Termite Control & Treatment Services
Pest control professionals widely regard termites as one of the most damaging pests in both residential and commercial properties. Also referred to as white ants, termites cause extensive damage and decay to the integrity and wellbeing of a structure by consuming cellulose. A well-organized colony of termites can comprise more than one million hungry workers that can consume hundreds of pounds of wood each year. With services for termite treatment and extermination, Champion Termite & Pest Control offers all-encompassing solutions to protect properties from termite infestations in Palatka, Green Cove Springs, Middleburg, Orange Park, St. Augustine, and Starke. Contact our pest control company to schedule a free property inspection and receive a complimentary service quote.
Do I Need To Call A Termite Exterminator?
The earliest signs of termite activity often go unnoticed. Termites can enter any property through extremely thin cracks within the structure of a property and eat away at the foundation without any visible indications. That’s why professional termite inspection and effective termite control are vital to the soundness of any home or business located in Palatka and surrounding areas. Scheduling an inspection with Champion Termite & Pest Control is the best way to know whether your property has a termite infestation or is likely to experience an infestation in the future. Contact us for more information about our comprehensive pest control services.
Types Of Termite Inspections We Perform
There are two main types of termites of concern for property owners: Formosan termites and subterranean termites. The vast majority of property owners have only one or two termite varieties to worry about, but Florida residents have to look out for both. For assistance with pest identification for termites on your property, call a pest exterminator with our company to schedule a termite inspection today.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are some of the most common and destructive termite species. These eusocial insects live in cooperative colonies with three castes: workers, reproductives (also called swarmers), and soldiers. Workers are wingless and pale, while soldiers have enlarged heads and long mandibles. Swarmers are the only caste with fully formed eyes and wings, allowing them to fly to different locations and establish new colonies. Subterranean termites forage and build nests both in soil and damp wood that is in contact with soil. The presence of mud tubes (channels located outside of the soil made from mud and bits of wood) is an indicator of a subterranean termite infestation. Their diet consists of any material containing cellulose, such as dead and decaying wood, paper, cardboard, cotton fabrics, and fibers within different plants.
Formosan Termites
The most severe and aggressive termite is the Formosan termite, also called the Formosan subterranean termite. This termite type forms expansive colonies, destroys wood and other cellulose-filled materials at a rapid rate, and acts in an extremely destructive manner. The Formosan termite’s behavior and propensity for destruction have earned it the nickname “Super Termite” within the pest control industry. These termites infest a wide variety of structures, ranging from houses to high-rise condominiums. While the majority of Formosan termites build nests underground, some colonies may build above-ground nests in locations with high concentrations of heat and sources of moisture, including plumbing, leaking roofs, areas with poor drainage from gutters and flat roofs, porches, balconies, and landscaped areas. Formosan termites swarm at night during May and June, and are attracted to lights.
How Do I Know If I Have Termites?
A big point of confusion for many homeowners and business owners is knowing the difference between termites and flying ants. On the surface, both insects look similar, but they differ when it comes to their life cycles, diet, habits, and finer details of their appearance. Termites have a straight-line body, equal-sized wings, and straight antennae, while ants have a cinched body, uneven-sized wings, and bent antennae. While both insects love to nest inside wood or wooded areas, termites are the ones that will eat the wood and cause damage. Ants are omnivores that eat nectar, seeds, other insects, and food debris left around the house. Termites are a destructive species that cause structural damage, but flying ants do not. Both ants and termites thrive in warm, humid weather, making termite season year-round in Florida. Be sure to get in touch with our team to schedule a pest inspection to ensure what type of pest has invaded your home.
How Termite Control & Extermination Work
Termites are persistent, but so are our termite exterminators. We have more than 30 years of experience protecting homes and businesses from termite infestations. With our advanced termite spray and control products and practices, termites don’t stand a chance. Termite control begins with an inspection performed by our professional pest control team. We inspect both the inside and outside of the property for any signs of termites and look for potential access points that may lead to a termite infestation in the future. Based on our findings, we will create a customized treatment and effectively remove the termites with high-quality termiticides that are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To help protect your property against a termite infestation in the future, we offer customized protection plans tailored to the unique needs of your property for defense against termites.
