1. Waist: All termites have a "thick waist" where there abdomen is joined to their middle body region (thorax); ants have a "pinched-in waist" at that point.
2. Antennae: All termites have antennae that look like a "string of beads"; but all ants have distinctly "elbowed"antennae.
3. Wings: Termite swarmers have two pairs of long narrow, wings with very few clearly visible veins, and both the front and back pair are nearly equal in size and length. Winged ants have two pair of wings with several distinct cross veins, shaped long triangles, and the back pair much shorter than the front pair.

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My next door neighbor had a termite problem and had to have their home repaired and treated. What can I do to protect my home from termites?

There are a number of things you can do to make your home less attractive to termites (see Homeowner's Guide to Termite Protection). Unfortunately, in the south the typical home sits on top of 3 to 4 termite colonies, with up to a million termites per colony. So there is a good chance of termites finding their way into your home. At a minimum you should have your home inspected by a termite professional on an annual basis. If your home is not currently under warranty with a termite solutions company, you need to consider putting your home on a termite protection program to protect yourself from future problems. Contact Redd Pest Solutions for a free, no obligation inspection and for additional information about termites, treatment options and guarantees.

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If I don't see termites around my home, does that mean I don't have a termite problem?

Unfortunately, no! In fact, you may never actually see subterranean termites because they live in the ground. But they can enter homes through cracks and openings as narrow as 1/64th of an inch, about the thickness of a piece of paper. Termites can also enter through expansion joints in the slab, around plumbing pipes and behind stucco, siding and brick veneer. Once introduced into the wood inside your home, termites can cause enormous amounts of damage before you ever know they are there. That is because they eat wood from the inside out making them extremely difficult to detect. The vast majority of their destructive work is invisible.

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Which treatment method is the most effective to protect my home from termites?

There are basically three treatment methods used for subterranean termite solutions, soil treatment, baits and wood treatments. The best treatment for your home will depend on many factors that are unique to your home, your termite problem and your personal preferences.

Soil Treatments: Are usually applied directly to the soil around the perimeter of your home. This treatment sets up a continuous treated area that will solutions termites that come in contact with the material.

Bait Systems: Designed to protect homes by eliminating the termite colonies that come in contact with it. These systems work well, but usually require more time to work versus soil treatments. Termites must find and accept the bait then share it with other members of the colony.

Wood Treatments: Are often done as a preventative treatment or in conjunction with one of the other methods listed above. The wood itself is treated with a borate material, and termites either avoid the treated wood or feed on it and die.

All three methods are effective if applied correctly. Contact Redd Pest Solutions for a Free, No Obligation Inspection and for additional information as to what treatment method is best for your particular situation.

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