The Happiest Bug You’ll Ever See

New ‘super termite’ moving in

Florida’s list of non-native bugs causing problems continues to grow, including one nicknamed the “super termite,” also known as the Formosan subterranean termite.

So far the termite hasn’t hit St. Johns County, but it has arrived in Putnam and Duval counties.

“They were first discovered (in the U.S.) in South Florida near Hallandale and then they were discovered in the Panhandle around Fort Walton. From there they’ve just moved in,” said Bruce McCowan, an entomologist with Florida Pest Control in Gainesville.

The Hallandale discovery was made in 1980. University of Florida researchers estimate the termites were actually there five to 10 years earlier.

The Formosan termite has been found in areas around the state in Ocala in Marion County and Leon County and well as Putnam and Duval counties.

The good news about the termite is that “they don’t seem to travel very well. It’s unfortunate if you’ve got them. It’s fortunate they don’t spread very well,” McCowan said.

The Formosan subterranean termite is actually a native of Southern China that was transported to Formosa, Taiwan, where it picked up its name. From there it went to Japan prior to the 1600s. It has slowly spread since, with the first colonies in the U.S. found in the 1960s in Texas, Louisiana and South Carolina.

The South is likely to remain the major target of the Formosan termites since they prefer warmer climates and their eggs don’t hatch at temperatures below 68 degrees.

McCowan said the Formosan termite is “very similar in habits” to native subterranean termites that plague Florida. While their appetites are about the same what’s different is the size of the termite colonies. A subterranean colony can have up to 500,000 termites. The Formosa termite colony can have several million termites.

“There’s that many more mouths in the same amount of space. They really do damage, it’s just the sheer number that do the damage,” he said.

Treatments are available.

“It’s something you don’t want to try yourself. As professionals we do have the ability to control them for you,” he said.

Tenting is rarely needed, he said, noting that’s for dry wood termites, a different breed. Soil treatments are the most common means for controlling the Formosa termites.

“The peculiar thing about Formosa termites is that once they get above ground, if they find moisture from a roof leak or a leaking pipe, they can survive even a soil treatment,” said McCowan.

About Formosan termites

* Sometimes referred to as the “Super Termite”

* Resemble the native subterranean species.

* Colonies can have several million termites

* Found in structures including boats and high-rise condominiums.

* Most aggressive and destructive timber pests in the U.S.

* Also attack non-cellulose materials including plaster and asphalt looking for food and moisture.

* As of 2010, found in Alabama, California (an isolated infestation in San Diego County), Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Source: www.floridabugs.com and http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/urban/termites/formosan_termite.htm

Read More: http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2011-02-22/new-super-termite-moving

Termidor Termite Treatment FAQ’S

What is Termidor?

Termidor is a professionally applied termite defense product that is undetectable to drywood and subterranean termites. Since its introduction, over 3.75 million homes have been protected with Termidor, making it America’s #1 termite defense product.

What types of termites does Termidor control?

Termidor controls Subterranean termites, including the extremely destructive Formosan Subterranean termites, Dampwood termites and Drywood termites.

Through the years, other products have promised homeowners protection from termites. How can homeowners be sure that Termidor works?

Termidor is made from a revolutionary nonrepellent or “undetectable” chemical technology. In numerous trials across the United States and around the world, Termidor has consistently proven itself to be the most effective and fastest at eliminating termites—a level of efficacy that no other commercially available termite control system of any type has ever achieved. And, Termidor is proving to be equally effective in keeping termites from coming back.

Ongoing field trials by the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service show no signs of termite damage in covered slab plots treated with Termidor WG at labeled rates for more than 14 years after treatment—results no other commercially available termite control product can match.

Where can I buy Termidor?

Termidor cannot be directly purchased or applied by homeowners. Only licensed pest control professionals who have taken Termidor Certification Training are authorized to purchase and apply Termidor. You can find a Termidor Certified Professional in your area using our online locator.

How does a professional apply Termidor to my home for termites?

A Termidor Certified Professional will apply a liquid dilution of Termidor along the foundation walls of your home to create a continuous treatment zone. The application method is called “trenching” or “trenching and rodding,” and may sometimes require drilling holes through slabs or other hard surfaces adjacent to the foundation of your home for maximum protection. Your Termidor Certified Professional may also treat conducive or termite active areas from the interior of your home, depending on the extent of the termite infestation and damage. Depending on your situation, a minimally disruptive Termidor treatment along the exterior perimeter (PerimeterPLUS™) of your home may be all the protection your home will need.

