Termites
Termites are responsible for billions in control and damage repair costs every year in the United States. Most termite damage goes unseen and undiscovered for many years. Florida is home to three types of termites (subterranean, dry wood, damp wood) each group includes various species. Each species is different in its own way, their damage, habitats, and physical appearances are all different. Damp wood Termites will only attack saturated wood unsheltered from the rain (tree, fences, woodpiles etc..) and scarcely do they attack a man-made structure unless the structure is vulnerable to the element of rain and the wood becomes and stays saturated. Drywood Termites have little need for water and live within the dry wood. Their colonies aren’t as big as other groups of termites, nor their damage, but over time could even lead to considerable damage if left untreated. There are many procedures used to eradicate them, the best known and effective treatment is tenting. Which like many companies, Your Bugman does not offer service for, but will gladly inspect for them. There are companies that specialize in that procedure. Subterranean termites are the most destructive of the three groups.
We at Your Bugman specialize in
Subterranean Termites protection and elimination.
Subterranean Termites
​Subterranean termites are the most destructive of the 3 groups. They are a social insect that lives in giant colonies and have an organized caste structure (king, queen, secondary reproductives, soldiers, workers, nymphs, alates). Each group of the caste members has a crucial role in the colony’s survival. They communicate amongst each other by using pheromones.
King and Queen:
It all begins with male and female alates (future king and queen). The alates pair up, look for a suitable structure to build their colony. A termite king and queen will mate when a suitable spot is found. When their desired spot is found, they excavate a chamber big enough for both, seal up their entrance point and mate. Early stages of the colony, the queen only lays 10–20 eggs, but a mature colony (several years old) the queen can lay 1,000 a day. A king and queen termite could live 30-50 years.
Larvae:
The eggs the queen lays will hatch into its larvae stage, where they will be fed and cared for by adult workers. The larvae will develop and mature into one of four different caste members (Workers, soldiers, nymphs, secondary reproductive).
Workers:
Are creamy white to grayish-white with a rounded head, they are blind, lack the sense of smell and are wingless and soft-bodied. Workers can break down and digest cellulose in the wood where other caste members can’t. They care for eggs and young, forging and gathering food and water within the wood and soil, building and repair shelter tubes, they groom and feed all of other termites in the colony. They make up the biggest percentage of the termite colony and play the biggest role in its survival.
Soldiers:
Are wingless and have a large, rectangular, yellowish-brown head with long black mandibles. They cannot feed themselves and rely on the regurgitated food from the workers to eat. Soldiers make up only 1-2% of the colony. The soldiers’ primary function is to defend the colony. They are signaled through pheromones by the workers if the nest has been disrupted by mud tunnel collapse’s or by the presence of predators. They use their mandibles to crush, pierce and decapitate predators. (R. flavipes soldiers have a fontanelle in addition to mandibles, fontanelle are holes in the forehead that spray sticky defensive secretion)
Nymphs:
Are the reproductive line and are responsible for colony growth. From a nymph, they will then molt to be either a secondary reproductive or alates.
Secondary reproductives:
Are blind, wingless reproductive that stays in the nest and sole purpose is to reproduce eggs, but at a lower rate than a queen.
Alates(referred to as swarmer’s):
Unlike the secondary reproductives, alates have wings. Swarmer wings from each termite group are different and a species could be identified by wings alone. Though they are poor fliers and rely on wind currents to carry them. Like most flying insects they are attracted to light. They normally take flight during the months of March-May. A swarm is a good indicator or termite presence when damage is hidden and cannot be seen. Swarmers represent many years of termite presence. A termite swarm will only occur once a colony becomes mature (3-5yrs). Swarmer will emerge and take flight, they will pair up, drop their wings and look for a suitable structure to build their new colony.
Subterranean Termites Treatment
There are two treatments for Subterranean Termite (pre-construction and post-construction). Treatments differ in procedures, both properly done will achieve the same basic goal. To create a chemical barrier to affect foraging termites within the soil. Since termites are always foraging for water and additional food sources, chemical barriers are proven to be the most effective way to prevent or eliminate problems.
Pre-construction treatment:
Once the new building site is set up for the slab to be poured, the ground is area sprayed. Areas where sewer line, electrical, water lines etc…. are to come up from the below the slab, them areas get additional chemical applied to create a stronger barrier. The voids in the block get treated as well. Once this is done, the slab is immediately poured. Chemical breakdown at a lot quicker rate when exposed to the elements (Rain, air, sunlight etc…) So this phase of the application is coordinated between the pest control company and the builder. Once studs and wood sheathing are up, the pest control company returns for the second phase to treat the actual wood. When the house is finished being built, the pest control company will return for the third and final phase. In this phase, the exterior of the structure is trenched and the chemical is then injected into the soil and soil is backfilled after treatment.
Post-Construction Treatment
This procedure starts with trenching around the exterior of the structure where the soil meets. Any area that has concrete meeting the structure (sidewalks, patios slabs, interior garage walls etc….) will be drilled if needed to be able to gain access to and be able to treat soil below. Once trenching is done, holes are then drilled through the block to the soil underneath the slab. Once all the prep work is done, chemical is then thoroughly mixed, once mixed, chemical is then applied by rodding into the soil under the slab, through the holes previously drilled through the block, chemical is then applied to the voids in the block, after that, chemical is applied to the exterior wall of the trench and holes where concrete met the structure. Once the chemical application is complete, drilled holes are then plugged and sealed up, and soil is backfilled into the trench.
(Note: Additional areas may need to be treated and varies by job to job, due to location of termite activity )
Bait Stations
Bait/Monitoring Stations are a very eco-friendly but it is a costlier route to go. Since termite workers are blind and have no sense of smell, termite must accidentally run into them, monitoring stations must be placed very strategically and by a highly experienced termite specialist. Stations must be monitored on a regular schedule with fees to monitor.
Your Bugman does its part to be as eco-friendly as possible, we're proud to say, we have the know-how and expertise needed to properly and strategically install and monitor bait/monitoring stations.
Your Bugman Termite Guarantee
All complete termite treatments (excludes partial treatments) comes with a one-year guarantee and if termite activity is still active, we will come out at no extra charge and treat problem areas. The guarantee could be renewed and extended for a renewal fee of $150-$200 per year, up to 5 years after treatment. Every year we come out and inspect as part of the renewal of guarantee and if termite issue arises, we treat at no extra cost. After 5 years a complete termite treatment must be done at a discounted rate to continue guarantee. A fresh chemical barrier is reapplied to and provide superior protection and is able to be renewed per year for an additional 5 years.
Your Bugman only uses the best chemicals on the market and most proven effective methods to eliminate whatever problem that may arise. We never put quantity over quality, buy using a cheaper less effective chemical. We are the best because we only have the best technician’s working with the best equipment and materials.