Termite Identification

Even the mention of a termite can send terror into the heart of a homeowner.  Many people know that a termite can cause huge damage to a home and when you take one termite and add it to another termite and then another and another and another, you might find yourself with a home that is not only unsound but extremely difficult to sell and live in.  Many people know about the termite, but not many people know specifics about this pesky insect. A termite – also known as a white ant – is a member of a group of social insects much like regular ants.  They most often feed on dead plant material including wood, leaf litter, and soil.  The termite can cause huge damage to structures such as houses, building, crops, and forests. The termite superficially resembles an ant and is called a white ant only because of their social behaviors and similar size.  However, the regular termite is softer, whiter, shorter-legged, fatter and generally much slower moving.  In actuality, a termite is much more similar to the common cockroach.  Some experts feel like the termite belongs in its own classification of insects instead of being clumped together with ants in the Hymemoptra class or a super order which contains all of them called the Dictyoptera class. The common termite has a biting mouthpart and their soft bodies are rarely longer than one centimeter in length.  As a colony, they typically inhabit dark nests and tunnels, only venturing out when the winged alates emerge to leave their parent colony, when constructing shelter or, in the case of grass- and leaf-litter-feeders, when harvesting their food.  The alate is basically a baby termite growing into a full blown termite and getting ready to venture out into the world to find their own food source to decimate! As with ants, the termite resides in a colony along with other termites.  That is why they are referred to as social insects.  Termite colonies can number anywhere from hundreds to even millions of inhabitants.  They work together to survive and use self-organized swarm intelligence to obtain food sources and sustain the colony.  Just as with ants, there is a certain hierarchy within the colony.  It is usually “ruled” by a queen and there are workers, soldiers, nymphs, and reproductive termites responsible for re-populating the colony. While a termite is a dreaded insect for most people, they are easily recognized and easily controlled when you know that you have a problem.  If you take the time to know about the common termite, see the signs that you may have a termite problem, and then take steps to alleviate the problem, you will have much luck in repairing the damage that these invading insects can do.

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The National Pest Management Association is the association that licensed and professional termite inspectors belong to, and they will provide to each pest control agent the NPMA-33 Termite Inspection Form that must be completed at the end of each termite inspection that they do.  Completion of the form will give both the NPMA information about the inspection and it will allow the homeowner as well as the termite inspector have a record of the inspection as it was done and what was found during the inspection.  The Npma-33 Termite Inspection Form can be found in a variety of places including certain pest control software that many termite inspectors use to keep track of their business.

The Npma-33 Termite Inspection Form is most often used during real estate transactions to provide evidence either of a termite infestation or evidence that the home is clean.  It can be request by the buyer, the seller, or the real estate agent.  The Npma-33 Termite Inspection Form is easy to use and easy to understand, but here are some of the finer points you should know about.

The first section of the Npma-33 termite inspection form gives general information about the location of the property being inspected and the specific areas being inspected.  The name of the inspection company, address, and phone number will also be displayed as well as their business license number.  The license number is the number given to the inspection company by the state they are registered in that gives them the permission to conduct pest control services according to your state’s guidelines.

After this section of the NPMA-33 termite inspection form, there should be some general information about the property being inspected including the address, the seller’s name, the buyer’s name, and the date of the inspection.  Included in this section of the NPMA-33 termite inspection form is the name of the inspector, his or her signature, license number, and credentials as issued by the state the inspection is taking place in.

Finally, we get to the “meat” of the NPMA-33 termite inspection form.  This is where the findings are listed specifically.  This section can include diagrams – and actually, it should.  These diagrams will show any infestations and any potential problem areas that should be concentrated on.  This part of the NPMA-33 termite inspection form should also list what types of pests are – or could be a problem – and any suggestions as to how to eradicate any existing or possible problems.

The NPMA-33 termite inspection form should be completed in its entirety and presented to any interested parties upon completion of the inspection.  The NPMA-33 termite inspection form should be completely filled out and have no spaces left blank.  After that, preventative treatment can commence or repair work can begin.

You may be surprised at the devastating effect of termite damage on a building. When you have a swarm of termites, they can eat through whole wood beams and cause such problems with the structure of the building that could make it uninhabitable. The effect of termite damage often takes a period of several years to cause serious structural problems which is why you need to really pay attention to what’s happening inside your home when it comes to inspecting the building for termite damage and take steps to control that damage before it does become a huge problem.

The effect of termite damage will cause the integrity of the wood to become compromised. That means when the termites begin feasting on the wood of your home, they can weaken the wood, cause drywall to crumble, eat away window sills and door frames, and so much more. Even though these small little insects are less than a centimeter in length, the effect of termite damage on a structure can be huge and very expensive.

