Termite professionale e controllo dei parassiti a Jersey City, NJ (2023)

FAQs

What does termite look like in NJ? ›

To the untrained eye, termite swarmers look a lot like flying ants. They are small insects with antennae and two pairs of wings. Flying termites tend to be lighter colored, usually whiteish to light brown. Ants found in New Jersey tend to be darker colored, typically black.

Eastern subterranean termites are the species of termites most commonly found in New Jersey. They live in underground colonies that consist of thousands of members. In order to establish new termite colonies, winged termites emerge from the ground and take to the air in a giant swarm.

Termites are active across the state, from Atlantic City to Newark and from Hackensack to Trenton, New Jersey.

Termite damage sometimes appears similar to water damage. Outward signs of termite damage include buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage and visible mazes within walls or furniture. Termite infestations also can exude a scent similar to mildew or mold.

You'll know you have active termite activity when you notice droppings even after a deep house clean. Subterranean termites drop carboard-like excrement known as “carton.” In comparison, drywood termites leave behind frass- hexagonal droppings, which they push out from the holes they create on damaged wood.

Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.

What chemical kills termites? There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact.

Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites. This solution is also ideal for soaking into any damaged areas of the wood to clear cracks of termites.

One of the most common ways termites get in your home is through wood-to-ground contact, including doorframes, deck posts, and porch steps or supports. Subterranean termites also enter homes through cracks in the foundation and cracks in brick mortar.

Do termites fly in the house? ›

Can They Fly Around the House? Yes. Swarmers from colonies infesting homes may get trapped indoors after surfacing and fly around looking for an exit. Additionally, since termites are attracted to light, the pests may congregate near open or loosely sealed windows and doors and end up inside.

As we've established before, they do. In fact, termites can wreak havoc on wooden beds and bedding items. Wood isn't the only thing these tiny insects can feed on. As long as your mattress contains cellulose, termites will make tiny bites, resulting in pinholes on the mattress and bed sheets.

Formosan termites are one of the most aggressive and destructive types of termites. Like other termites, these termites are known for destroying wood by boring tunnels through walls. Just one Formosan termite colony can potentially contain more than 10 million individual termites taking up residence in a plot of soil.

Formosan Termites: These termites have the worst reputation of all of the termites species. They have tremendous appetites and are very aggressive. They form huge underground colonies with intricate mud nests. Because of their aggressive nature, they are difficult to control once they have infested a property.

Termites thrive in warmer climates, so their activity is greatest in the South, Southeast, West and Southwest. The three most important types of termites in the U.S. – in terms of activity and damage – are drywood, dampwood and subterranean termites.

Although termite damage may be reversed through professional repair, homeowners should first call a local termite specialist. Repairs should not be made until a licensed pest professional has confirmed that there are no longer termites present and the risk of further infestation has been eliminated.

Post-treatment termite swarms are not uncommon and may occur up to around four weeks after an effective treatment. The goal of termiticide use is to create mortality among the workers and the other caste members of the termite colony, weaken the colony, and eventually eliminate it.

The bad news is that in some cases, termites come back after treatment. In fact, they're some of the toughest pests to eliminate from a property.

What to Look For. Pencil-thick to inch-wide tunnels on foundation and crawl-space walls (above) shelter subterranean termites traveling to and from the nest. If you see cream-colored insects when you break open the tubes, your house is infested. If you don't, the colony may be dead or using another route inside.

What attracts termites the most? ›

Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.

Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies.

A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar! The problem is, it's difficult to permeate this smell through any interior wood where termites could hide, and the liquid could risk weakening dry wood further.

The answer is yes, Clorox, or any other brand of bleach can be used to kill termites. Termites breathe through small holes in their exoskeleton. When you spray a termite with bleach, the bleach is absorbed by the termite which kills it.

Borax (Sodium Borate)

Borax, also referred to as sodium borate, is a home remedy that can be used to kill both subterranean termites and drywood termites. This substance can be used in powder form or mixed with water to be used as a spray. When ingested, it dehydrates the termites and shuts down their nervous systems.

