Termite Control FAQs
Do you know how to detect termites in your home or on your property?
There might be a colony of these bugs on or near your home, and you may not even realize it.
Fight The Bite offers free termite inspections to our customers. Our technicians have the knowledge and equipment to eliminate the infestation if we find evidence of these destructive insects.
Today, we answer several FAQs about termite control and why it’s important to protect your property from damage.
Why is regular termite control important?
As soon as you know you have termites in your home, you need to take care of the problem immediately before these insects destroy structural elements and wood in your home. The damage caused by termites can cost much, much more than the costs of preventive measures and termite control.
How much damage do termites cause each year?
Approximately 600,000 homes suffer damage from termites each year, causing around $30 billion in repair costs.
How much does professional termite control cost?
Costs vary based on the size of the home and size of the property. Total Home Defense termite treatment from Fight The Bite includes:
Complete termite inspection
Termite treatment (two options available)
Warranties
Satisfaction guaranteed
Pest control companies, including Fight The Bite, should offer a free quote for services.
Is termite control covered by homeowner’s insurance?
In general, no because termites can be prevented by regular home maintenance.
Are there eco-friendly termite control techniques?
Yes, and the staff at Fight The Bite can apply an eco-friendly option to take care of termites on your property.
Why should I eliminate termites once I find them?
Swarmers. It all comes down to swarmers. Swarmers are a type of termite that leaves the colony once it becomes too big. The goal of swarmers is to build another colony, which happens once per year. That’s why professional termite control is important because you never know when a colony will spread to make another colony.
Swarmers look like flying ants, and a highly trained termite expert can tell a swarming termite apart from a flying ant. You’ll want a professional on your side because home pest control remedies for flying ants may not kill termites.
What habits of termites make them so dangerous to your property?
In addition to swarmers, the natural habits of termites make controlling these insects crucial to prevent damage to your home and property.
Insatiable appetite.
Dwelling in the ground.
Sharing food.
1) Insatiable appetite. Termites never stop looking for food. They’ll travel several hundred feet to find a meal. They eat wood from trees or homes. Once they find wood, they come up from the ground to feast on the wood. Because termites come up from the ground, termite control companies place bait and termiticide in the ground. Ants find a source of food and stick with it. But termites never stop searching for food because the colony needs to grow quickly.
2) Dwelling in the ground. Subterranean termites are the most common, which is why you don’t often see them. They don’t fly to find food. Termites burrow in the ground. Termites also don’t live in wood, they only eat the wood. Traveling a few hundred feet for a meal is a big deal because the termites have to dig through dirt to get there. Consider that the average human is 120 times longer than a termite. Let’s say a termite travels 500 feet to find food. You would have to dig through 7 miles of dirt to look for food if you were to follow a termite’s methodology to search for food. It’s not easy. But their insatiable hunger for wood can damage your home.
3) Sharing food. Termites share food with their colony. Once they find a viable food source, they’ll keep at it until it’s time to move on.
Luckily, termite control companies use these natural habits to their advantage.
How does professional termite control work?
Outside, a professional pest control company places a liquid termiticide in the ground at regular intervals. The liquid acts as bait, and when termites interact with the liquid they carry it back to the nest. Eventually, the goal of the chemical is to kill the queen. Once the queen dies, the colony collapses. A termite control technician may also spray a liquid around the perimeter of your house to keep termites away.
Inside, a termite control tech may combine a liquid treatment with bait traps, depending on your situation.
The beauty of termite control methods is that it doesn’t harm other insects. We can tailor a treatment option for you that just kills termites and nothing else.
How long does it take to perform professional termite control?
Most termite control systems take one day or less, depending on the size of the property.
How long does professional termite control last?
Some treatments may last up to five years. Fight The Bite can supply a warranty to you as part of your termite treatment.
What chemicals kill termites?
Fipronil
Hexaflumuron
Fipronil is an active ingredient in many termiticides. Fight The Bite might use this chemical around the perimeter of your home to keep termites away.
Hexaflumuron is most commonly used in bait trap systems, both in the ground and on the floor. Termites pick up this chemical and leave a trail for other termites to follow. Individuals can carry this chemical back to the colony to kill even more termites with the goal of getting to the queen.
Borate and boric acid also kill termites as a natural method of termite control.
Why is killing the queen vital to termite control?
If a termite queen dies, the colony can’t continue because no other members of the colony can lay eggs. Workers bring the queen food, so a liquid bait system that allows termites to carry the chemical back to the queen is the best way to get rid of termites.
What attracts termites to my property?
Food and moisture attract termites. If it has rained a lot and you have a lot of trees on your property, you might see termites. They are also active at night.
When are termites most active in Missouri?
Late spring is the most active time of year for termites in Missouri because of the rain and warmer temperatures.
What termites occur in Missouri?
Four species of termites occur naturally in Missouri, according to the University of Missouri Extension. All of these types are closely related to each other, and they belong to the genus Reticulitermes.
How many termite control companies are there in Springfield, Missouri?
There are a couple of dozen termite control companies in Springfield.
Fight The Bite provides professional termite control services at any time of year to make sure these destructive insects stay away from your home and property.
Call us today at 417-522-1242 or contact us online for a free quote.