Termites can cause a lot of damage to your property, which can put your safety and health at risk. At Barrier Pest Services, we have effective solutions to control termites that can meet your specific needs. Our team of experts is highly trained and uses the latest methods and products to get rid of termites from your property and prevent them from coming back. We have two options to provide you with complete termite control: liquid barrier treatments and baiting systems. We also offer annual inspections to make sure that your home stays termite-free. Don’t let termites damage your home and cost you a lot of money. Contact us today to schedule your appointment for professional termite control services.

At Barrier Pest Services, we know that dealing with termite infestations can be stressful and make you anxious. We want to help you feel at ease by making sure that your property is safe from termites. Our inspections are quick and easy, so they won’t disrupt your daily routine. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and provide you with the information you need to make good decisions about your property.

termites extermination

Termites are known as “ecosystem engineers” for their role in shaping and modifying their environments, such as building complex mound structures.

How to Get Rid of Formosan Termites: Effective Termite Control and Extermination

Termite control and extermination methods have improved over the past few decades, with the number of products and application techniques more than tripling in the last ten years. If you need termite control or extermination services for your Charleston, South Carolina home or business, it’s important to choose the right pest control company and warranty.

Conventional Liquid Treatment for Termite Control

Conventional liquid treatments are a popular choice for termite control. In the past, termiticides had a strong odor that could be detected by termites, but today’s products, like Termidor termiticide, are odorless and undetectable to termites. Termidor is effective for both preventative and remedial treatments and is long-lasting. It has proven to be effective against Formosan termites, with a reduced application label that requires less product to be used.

Termite Bait System for Extermination

Termite bait systems use a slow-acting insect growth regulator that disrupts termites’ normal growth. These systems take advantage of termites’ behavior and biology and are installed around the home’s exterior perimeter or building structure. The bait, made of paper, cardboard, or sawdust-like material, contains ingredients that kill termites. As the termites feed on the bait, they spread the insecticide to other colony members, including the king and queen.

However, there’s no guarantee that termites will come across the bait station while foraging for food. The baiting system requires regular monitoring and maintenance to be most effective.

At Barrier Pest Services, we offer Advance Bait Systems in conjunction with an exterior Termidor treatment for homes or structures with inaccessible crawlspaces or slab foundations. This two-fold treatment is recommended when a complete liquid treatment is not possible due to construction design.

Frequently Asked Questions

Termites typically eat wood from the inside to the outside; therefore, months can pass before being noticed. However, if you don’t know the early signs of a termite infestation, you may only realize you have a termite problem once it’s too late.

Look for these signs of termite activity to lessen the chances of severe damage to your home:

  • Discarded wings. Young termites fly in swarms when they leave their nests and drop their wings before moving into their new home. If you find discarded wings, you more than likely have termites.
  • Hollow-sounding walls or floors. If you tap on your home’s walls, floorboards, and other wooden structures and hear a hollow sound, this could be a sign of termite damage.
  • Termite mud tubes. Subterranean termites create small tunnels while traveling from their home to yours. Mud tubes can frequently be found around termite nests, wood structures, and your home’s foundation. 

While it is possible for the do-it-yourselfer to prevent and get rid of termites , the best way to exterminate termites is to contact Barrier Pest Services. A trained technician’s experience, knowledge, and commercial-grade products and equipment are vital to determining the type of termites and the most efficient way to exterminate.

If you suspect you have termites in your home, it’s important to take action quickly. Hollow-sounding wood and mud tubes can provide clues to an active termite infestation. Because termites burrow within wood, it is possible that they would not be noticeable from outside the wood leading to extreme damage.

Termites are a small, soft-bodied insect with short antennae with strong mouth parts used to chew wood, seeds, leaves and other cellulose-containing material. Termites range in color from white to light brown and are typically between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch long. The main difference between termites and other insects is the antennae and the waist. A termite has a straight, beaded antenna and has no waist.

Scientists have identified approximately 2,800 termites species around the world, including about 45 in the United States. Termites are widely distributed throughout the tropical and sub-tropical regions, close to the equator, while other species live at higher altitudes.

Termites, like bees and ants, are flying, highly social insects. However, unlike bees and ants, termites can be more than just a pest – they can cause significant damage to your home or other structures. Subterranean termites are the single most significant economic pest in the United States.

Termites live in organized colonies developed around a nest system where labor is divided between reproductives (kings, queens and nymphs), soldiers and workers. Within a colony, hundreds, thousands and even millions of termites work and live together. Termites will share with each other food, water, and even droplets of fluid to help keep themselves supplied with tiny organisms for digesting wood. In addition to wood, termites can eat papers, dead tree roots and mulch.

Soldiers are responsible for defending the colony. Their large heads and highly modified, powerful mandibles are used to protect the colony against many predators such as ants, spiders, reptiles and amphibians. The heads and mandibles are so large that termite workers cannot feed themselves and are fed by the worker termites.

Worker termites take on the most labor and are the main caste(or group) of the termite colony. They are responsible for searching and gathering for the termite colony, maintaining the colony’s pheromones, tending to the eggs and nymphs, taking care of the queens and kings. They are also responsible for building or repairing the nest, tunnels, and feeding tunnels. Termite workers are the first to emerge from the eggs and shake while in the queens and kings presence.

The termite queen is responsible for producing eggs for the colony and unlike ants, the king will mate with the queen for the entire time of the queen’s life.

The termite king is the second most important member of the termite colony. While the termite king will spend his entire life underground, the king’s sole purpose is for mating with the queen.

The length of time it takes to get rid of termites depends on the severity of the infestation and the chosen treatment method. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

During a termite inspection, we’ll conduct a thorough examination of your home or business, looking for evidence of termite activity and any conditions that could attract termites. Here are some things you can expect during a termite inspection:

  1. Visual inspection: We’ll examine the exterior and interior of your home or business, looking for signs of termite activity, such as mud tubes, termite wings, or damaged wood.
  2. Moisture check: We’ll check for any areas of excess moisture, as termites are attracted to damp environments.
  3. Probing: Our technicians may use a probing tool to check for damage to the wood, as termites can eat wood from the inside out.
  4. Written report: We’ll provide a written report detailing their findings, including any evidence of termite activity or conditions that could attract termites.

If evidence of termite activity is found, we’ll recommend a treatment plan to eliminate the termites and prevent future infestations. It is important to have regular termite inspections to catch any infestations early and prevent costly damage to your home or business.

The cost of termite extermination varies depending on the severity of the infestation, the chosen treatment method, and the size of the property. It can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars.

  1. Keep wood debris away from your home: Termites are attracted to wood, so it is important to keep any wood debris such as logs, stumps, or firewood away from your home’s foundation.
  2. Fix moisture problems: Termites are attracted to moisture, so it is important to fix any leaks or moisture problems in your home, such as leaky pipes or a damp basement.
  3. Use treated wood: When building or renovating your home, use pressure-treated wood, which has been treated with chemicals that make it less attractive to termites.
  4. Create a barrier: Consider installing a physical barrier, such as a metal mesh or sand barrier, around the perimeter of your home’s foundation to prevent termites from entering.
  5. Regular inspections: Have regular termite inspections by Barrier Pest Services to detect any potential infestations before they become a problem.
  6. Baiting systems: Consider using baiting systems, which can help to detect and eliminate termite colonies before they reach your home.
  7. Maintain landscaping: Keep your landscaping well-maintained and avoid planting trees or shrubs too close to your home’s foundation, as these can provide a pathway for termites to enter.

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