How is aTermite Colony formed?
First watch out for 'swarmers'.
To understand why termites swarm, you first have to understand how termites operate. Termites are social insects that live in a nest, or colony, as it’s commonly called. This colony is made up of several different types of members. The typical termite colony will have a primary king and queen, secondary reproductives (alates), soldiers, workers and nymphs. These members work hand-in-hand to ensure the life and growth of the colony.
How a colony Is started.
After the primary king and queen mate, the queen finds a suitable place to form a new colony and then begins to lay eggs. A termite queen can live up to 30 years and lay hundreds, if not thousands of eggs per day. Some of these eggs hatch and develop into immature kings and queens. These termites are called ‟alates” and have elongated wings, a straight or thick-waisted body and straight, beaded antennae. The color of the body will vary from solid black, to tan or beige depending on the species. These winged termites will eventually fly from the original nest to mate. This mating flight is referred to as ‟swarming.”
Why do termites swarm?
When environmental conditions such as warm temperatures and high humidity occur (ie; no vapor barrier), this triggers the instinct of the immature kings and queens to fly from their colony to mate and start a colony of their own. This is simply a natural survival instinct to continue the existence of the species.
Why is it called a swarm?
This mating flight is called a ‟swarm” because of the sheer number of flying termites emerging from the colony. Most species produce large numbers of flying termites to ensure enough will survive to continue the species. Swarming termites do not fly very well and many fall prey to predators such as birds and other insects. Some are carried off by wind currents, smashing into cars and trees. In fact, only about 10 percent of the actual number of swarming termites survive this mating ritual.
Does killing the swarmers solve my termite problem?
Unfortunately, no. The swarming termites are not the colony members that consume wood, thus causing the damage. The culprit that wreaks havoc on the wood in your home is the worker termite. The swarmers depend on the workers for food, which is done by regurgitating digested wood to the swarmers.
What if termites swarm inside my house?
it’s not uncommon for termites to swarm inside of a structure. Alternatively, you might only see a few alates that found their way inside. So, why do termites swarm inside your home in the first place? If termites swarm from within your home, it’s a good indication your house may have an infestation. Termites swarming inside your home tend to gather around light fixtures and windowsills because they are looking for a way out of the house to form another colony. Their instinct is to fly toward lighted areas.
Termite Control
Treatments & Bonds
We are licensed in N.C. to perform termite treatments and termite pre-treatments. Wether you'r house/business is on a slab or crawlspace, we will. get the job done the correct way in an affordable matter.
Selling, Buying or refinancing? We do inspections and provide forms your bank/lender will need in order to proceed with your sale/purchase.
We only use Termidor for our treatments, because it is the best termicide on the market and can last between 7-10 years.
Wood-Destroying Termites
When a home is not treated correctly, termites slowly reach they're way up from the ground to your home's wood. Once its too late and the wood must be replaced, you may be looking at spending a whole lot more money than what a treatment would have costed you.
We have the equipment required to get the job done fast and affordable
Our 100 Gallon tank pumps out a gallon every 7 seconds. Our hose is 200 yards long, and having the experience of completing over 175 treatments since we were founded, we have the experience to get the job done correctly. At other companies, they don't really care if they don't treat the house properly and cut corners..At Bugno we don't want to put your family through the hassle and agony of having to deal with an company that just wants the initial sale. Each treatment comes with a bond that includes us inspecting the home & crawlspace for any potential activity. If somehow there is activity, we retreat the area for FREE.
*Annual inspection fee required to maintain bond. ($100 for slabs $125 for crawlspaces)
Details on the danger of termites
Termite Information
Termites are among the most hated insects around not because they bite or sting, but because they can cause great damage to property. A colony of termites can easily raze a large house and the owners won’t even know it is happening; not at first anyway. Oftentimes, homeowners only realize that they have a termite infestation once the damage is done.
There are several types of termites, and the most common species found in the U.S. are the dry wood, damp wood, Formosan, and subterranean termites. These termites are not known to transmit diseases, but there are a few health and safety concerns associated with termite presence.
Safety Issues
Termites harm structural integrity.
The most obvious problem for homes besieged with termites involves structural integrity. Any building or house that is primarily made of wood can become unfit to live in if termites have already done considerable damage to its foundation, beams and other parts of the structure. Termites feed on the cellulose in wood, and they hollow out any part of a structure that is made of such material. This is a serious safety issue because a once solid wood structure becomes weak and brittle because of termite damage. Once the termites have gone through all the wood that makes up a certain structure, they can then eat paper, insulation, drywall or books.
– Termites can damage electrical wiring too.
Termites have strong jaws, particularly the damp-wood termites. These creatures use their powerful jaws to chew through electrical wiring or cables in their search for more digestible cellulose. Once wires or cables or damaged, this makes a short circuit highly possible. Short circuits can cause dangerous fires and other electrical accidents.
Our Termite Treatment Procedures
Treating Garages
Exterior Trenching
Exterior Trenching
When treating a garage, we drill under we hit the soil under the concrete every 12". We then inject Termidor and then patch each hole to make it look like they were never there.
Exterior Trenching
Exterior Trenching
Exterior Trenching
Before we treat the outside of your home we must trench 3 inches down around the entire perimeter where necessary. We then cover the trenches back up as if nothing ever happened.
Crawlspace Pillars
Exterior Trenching
Crawlspace Trenching
To make sure termites do not come up through your crawlspace pillars we drill and treat every single one of them.
Crawlspace Trenching
Treating Patios & Porchs
Crawlspace Trenching
As well as treating your crawlspace's pillars, we also trench and treat then entire interior of the crawlspace. Preventing termites from tunneling up your crawlspace's foundation of bricks to your home's lumber.
Treating Patios & Porchs
Treating Patios & Porchs
Treating Patios & Porchs
To treat the entire home's lumber, we must treat under patios that are connected to your home. which entails drilling 3/8" holes 12" apart and spray 1 Gallon of pesticide in every hole, sinking into the soil deep enough that it'll create a safe barrier preventing termites from attack your homes wood.
We only us TERMIDOR has our termite chemical. It's the industry top termicide and lasts the longest. It's known in the the pest industry as the "cadallic" of termite defense pesticides.
FAQ'S
Treating Patios & Porchs
Treating Patios & Porchs
- How long does this take?
Some treatments take only 4-6 hours while others can take up to 2 or 3 days depending on the size of your home and depending on whether its on a slab or crawlspace. (slabs take much shorter to treat)
- How much will this cost?
There is no way of telling how much a treatment will cost until we see the house itself, measure it, inspect for activity, and inspect what condition the crawlspace is in. We have had complete jobs as low as $600 to jobs that can reach up to $2500.
- Do my family and pets have to leave during treatment?
No, The termicide we use will not be accessible to any pets or children during treatment.