How fast will Termidor work to eliminate termites?

Termidor applied according to label directions has provided 100% control of infesting termites in three months or less after treatment.

Can Termidor be used for both residential and commercial buildings?

Yes, Termidor Certified Professionals can offer termite protection to most any type of structure that is at risk for termite damage, including residential homes, churches, office buildings, commercial businesses, warehouses, manufacturing sites and schools.

How long will it take to complete a Termidor termite treatment?

A residential Termidor termite treatment is typically completed by a trained Termidor Certified Professional in less than a day, offering your home or building termite protection that begins immediately.

Will Termidor have or leave an odor?

No, Termidor has virtually no odor.

What makes Termidor different from other termite control options?

Like many other termite control products, Termidor termiticide/insecticide is a liquid—but that’s where the similarities end. Among liquid termiticides, Termidor is the most effective. That’s because Termidor is undetectable so termites neither avoid its treatment zone nor try to find a way around it.

Some nonrepellent liquids claim to be “nearly,” “virtually,” or “almost” as effective, but the difference between “almost as good as Termidor” and Termidor itself can make all the difference in the world when it comes to protecting your home from termites.

How much will a Termidor termite treatment cost?

The cost of a Termidor termite treatment varies and largely depends on your particular situation, the treatment plan and service package you and your pest control professional agree upon.

Is it real-world proven?

Termidor is one of the most thoroughly reviewed termite control products in history. Termidor is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency and can only be applied by a pest control professional who has been trained in correct application methods. Termidor is incredibly effective even at low application rates and bonds to the soil in which it is applied, so homeowners need not worry about leaching of the product. Termidor is applied with water, is not a petroleum based material and will not cause harm to plants adjacent to the areas of application.

AL Hoffer’s Pest Protection

Termite House Party

The Termite House Party, sponsored by BASF Termidor termiticide/insecticide, is an exhibit aimed at educating people about Formosan termites, which infest an estimated 1.5 million homes each year. Now you can watch these little home wreckers in action with this 24/7 video feed. Visit often to see thousands of hungry, wood-eating termites as they consume this miniature dollhouse………before it is destroyed!

Termite Facts

Here are some general facts about termites, remember to call Al Hoffer’s Pest at the first sign of termite activity. We have been specializing in termite inspection and control in South Florida for over 30 years! Also check out the image below on how to distinguish an ant from a termite.

• Termites are insects. They have hard, saw-toothed jaws that help them to eat lumber, wallpaper, plastics, and fabric made of plant fibers.

• There are four different groups of termites: dampwood, drywood, subterranean and mound builders. Dampwood termites like to live and feed in very moist wood. Drywood termites can survive in very dry conditions and do not need moisture or soil. Subterranean termites are very common and live and breed in soil. Mound builders live in Africa, Australia, Southeast Asia and part of South America; they are able to build large earthen towers 25 feet or higher.

• Termites can be found in almost every state as well as Mexico and parts of Canada. They favor warmer climates and actively avoid light. (See range map below)

• As a species, termites date back to the time of the dinosaurs.

• Termites are 24/7 bugs, which means they eat non-stop – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They feed on wood and may also destroy paper products such as books, cardboard, boxes and anything containing cellulose. Even buildings with steel framing and masonry walls are targets because of the wooden door and window frames, cabinets and shelving within the buildings.

• Termites live in underground colonies, some containing over two million members.

• The social structure of a colony includes the queen, king, winged reproductive swarmers, soldiers, and workers. Worker termites are small creamy white insects. They are the most numerous and the cause of all the termite damage.

• Swarmers, or winged reproductive’s, are termites that leave the colony to mate, reproduce and start new colonies.

• In a large nest, a queen and king may live for 15 years, with the queen laying up to one egg every 15 seconds for most of her life.

• Termites can cause serious damage to structures often long before they are discovered, i.e., more than $1.5 billion in property damage a year to over 600,000 homes in the United States.

• How do termites enter the home? The most common termite, the subterranean, builds its nest in the ground. These termites construct mud tubes that are used to explore for food and connect their underground nest to that food source. They can enter a building without direct wood contact with the soil through such tubes. They can find their way into a structure through an opening as small as 1/32 of an inch (smaller than the size of a pinhead!).

• Al Hoffer’s techs are termite control specialists, and can provide protection from termite infestations. Our termite inspectors are trained to locate specific areas in homes where a termite attack is most likely to occur. If termites are found, we can design a treatment plan to control current infestations and to protect homes from future infestations.

Image courtesy of American Pest Control