As a property owner, you should know what to look for when doing an inspection of your property to see if you have a termite problem. If you don’t take steps right away to inspect for a possible termite infestation, the effect of termite damage on your structure could get out of control before you even know it. Start by looking around the outside of your home near the foundation where the soil meets the base of the home. Termites can enter a home through the smallest opening, so pay special attention to any cracks in the foundation and fill those cracks with an appropriate filling agent to keep the termites from getting in.

Another effect of termite damage can be the presence of termites in places where you cannot readily see as in the crawl space or in the walls of a home. This invisible damage can be difficult for the everyday person to see which is why it is a good idea to have a professional termite inspection done on your building for peace of mind. Plus, a licensed professional can point out the obvious effect of termite damage and make suggestions as to how you can take steps to correct the problem.

You may also want to look at pictures that show the effect of termite damage on a building. We’re willing to bet that once you see how termites can wreak havoc on a structure, you’ll want to take care of the problem immediately. The effect of termite damage can be stopped, but only if you take steps to do so as soon as possible. Check it out and then take action!

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!

Just as in all parts of the country, finding a company that can do building structural repair for termite damage in NJ isn’t a difficult thing to do.  There are many pest control companies that will assess your home as well as the damage that has been done.  Then it is up to you to find a contractor that specializes in building structural repair for termite damage in NJ.  A general contractor will do, but it is best to find a company that has experience in this specific type of construction.

Termites can do some pretty devastating damage to a structure that can result in thousands of dollars of damage.  They eat through the wood that frames the home or building making the structure un-solid and thus dangerous to inhabit.  That is why it is so important to have that damage fixed as soon as you find it and have it assessed.  The first step you should make when looking for a place that will do building structural repair for termite damage in NJ is to look in the Yellow Pages or online and call them for estimates.  Most companies will do a free estimate and give you a ballpark idea of how much it will cost to repair the damage done by the termites.

You should get several estimates first and then look into the company’s credentials.  Are they members of any professional associations?  Are they licensed, bonded, and insured?  Will they offer any type of guarantee for their work?  Ask questions about what specifically is going to be done to repair the damage.  You don’t want any surprises when they show up to work.  They will be able to tell you if you will be able to remain in the building or if you have to vacate it during the repair process.

We were able to find many places that offer building structural repair for termite damage in NJ just by doing a quick Google search.  Check out these company’s websites and see what they have to offer.  You may also want to ask your pest control company who they recommend.  They work with these types of contractors all the time, and will probably be able to point you toward a reputable company.

Finding a good, reliable company for building structural repair for termite damage in NJ really is not a difficult proposition.  Use all the resources you have at your fingertips and choose a company based on reputation, guarantee of service, and your comfort level in working with them.  You’ll be able to have a few choices in those who specialize in building structural repair for termite damage in NJ, so look around and take your time – but not too much time!  If you have termites present in your building, they will continue to do damage until they are removed!

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!

There are many questions that have arisen in our courts regarding Allstate indemnity coverage and termite damage that have caused policy holders some real headaches.  Basically, an indemnity policy is a protection again future loss for a property owner that may be filed by another person.   Most of the time, a problem comes into play during a real estate transaction in the case of termite damage.  In fact, there was a case involving Allstate Indemnity Coverage and Termite Damage that was filed by a buyer against a seller several years ago.

Essentially what happened in that case is that the buyer of a piece of property found out that there was termite damage to a home.  They sued the sellers for not disclosing the problem at which time, the seller tried to fall back on their Allstate indemnity coverage and termite damage clause in the policy.  Allstate denied the claim thus making the seller responsible for fixing the damage and compensating the buyers.  The buyers also had Allstate insurance and tried to file again their own homeowner’s policy which was also subsequently denied.

At that point, the buyers and sellers teams up to file their own suit against Allstate for breach of conditions in the policy that they believed covered them against structural damage due to termites.  Allstate, of course fought back and argued that a homeowner’s policy generally doesn’t cover termite damage to a structure and will pay only if another party is harmed.  The Allstate indemnity coverage and termite damage clause did not, they argued, cover pre-existing termite damage and no one was physically injured so the lawsuit should be dismissed.

After a lot of legal wrangling, a settlement was reached, but that lawsuit caused a lot of insurance companies to more specifically spell out the exact terms of their indemnity coverage when it comes to termite damage.  The Allstate indemnity coverage and termite damage case made a lot of home owner’s policies change quite a bit and now most indemnity policies don’t offer much coverage at all unless there is physical injury directly caused by termite damage on a property.

Allstate indemnity coverage and termite damage actually did many homeowners a favor by spelling out specifically what is covered and what is not.  The lawsuit may have been an eye-opener for the insurance industry that ended up working out to the advantage of the home owner as opposed to the big business of the insurance industry.