White ants are more commonly known as termites. They are called white ants because their physical structure is the same of the ants. Termites are more closely related to bees and wasps. Termites are a bane to anyone who has a home or structure to protect. They are the number one destroyer of wood structures. If you notice that there is termite activity in your structure, then it is time to find ways on how to control these pesky wood-eaters.
Termites Types
There are three types of termites. Subterranean termite is first type. They nest in earth. These termites are the cruelest among the three. Although they live in soil, they can attack structures by building tube likes structure from their nests to the wooden parts of the structure. They feed on wood and other items that have cellulose. Aside from wood, these termites feed on books, cotton fabric and fiber board.
The second kind of termite is the damp wood termite. Dampwood termites are different from Subterranean termite. They typically stay on damp and rotting timber. They are bigger than subterranean termites. They will only inhabit wood with high moisture content. They are wood dwelling and do not stay close to the soil.
The dry wood termites are the opposite of the damp wood termite. They like to stay in wood that has little or no moisture at all. Dry wood termites’ colonies are built inside the wood. The damage cannot easily be detected because they eat the inside of the wood.
White Footed Ants
Another pest that is also part of the ant family is the white footed ants. This ant was not considered as a major threat to any house or structure but because of researches made, it is now one of the pests that can be considered such a nuisance. They do not bite or sting. They do not even cause structural damage. What is annoying about them is that they love sweet food. Therefore, it is common to find them indoors and outdoors where sweet substances are found.
The reasons why they are considered a threat are because they have a huge colony. The rate they reproduce is very fast. Their tiny bodies can have access to any opening man-made or natural. White footed ants are generally attracted to sugary foodstuff but they also eat on dead creatures like bugs and termites.
Termite Treatments
Prevention is the best thing that you can do to prevent pests from coming in your structure. There are several ways in which you can do these:
Structural change can help block of entry points of termites or white footed ants. Since they have tiny bodies, what you need to do is to put caulk or other exclusion device.
Remove potential food of the termites like wood piles, unused logs, and old tree stumps. You can also put treatment to woods to prevent termite attacks.
Fix leaking pipes, shower stalls, drains and sinks. Termites are attracted to damp places, so these can be prevented if all the possible places that they can go are dry and moisture free.
Inspection of your house or other structures is also preventive and important measures to get rid of termites. You should check at least every year. It is necessary to follow the best and must do guide to keep termites at bay. If you are not sure on how to do the inspection yourself you can try to ask the help of a professional pest control company.
There are also termite treatments that you can use. If you have just bought the land, it would be advisable to have pre-construction treatment used on the soil. There are also treatments that you can use for the pillars and foundation of the house. If you have already bought the structure then there are baits that you can use to get rid of the termites. Termite baits are used to remove the population of termites. The termite baits is a mixture of cardboard, paper or other termite food then it is laced with a material that is dreadful to the termites. If baits are used, you must be prepared on how long it will be used and how fast it will take effect.
There are also remedial treatments that you can use to eradicate termites from your home. Most of them involves chemical so it is advised that a professional pest controller should do these treatments. You can look for a reputable pest controller that can help you with these kinds of treatments. You can select from dust or barrier treatments.
Pest control is really a serious business and should not be taken lightly. There are different kinds of treatments that you can use to get rid of the white ants. One also has to remember that if unsure on how to use the chemical treatments, then one should seek the advice of the expert Professional pest removal Brisbane company.
