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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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:
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.
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.