Benefits Of Professional Termite Pest Control & Prevention
Once a termite infestation begins, the damage incurred can only become worse. While homeowners’ and property owners’ insurance policies provide coverage for a number of disasters, most plans do not include coverage for termite treatment and termite damage repair. Scheduling prevention, inspection, and home termite treatment from Champion Termite & Pest Control can save you thousands of dollars in potential repairs and damages from an unprotected property with a full-blown termite infestation. Our pest removal company offers complete termite protection and natural termite control, including a subterranean termite policy, which offers the following benefits. Contact us today to enroll and protect your property.
- Top-shelf, name-brand termiticides such as Termidor® and Premise
- Free inspections and treatments after initial treatment and annual renewal fee
- EPA-registered and approved termiticides
- Up to $250,000 in damage repair coverage for qualifying structures
- Inspections and treatments performed by termite control technicians
- Peace-of-mind knowing your property is fully protected
Termite FAQs
Termites appear as pale-toned, soft-bodied insects about one-quarter of an inch, or less, in total length with straight antennae. Termites can easily be mistaken for white ants without the help of a professional exterminator. Winged termites, or swarmers, feature pigmented bodies with broad waists and two pairs of wings that are identical in size. Subterranean termites are approximately one-quarter inch in length and quickly shed their wings following brief flight. Unlike termites, winged ants feature pinched waists and two pairs of wings — their front wings appear larger than the back wings — as well as elbowed antennae. The best way to identify termites on your property is with the assistance of a pest control expert. Schedule a pest inspection today.
Flying ants and termites look similar to homeowners. Our termite inspection team is here to help! Flying ants are brown, have uneven wings, a cinched body, and elbow-shaped antennae. Likewise, swarming termites have a linear body, even-sized wings almost twice the size of their body, and straight antennae. Termites are destructive insects that feed on and live in wood and wooden structures. In contrast, flying ants, or carpenter ants, only live in wet or rotting wood, and they feed on nectar, seeds, other insects, and food left out in homes.
Often, the majority of termite damage can be difficult to spot, as it’s primarily located within the inner walls of a structure. However, if you identify termites (dead or alive), mud tubes, or hollow wood, it’s likely that your property is infested with termites and requires prompt termite control services. Swarming termites are attracted to light and can be found near windows, doors, air vents, and light fixtures, while worker termites are small and light-toned, and they quickly flee when exposed to light. Mud tubes are a form of shelter for termites and feature a flattened, muddy appearance the width of the inside of an average-size drinking straw. Check for mud tubes along cracks, under floors and baseboards, and on pipes, plumbing, and other common property fixtures. Damaged wood is another indication of the presence of termites. Tap wood along the walls, windows, and baseboards with the handle of a screwdriver — a hollow sound or penetration of the screwdriver handle into the wooden surface may indicate wood damage. The presence of subterranean termites is often indicated by dark portions of wood or blistering of wood flooring. Termite infestations are often preventable — schedule a pest inspection today.
Termites can enter a property through tiny cracks and holes as small as one-thirtieth of an inch. Subterranean termites, for example, typically enter a property from the soil, or above ground, through cracks and holes in expansion joints, voids around brick or plumbing, and along the structure’s foundation. Mulch spread over soil nearby a structure’s foundation also serves as an opportunity for termites to enter the property. Wooden structures connected to the ground, such as wooden porches, offer an easy access point for termites. Homes or businesses with flat roofs, chronic leaks, and other structural moisture-related issues are prone to a high concentration of moisture and, as a result, these properties have an increased likelihood of becoming infested with termites. During an inspection, our pest control team can inspect the outer property and inner structure and identify any potential issues which may put the property at risk for developing a termite infestation in the future.
Termites can digest cellulose, which is the main component of wood. As with a termite colony’s behavior in the wild, termites exhibit a well-organized and persistent behavior with regard to identifying and locating potential food sources. As such, termites can, and likely will, consume anything that contains cellulose, including furniture, drywall, wallpaper, books, boxes, and other materials which support the structure’s integrity.
Champion Termite & Pest Control recommends that property owners schedule termite inspections to determine the best method for how to get rid of termites. Additionally, we offer termite warranties for all qualifying structures to ensure that after termite extermination services, your home or business maintains proper protection with termite prevention services.
Our pest control team will get to your termite infestation before it reaches you! We offer all-encompassing and target-specific termite prevention plans to ensure that your property is safe from termite infestations, including subterranean termites, drywood termites, and Formosan termites. Our subterranean termite policy includes top-shelf, name-brand, and EPA-approved termiticides, free inspections and treatments following the initial treatment and annual renewal fee, up to $250,000 in damage repair coverage for qualifying structures, and other member-exclusive benefits. Contact us today to enroll in our pest management plans.
