TERMITES AND FUMIGATION

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TERMITES & FUMIGATION

TERMITES & FUMIGATION
Over 2,300 species of termites, most of them tropical, have been described by entomologists. In the U.S. we have only three groups of termites of economic importance: Subterranean, Drywood, and Dampwood Termites. The subterranean and drywood are the two types of termites that cause damage to buildings in Southern California.

Fumigation is the process where insects are eliminated from a structure with the use of specialized fumigant gas. Fumigation's are carried out using essentially two chemicals: Vikane® Gas Fumigant (Sulfuryl Fluoride) and Methyl Bromide also a gas fumigant. These gases are odorless and colorless and leave no residue. Therefore, prior to the fumigation, applicators introduce trace amounts of Chloropicrin. Chloropicrin (Tear gas) has a strong odor and will cause respiratory and eye irritation. In September 2000, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation initiated new procedural regulations that have made the use of Methyl Bromide fumigant extremely impractical and costly. The result, of these new regulations, was to essentially stop the use of Methyl Bromide as a structural fumigant in the State of California.

De-One Fumigation Inc. is a licensed Vikane® Gas Fumigant specialist. Vikane® Gas Fumigant has proven to be effective and is the only legal fumigant that can be used in California.

What are the different types of termites?
Over 2,300 species of termites, most of them tropical, have been described by entomologists. In the U.S. we have only three groups of termites of economic importance: Subterranean, Drywood and Dampwood Termites. The Subterranean and Drywood are the two types of termites that cause damage to buildings in Southern California.

Subterranean: Termites live in the soil and must maintain contact with the ground or some other moisture source to survive. They build earthen tubes from the ground into the structure for protection from predators and to help maintain a moist environment. In some rare situations, if water and wood are available from a source other than the soil, subterranean termites can establish a colony with no ground contact.

Drywood: Termites live inside wood and do not make contact with soil. They get the moisture they need to live from humid air. For this reason, Drywood termites are most common along humid coastal areas. Termite Colony: Termites are social insects that live in highly organized colonies. Like many insects, they have an egg, an immature, and an adult stage. There are three main types of adults colony members: reproductives, workers, and soldiers. When the colony is several years old and relatively large, it may produce another form of an adult termite called a "swarmer." Swarmers are the termite's way of sending out new kings and queens to start colonies. Normally, at least three to four years or more will pass before any swarming or winged termites from the colony occur.

Swarmers are the most visible form of termites. These termites can be confused with many ants that also swarm in the spring. However, swarming ants have elbowed antennae, a narrow waist, and front wings that are longer than the back wings; swarming termites have straight antennae, a thick waist, and all wings the same length.