet. Are they eating the wiring insualtion or what?
Usually get in a contactor and prevent contact. I had regular ants do that in GA one time.
I too have had that happen on an A/C.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
I had a customer who had an inop gfci out on a pole in their yard. Piddled (read troubleshoot) with it and went ahead and replaced it. When I took it out a bunch of earwigs came out and a couple of spoonfulls of eggs dumped out.
LOL, DW wonders how mealy bugs can get in a package of cereal or rice, etc.......
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
that's how the mills bulk up the products...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
LOL, I believe it. Can't stop something you can't see. DW found some in rice recently. I couldn't see them. She was like, right there all over. I was like, ok.......This was in a tupperware container! Can't have nuth'in.
I did see their brown byproduct dust looking stuff.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Hey, extra protein for free. Could be that the eggs are still there from the milling process, would be my guess.
Yeah, I've wondered that........
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
Seen'em crawl up a ground wire into a breaker box and short out a number of breakers. They'll get into the contactor in an AC and short that out too. Saw one where they ate a hole in the PVC UG feed and get into the breaker box and short out. They even get into telephone pedistals and short that stuff out too. SWB used to have some great poision for that that they would put in everybody's box and the main switching points. Stopped them cold. Came in little plastic bags you'd dump into the boxes.
Dang and I have been trying to get rid of my fire ants!
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
uncooked grits...
apply often....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
I have heard that! Wives tale?
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote
no...
it works ....
that's the way I controled them....
it also makes them move next door....
but when the grits get wet you need to reapply...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
Its just a theory I have and not supported by anything scientific. Fire ants are pretty much predators on other insects so they're handy in a vegetable garden too, says my local nursery guy. My bug guy agrees. I try to kill only the colonies that directly affect the family or animals. Haven't seen as many colonies since the drought started though.
They are foreigners though with no natural predator so that's the real problem. I used to be really allergic to them but maybe getting used to them now?
Re: Termites, read somewhere that in GA there's an average of 2 colonies/acre. Probably assume it's the same or close thoughout the SE including the OP Boats area.
Those far ants are nasty critters!
Termites.....I have laid a board straight on the ground at the house and a week later pick it up. It was being eaten by termites.
“Some people wonder all their lives if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.” Reagan....
Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor. -Truman Capote