Termite inspection:
Signs of termite infestation
in house

It is difficult to clearly identify the presence of subterranean termites, as they are a pest that operates inside wood, away from light. However, there are certain signs that should alert you if you encounter them:

Termite mud

Termite mud tubes are one of the most visible signs of subterranean termite infestation. Constructed from saliva and excrement, they enable termites to move safely to their food source. You can see them near baseboards, walls and beams.

Termites mud in house

Termite wings

When the termites’ swarming (and thus their reproduction) starts, they lose their wings. They can easily be recognized thanks to their water drop shape. The wings presence can be associated with a possible infestation.

Termite wings in house

Damaged wood

When wood or wood-based materials (paper, cardboard, etc.) are attacked by subterranean termites, the wood is hollowed out from the inside and takes on a laminated appearance. It can warp or sag. The wood also sounds hollow when tapped.

Termite-damaged wood in a house

If you are faced with any of these signs or have any doubts about a potential infestation, it is essential to carefully choose a pest control professional to ensure a prompt intervention.

These experts will carry out a thorough inspection of your home and define the most appropriate treatment solution. To choose the best method for getting rid of termites, you first need to know about their biology.

Professional termite inspection company
wood-eating termites in a house

Termite species and how they function

Termites are primarily forest insects. They play a vital role in the environment, recycling dead wood. There are over 2,800 species worldwide. These species can be divided into two main families: drywood termites, which nest in the wood they infest, and subterranean termites, which nest in underground colonies. Subterranean termites are by far the most damaging to homes. They can emerge through the masonry of a home to access all the wood sources present within the house.

When they approach homes, termites devour anything containing cellulose (frameworks, beams, floors, furniture, etc., but also wood by-products), a perfect source of food for the colony. Termites live in a highly organized society: they are social insects with a caste system. Based on the division of labor, colonies can number millions of individuals, each with a well-defined role:

working
4 à 6mm

Working
termites

These are the termites you are most likely to come across near houses, since their role is to feed all members of the colony. They are particularly numerous, representing over 90% of the population. They build termite mud tubes through which they move until they find a source of cellulose, which they consume, digest and redistribute to the colony.

soldier
8mm

Soldier
termites

These are the termites that defend the colony from enemies, which is why they are morphologically adapted to combat. Depending on the species, soldiers may have different physical characteristics, one or two mandibles and a disproportionately large and colorful head. Due to their physical characteristics, they are unable to feed themselves independently. They are therefore dependent on worker termites, which regurgitate the wood they consume and share it with soldier termites.

swarmer
5 à 8mm

Swarmer
termites

There are two types of reproducer: primary (the ones which swarm) and secondary (wingless), which are present when conditions are favorable or unfavorable for colony expansion. Unlike other termites, they have developed genitalia. These are the reproductive termites that will leave their colony at swarming time to create a new one. They would also replace the royal couple in the event of their demise.

queen and king
10mm

The termite queen
and the king

The termite queen and king form the “royal couple”, whose mission is to ensure the colony’s survival. As a result, they remain cloistered in their lodge and reproduce in such a way as to ensure the renewal of the population. The queen lays an average of one egg every two seconds and, depending on the species, has a life expectancy of between 15 and 40 years.

Termites behavior: How do termites communicate?

To organize themselves in such a structured way, termites need to communicate. Apart from the reproductive termites and the “royal couple”, the other members of the colony are deaf and blind. To understand each other, they use the pheromones they emit to send each other signals:

  • Tracking pheromones are emitted by worker termites to help them move around, find their way back, communicate where food is located and exchange it.

  • Alarm pheromones are emitted by worker termites and soldier termites to signal danger, enabling them to recruit fellow termites to defend the colony.

  • Sex pheromones are emitted by winged termites during the swarming period (when termites leave their colony to reproduce and create a new one).

Each member of the colony can therefore be replaced. Thanks to the pheromones emitted, the state of the colony is always known. So if any soldier termites perish in battle, some worker termites may become soldiers during their development. They join the troops until the level required to protect the colony is reached. The same applies to the king and queen: although they are the reproductive couple, neutralizing them would not be enough to destroy the colony, since they also have “substitutes”, the reproductive termites.

Bait stations systems

Termite treatment:
termite bait stations systems

Termite control bait stations systems are a highly effective way of getting rid of subterranean termites. This is a treatment developed according to the biology and the operation of termite colonies. Their installation involves positioning stations containing termiticide baits in and/or around the buildings to be treated. The worker termites, responsible for feeding the colony, will consume the termiticide. This will contaminate the worker termites without killing them instantly, so that they have time to infect the other members of the colony.

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NOVATERM®, the connected and intelligent
termite control bait station system

Installed by a pest control professional, the technological innovation included in NOVATERM® termite control station effectively neutralizes subterranean termite colonies. Stations can be installed to monitor a site or to eliminate a confirmed colony. Outdoor termite bait stations are positioned around the house to form a barrier. In addition to their efficiency, NOVATERM® stations offer several advantages:

A termite control bait station system
which is connected 24/7

Outdoor termite bait stations fitted with a 24/7 connected monitoring technology linked to an application. This alerts the pest control professional when the bait in the station has been consumed. In this way, they can quickly intervene, detect the presence of termites and reload the bait stations.

A termite control bait station system
for rational pesticide use

The NOVATERM® termite control bait stations system combines innovation and performance. The composition of NOVATERM® baits is a unique termiticide formulation that incorporates plant chemistry. It is proven and covers a wide spectrum of activities against termite species found worldwide. Baits based on bio-based fibers are highly palatable to termites.