That being said, as a general rule, a termite spray or liquid treatment will typically begin killing termites within a day or two. If you choose to use bait stations, the process might take a little longer to begin. After that, it's all up to the size of the colony, but they'll rarely last more than four or five days.

Mix 6 tablespoons of liquid soap with 8 cups of water in a spray bottle and shake it up. Spray the area where you've discovered termites and watch them start dying off. Repeat as needed for several days. The great thing about soapy water is that you don't have to worry about toxicity.

Borax can kill termites by interfering with a termite's digestion, which can cause its death. While it can be injected in powder form into a drywood termite colony, it is difficult to fully expose all termites in a colony to the powder.

While you cannot get rid of termites permanently from the environment, you can help prevent them from taking root in your home and control any active colonies nearby. Although it may be tempting to try termite control yourself, prevention and treatment is best left to the professionals.

They spread easily, and while there are some signs that indicate you have a termite problem, you need a pest inspection and a professional exterminator to properly identify and eliminate an infestation in your home. Termites take a very short time to spread.

Why do termites suddenly appear? ›

Swarming. It may seem as if termites suddenly appear when they are in swarming mode. During mating season, winged reproductives, called alates, swarm at dusk in the spring months, usually after rainfall, to find a mate and start new colonies.

Winged swarming termites emerge from cracks in your walls and foundation in large numbers. They can also come out though holes in the soil in your yard. They emerge through swarm tubes made by worker termites. Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony.

How large of a crack in concrete is needed for termites to access? Answer: Termites cannot eat through concrete. The issue is that no matter how well poured, concrete will crack as it settles. When poured around plumbing, it will retract or shrink from around the pipes.

Essentially, termites definitely bite wood and do attack other insects, but they do not bite people. Although homeowners experiencing an infestation should not be concerned about receiving bites from termites, professional extermination methods should be sought and implemented to protect the structure of your home.

Usually, termite colonies mature within three to four years. At this stage, these winged termite swarmers will leave the nest to seek out mates in order to form new colonies. Most fly during the day, although some fly at night, using lights as meeting spots.

Are Termites Dangerous? These pests are more annoying than dangerous, at least to people. They don't bite or sting, but can easily get caught in hair, clothes, and pose a general nuisance if you get caught in the middle of a swarm.

While termites typically are feared for their wood-destroying abilities, they can consume any product made of cellulose, including carpet fibers. Termites also can feed on the carpet pad, subfloor and carpet tack strips. If you notice carpet or rug fibers getting worn in low traffic areas, termites could be the cause.

Place coffee grounds around the foundation of your home in areas where insects or other pests are entering, or mix them in with mulch while doing landscaping to help keep ants and termites from infesting your mulch bed.

Look for Flying Swarmers

Winged insects emerging from soil or wood is the easiest way to tell whether termites are active nearby. Even if residents don't notice the pests, their cast-off wings are often left on the floor around doors or windowsills. Since they are drawn to light, these are common entry and exit points.

How do you tell if a bug is a termite? ›

Body: Termites have broad waists, while ants have narrow, pinched waists. Wings: Termite wings are equal in length, while ants have broad forewings and narrow, shorter hindwings. Antennae: Termites have straight antennae, while ants have bent or “elbowed" antennae.

Termites are common pests in New Jersey, and wood damage caused by them is costly. Imposters, also known as flying ants, are a common cause of termite damage in South Carolina. In addition to carpenter ants, flying ants are found in moisture ants, black garden ants, and pavement ants.

But termites are not usually on their own. Instead, a single termite typically means a colony of potentially thousands of other termites are nearby. So while the damage that one termite can cause may be small, together, termites can cause significant damage to building structures.

Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites. This solution is also ideal for soaking into any damaged areas of the wood to clear cracks of termites.

Termites will not go away on their own. We bet you know why. While many pests need to find a food source inside your home in order to stay, termites do not.