Termite inspections in San Diego provided by Hi-Tech Termite.
For termite inspections, control, removal, or fumigation call Hi - Tech Termite of San Diego.
Termites mostly feed on dead plant material, generally in the form of leaf litter, wood, soil, or animal dung. These pests that can cause serious structural damage to buildings, crops or plantation forests. Termites live in colonies that number from several hundred to several million individuals. Colonies contain young, workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens. Worker termites undertake the labors of foraging, food storage, brood, nest maintenance. In San Diego, worker termites are the most likely to be found in the infested wood. The worker termites feed the other members of the colony with substances derived from the digestion of plant material.
Termites are grouped according to their feeding behavior. Commonly used general groupings are: Subterranean, Soil-feeding, Dry wood, Damp wood, and Grass-eating. Subterranean termites and dry wood termites are primarily responsible for damage to human-made structures and the most common termites in San Diego.
Because of their wood-eating habits, termites do great damage to buildings and other wooden structures in southern California. Their habit of remaining concealed often results in their presence being undetected until the timbers are severely damaged and exhibit surface changes. Once termites have entered a building they do not limit themselves just to wood, they also eat paper, cloth, carpets and other cellulose based materials. Termites usually avoid exposure to unfavorable environmental conditions. They tend to remain hidden in tunnels in earth and wood. Shelter tubes are created when this isn't possible. These shelter tubes will extend for many feet, such as up the outside of a tree reaching from the soil to dead branches.
Precautions to eliminate the potential for termite damage
- Avoid letting wood contact ground by using a termite resistant foundation such as masonry, concrete or steel. In general, new buildings should be constructed with embedded physical termite barriers so that there are no easy means for termites to gain entry.
- Timber Treatment
- While there are no guarantees with termite resistant timber, using wood that is naturally resistant to termites such as Turpentine Tree, White Cypress or one of the Sequoias has been shown to reduce possible damage.
- Regular inspection by a competent (trained and experienced) inspector is the best defense.
Termite control methods
When termites have entered a building, the first action is usually to destroy the colony with insecticides, gases, microwaves, or heat. Heat is a common non toxic approach to termite control. The structure is heated to 170 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours killing the termites from dehydration and exposure. However, heat also means the building has to be thoroughly prepped to make sure nothing melts from the extreme temperatures. Slow acting, low toxicity pesticides such as Termidor or Premise attach themselves to termites and are carried into the colony.
Orange oil is toxic and dangerous
Another approach we've seen in San Diego for termite control is orange oil. While some termite companies will use orange oil for termite control, they fail to mention orange oil causes wood rot, is flammable, releases a large quantity of Volitle Organic Compounds and smells strongly of oranges - sometimes for months.
Effective termite control methods
Spot treating for termites using microwaves, removal of infested wood and termiticides are effective methods of controlling termites locally. The most comprehensive solution is traditional fumigation using gases that penetrate though the structure killing the termite colony.
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