Termite Identification

One of the most exciting innovations in the pest control industry is the use of infrared technology and termite inspection.  Infrared technology is used to detect heat in small spaces and is perfect for use in the termite inspection because it can detect colonies that are massed together and make it easier for the pest control operator to pinpoint the location of the infestation and effectively get rid of the problem in one fell swoop.

Finding termites can be difficult, yet knowing where they are located is important when deciding on the correct eradication program. The traditional method is to simply tap on the wood with the back of a screwdriver, or to poke holes in walls or even pull them apart. Infrared technology and termite inspect now offers a new, high technological detection system that is quick, effective and does not require any damage to houses.

Infrared technology and termite inspection is being used with an increased frequency because it can easily detect the presence of termites by simply inserting a small camera at the end of a thin rod and then manipulating the camera around to find the termite swarms.  Because termites mass together to work on the wood, where there is one, there is always more.  That’s why infrared technology and termite inspection go hand in hand.

Thermal imaging technology detects heat patterns. When termites invade buildings, the normal heat patterns of the walls, floors and roof are changed due to the presence of termites. The thermal camera records this change in heat patterns and indicates the exact location of any termite infestation. A color image shows hot spots as red or yellow and cold spots as blue or purple and these heat patterns indicate termite infestations.  That means that infrared technology and termite inspection can be much more effective than the normal ways of doing a termite inspection.

However, termites are considered cold blooded insects, so how can they generate heat?  Termites are hosts to bacteria, which live in their gut, and these bacteria help break down and digest cellulose, the main component of wood. It is this digestion and chemical reaction that generates the heat.  That’s why infrared technology and termite inspection makes the location of termites much easier thus allowing the pest control company to target the specific areas where termites are located and make the treatment effective.  The pest control company that pairs infrared technology and termite inspection together is one that is highly effective and employing the latest tools in pest control so that they can do a great job for you – the consumer.

There is an exciting new technology that has come about in the world of termite infestation that involves infrared cameras and termite identification.  The invention currently has a patent pending, but it is causing a real buzz in the world of pest control.  It’s amazing that a connection was not made earlier between using infrared cameras and termite identification.  Infrared cameras have been around for quite some time, so when this new invention was brought onto the market, many pest control companies began embracing the technology as a legitimate way to find termite infestation and combat the problem before it gets out of control.

Termites are extremely destructive to wood material. Termites attack and destroy wood almost everywhere in the world, with the exception of climate zones that experience hard freezing. There are close to fifty species of termites in the United States, the majority of losses to wood material being caused by subterranean species.  It is difficult to put a dollar amount estimate on termite damage. However, renowned termite scientist Dr. Nan Yao Su at the University of Florida has estimated that the total annual cost of termite control and damage repair for the United States alone was $11 billion in 1999.

When trying to determine if there is a termite infestation in a structure, it can be a bit difficult.  Only about thirty percent of wood in a structure is visible.  Since termites like dark, damp places, they are likely lurking is parts of the structure that are not easily seen.  Therefore, there needs to be another method of detection which involves tapping the surface of the wood while listening for a characteristic sound indicative of an underlying gallery void. When a suspected area is located, the inspector applies a sharp probe, such as a screwdriver, to break the wood surface and locate wood galleries and live termites.

This method has significant disadvantages. The confirmation of an active infestation requires some localized damage to the wood. Also, when termites are exposed in this manner, the destruction induces termites to retreat from the disturbed area and may reduce the effectiveness of a subsequent localized treatment.  For quite some time now, pest control experts have been longing for a less invasive way to find termites in a structure which is why it only makes sense to connect infrared cameras and termite identification.

Infrared cameras seek out areas of heat to identify the presence of various objects making termite identification easier and more effective.  Since termites are living, breathing organisms, they do have a certain amount of heat within their bodies.  You will never have just one termite in one area; you will have hundreds, so the heat they generate as a group is easily visible with an infrared camera.  The inspector simply inserts a small tube with a camera on the end of it into any small area to see if they can detect excessive areas of heat thus indicating a termite infestation.

Infrared cameras and termite identification have taken the pest control field to new heights and have opened up all sorts of new doors in the field of termite treatments.

Have you been wondering about the age old question, can a termite see?  Me either, but it is an interesting question.  After all, these small pests can infiltrate a home and cause a huge amount of damage, but how do they find their food source?  Do they see a tasty huge old Victorian home and call all their bodies to road trip on into the foundation?  The truth is that in most termites, they have no eyes, so the easy answer to the question can a termite see is No.  Some of the reproductive members of a termite colony will have eyes because they also have wings, but in general, termites cannot see.

So how do they find their food?  That’s almost as good a question as can a termite see!  Termites are blind, and they really have no method to their madness, so to speak, when it comes to finding a food source.  Basically, they wander around moving about until they encounter some type of resistance at which time they switch directions and keep going until they find something they are able to eat.  We’re not talking about a cross country road trip, but let’s just say you have termites in a wood pile behind your home.  When they finish up with the wood and decide they want a different kind of wood and head toward your house, the travel across your yard might feel like a cross country journey to them!

Some people consider the question can a termite see frivolous, but it really can mean a lot to the person who is interested in getting rid of or preventing a termite problem.  If they can’t see, all they can really rely on is touch.  They like wet places – especially wet places with damp wood.  Take steps to make sure you have no leaks around your home that may attract your blind enemy.  Don’t let the soil underneath your house get wet in any way, and keep the soil away from the foundation of your house if at all possible.

When doing landscaping work, you may want to use a wood mulch to decorate.  If you want to do this, keep the mulch away from the foundation of the house and always use black landscaping to keep the termites from emerging from the soil and eating through your mulch.  An even better idea is to use stone when landscaping.

We hope we’ve answer your question about can a termite see effectively.  For more information, you may also want to consult an encyclopedia or look on the Internet to become fully informed about those pesky termites!

As a homeowner, you may be surprised at the amount of damage a termite can do. Even though these pesky insects are less than a centimeter in length, the amount of damage a termite can do far outweighs its small size. There is never just one termite inside a home – there are hundreds and hundreds. The worker termites are the ones who eat through the wood to provide nourishment to the rest of the colony, and they can really wreak havoc on a wood structure.

Termites eat wood and cellulose materials. They are especially attracted to wet or damp wood in dark places. They burrow into the wood by gnawing through the material and making trails through the wood that can weaken the wood itself causing problem with the integrity of the wood. The amount of damage a termite can do is multiplied by the fact that there is more than one termite working on the wood. They work together to get food for the colony and thus cause a huge amount of damage to your structure.

Most places that are targeted by termites within a structure are the wood beams and frames, window sills, sub floors, and door frames. When you look for the damage and know what to look for, you’ll be able to realize the amount of damage a termite can do to a home. It can be very surprising and even shocking. The first step toward saving your home or building is education. Know what to look for and how it can work against your home when you have a termite infestation.

One woman tells us that she had no idea about the amount of damage a termite can do. She never even thought about it until she felt a floorboard that was loose. She went outside and saw a swarm of bugs around the foundation of her house, and she began to do some research. A pest control company was called in and she found out that she did, indeed, have a termite infestation. What surprised her the most was when the termite inspector showed her the amount of damage that a termite could do as she looked into the hole the inspector had cut into her wall. She was amazed and shocked.

Don’t let yourself wonder about the amount of damage a termite can do. Do your research either in the library or online. Realize that if you have termites, they can really wreak havoc on your home or building and cause damage that could cost hundreds of dollars to repair. The amount of damage a termite can do is overwhelming, but you can stop the problem in its tracks if you act fast. So get busy!