Termite Terminology: Terms All Homeowners Should Understand
Jul 16, 2020“You have a termite infestation.” Those are words no homeowner wants to hear. However, the possibility hangs out there, waiting for the right time and place, to come to fruition. After hearing those words, your pest technician will probably go through a litany of terms and options to eradicate your unwanted guests. As your head swims with the news, do you know what they are talking about when they mention mud tubes or subterranean termites?
Get in the know with a little research and a conversation with the experts at Times Up Termite. Our crew helps homeowners like you understand what happens during termite treatment of your San Mateo house. We know you don’t eat, breathe, and live pest control, but we do, and we’re here to assist you in getting your castle back from the invaders.
General Terms to Understand Pest Treatment Better
Be in the know when different bug control words are used. Here is a list to get you started:
- Activity: Pest experts use this term to indicate the presence of termites at the time of inspection. The bugs are considered active if they can be fed bait that can be taken back to the colony to kill it off. If your technician says there is evidence of termite activity, it is an indication of some damage but not necessarily from a currently active colony.
- Aggregation device: This is a monitor that allows many termites to come together at once and take the bait back to the colony. The more pests aggregate, the higher of a success rate to get enough bait back to the nest.
- Application: The act of applying a product in or around your home to manage or kill pests.
- Bait: A product that contains an active ingredient mixed with food or other materials consumed by termites to control them.
- Cellulose: Found in wood, cotton, and other plants, it is a fundamental building block left when the starch, sugars, resins, and water are depleted. Termites love cellulose found in wood, drywall paper, among other items.
- Colony: The term is used to describe the gathering of termites where they work together to serve their queen in the nest.
- Drywood termites: This type of wood-boring bug does not need a reliable source of water. They get the majority of their hydration from the water in the air. You will find this type primarily in tropical areas where the temperature is constant, and the humidity is high, but they are also widely prevalent in San Mateo and the surrounding areas.
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM): A plan combining as many forms or methods of pest management as possible to get a better result. It can include building design, physical and chemical barriers, monitors and bait, and regular inspections.
- Mud tubes: Regurgitated food used to build tunnels and seal up any cracks or crevices, used to keep humidity in and lights and ants out. They are also used as transportation gateways. Sometimes soil is mixed in.
- Multiple feeding: A type of pesticide which causes death over some time as it is consumed in lesser quantities than a single-dose version.
- Pesticide: A material or product that is used to control or manage termites and other pests.
- Single-dose: A highly effective pesticide that can kill after a single feeding.
- Subterranean termites: These bugs start their colony in wood found in the ground where they get food, security, and constant moisture. They build mud tubes or tunnels to travel from their territory.
- Swarming: Generally occurs after rain and during a time when the outside warm and humid air closely matches the wet conditions inside the colony. Flying termites use this opportunity to find an area to begin building a new colony. You may notice their wings along your window sills.
- Termite scouts: The line of bugs that go above ground in search of a new food source. They use pheromones to return to the colony with their findings.
Get a Leg Up on this Wood Boring Pest with Times Up Termite
Know what you are up against when you understand the basic terminology used in pest control. Reach out to the licensed professionals at Times Up Termite for your inspection and treatment needs. We offer a variety of options, including eco-friendly pesticides like Altriset. It is a reduced-risk pesticide that is the better choice for homes with children, pets, or a pregnant mom. Give us a call today and regain control of your home.
Call 510-568-7200 to speak with our team of experienced, licensed professionals at Times Up Termite, Inc. You can also contact us online to request a free termite inspection.