Termite Inspections

When including a termite inspection with your services, Premier Inspection Services will perform a thorough inspection of all wood-destroying insects also known as WDI’s. This includes pests such as termites, carpenter bees, carpenter ants, and powder post beetles. If an infestation is detected or suspected, the inspector will then recommend treatment by a qualified pest control specialist. We are licensed by the State of Missouri and Kansas Department of Agriculture. We do not perform treatments and therefore have no vested interest in recommending treatments. You can be assured of unbiased and fair reporting. Termites are a common, yet potentially devastating problem for homeowners. These pests are fast-working and numerous. Termites can compromise a building’s structural quality by literally eating through the wood. The species we are most concerned with in the Midwest area is the subterranean termite.

Subterranean Termite Characteristics

Size:

• Worker: 1/8″ in length            
• Soldier: Body is similar to that of the worker
• Supplementary Reproductive: About 1″ in length
• Primary Productive: About 1″ in length

Color:

• Worker: Light-colored
• Soldier: Light-colored with a brown head
• Supplementary Reproductive: Light-colored
• Primary Productive: Dark brown or black

Soldiers have an elongated head with pincer-like mandibles. Supplementary Reproductives have either no wings or very short non-functional wings, while Primary Reproductives have four wings of equal size. Primary Reproductives are the termites most often seen in the open. They are commonly referred to as “swarmers.”

Behavior:

This termite is known to swarm in May and June, but small flights can occur at any time of the year. Swarming is the primary way the termite naturally spreads after it has been transported to a new area. Three elements are needed for swarming to be effective:

• Proper food resources such as cellulose and wood
• Moisture
• Supplementary Reproductive: Light-colored
• A physical niche – as the colony grows, specialized castes are produced for the different tasks required

The first caste produced is the workers. The second caste is the soldiers. The third caste is the reproductives. Two types, primary and supplementary, are produced in a Formosan subterranean termite colony. The two types have different functions. Primary reproductives swarm and start new colonies. They are called alates or swarmers. Although thousands of primary reproductives are produced each year, they all leave the nest. Primaries cannot become reproductive if they remain in their colony of origin. In a Formosan colony, the only primaries that reproduce are the original king and queen that started the colony. Supplementary reproductives, on the other hand, can become reproductive only in the colonies in which they were born. They take over reproduction when the primary king or queen dies or becomes separated from the main colony.

Habitat:

Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground, building vertical tunnels that look like mud tubes above ground level so that they can search for food. Because subterranean termites will die if exposed to air for an extended period of time, the tunnels provide protection from the open air, allowing workers to carry food to the nest. Subterranean termites can form tunnels through cracks in concrete, so slab homes are not exempt from these termites. They need to stay in contact with the soil in order to survive, unlike drywood termites that only need low moisture.

Tips for Control:

There are several things a homeowner can do which can help prevent termite infestations or make them easier to detect.

• Store firewood away from the house.
• Make sure at least four inches of the foundation can be seen all around the home.
• Siding should not extend into the soil – mulch and soil should not be high enough to cover the siding.
• Make sure water drains away from the foundation – accumulation of water next to the foundation is important for the survival of a termite colony next to a home. Rain gutters are ideal; however, the downspout should direct water away from the home. Roof or plumbing leaks can allow termites to survive above ground in a house. These should be corrected as soon as possible.
• Paint will protect exposed wood against termites for about 5 years, and commercial pressure-treated wood will provide longer lasting protection. Before painting, all cracks and crevices should be filled with putty or plastic wood.
• Certain woods are naturally resistant to termite attacks. Among these woods are Redwood Core, Bald Cypress, Mahogany, and Spanish Cedar. These types of wood, however, will become susceptible after several years of exposure to weather.

Learn more detailed information about all types of pests and how to identify them.