TERMITES IN TEXAS
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES CAN ENTER STRUCTURES
THROUGH SMALL CRACKS, SLAB PENETRATIONS OR ANY OTHER AVENUE LARGER THAN
1/64". BY MAKING MUD TUBES, SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES TUNNEL BEHIND WALL BOARDS,
INTO STUDS, CABINETS AND/OR FURNITURE. SADLY THEIR PRESENCE IS RARELY
NOTICED UNTIL THE DAMAGE IS SUBSTANTIAL. EVEN IN METAL/MASONARY STRUCTURES
TERMITES CAN BECOME GENERAL PEST PROBLEM THROUGH SWARMING ACTIVITY. FORMOSAN
TERMITES ARE RAPIDLY BECOMING A GREATER CONCERN IN THE LONESTAR STATE DUE TO
THEIR VERACIOUS APPETITES. WHILE THEY CAN ENTER STRUCTURES THROUGH
SWARMING ACTIVITIES, MANY INFESTATIONS CAN BE PREVENTED WITH APPROPRIATE
PRETREATMENT.
TERMITE
FACT
ACCORDING TO THE U.S.
DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE TERMITES CAUSE OVER $1 BILLION OF DAMAGE IN THE U.S.
ANNUALLY.
WHY PRETREAT?
IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF STRUCTURES IN TEXAS. oNES THAT
HAVE TERMITES AND THOSE THAT WILL HAVE THEM. wHILE THAT MIGHT BE A BIT OF AN
EXAGERATION THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THAT AT SOME POINT IN TIME, TERMITES WILL
BE TREATED ON MOST STRUCTURES. oNCE THE SLAB IS IN PLACE, TREATING FOR
TERMITES BECOMES DIFFICULT, EXPENSIVE, AND INCONVENIENT. BY "pRE-TREATING"
THE SOIL BEFORE THE SLAB IS POURED WE HAVE THE ABILITY FULLY PROTECT THE
STRUCTURE, QUICKLY, CHEAPLY AND WITH MINIMAL INCONVENIECE.
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES LIVE IN UNDER-GROUND COLONIES
(HENCE THE NAME SUB-TERRANEAN) THEY MUST RETURN TRAVEL IN BETWEEN A FOOD
SOURCE AND THEIR COLONIES. tERMITES ARE A BENEFICIAL INSECT IN THEIR NATURAL
SETTING, DISPOSING OF DEAD TREES, BUSHES AND ROOT SYSTEMS. wHEN THEY FIND
THEIR WAY INTO OUR STRUCTURES THEY BECOME PESTS. SADLY, TERMITES DON'T
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DEAD TREE AND DIMENSION LUMBER.
BECAUSE SUBTERRANEAN TERMITE COLONIES ARE LOCATED UNDERGROUND, THEY MUST
CROSS FROM THE SOIL, INTO A STRUCTURE BEFORE THEY CAN DO ANY DAMAGE. tHE
BASIC IDEA BEHIND PRETREATMENTS IS TO PLACE A CHEMICAL BARRIER BETWEEN THE
SOIL AND THE STRUCTURE BEFORE THE STRUCTURE IS BUILT. WHEN TERMITES GO
FORAGING FOR FOOD, THEY RUN INTO THIS BARRIER AND GO FORAGING ELSEWHERE.
WITHOUT PRETREATMENT, TERMITES OFTEN FIND THEIR WAY IN, AND START EATING. aT
THAT POINT, NOT ONLY ARE YOU FACED WITH AN EXPENSIVE AND DIFFICULT TERMITE
TREATEMENT, BUT WITH REPAIRING THE DAMAGE THE LITTLE BUGGERS HAVE CAUSED.
