Termite Control and the Powder Application of Ceptiva
Getting rid of pests is as important as following the Spray Foam Safety: Four Points to Remember. Termites are extremely nasty creatures. They are the bane of every homeowner and contribute nothing to houses except additional expenses for repairs and renovations. If you need plumbing services, check out Sarkinen Plumbing here. While various methods to control them such as the powder application of Ceptiva and other products, people live in constant fear that these pests may be hiding in the most hidden parts of their homes, delivering certain destruction on their abodes bit by bit.
With that said, termites aren’t as large as elephants or as ferocious as wild boars, which makes the general fear people have of them even more impressive and understandable. It isn’t anything positive, but it can be mind-boggling how so little creatures are capable of astronomical levels of catastrophe compared to their size. Months and money spent on building a perfectly fine house can go to waste if these pests are given the opportunity to run rampant.
To termites, they are merely doing what their biology dictates them to. To humans, on the other hand, it’s a completely different story. The risk of losing their homes is very real, and by extension, so is their health. Termites have been around for a long time now, and despite all the advancements to counter them, they still continue to be a significant threat.
It is simply the way they are, and humans have no choice but to take precautionary measures to make sure that they aren’t terrorized by these tiny pests.
An Overview on Termites
While termites are known for being a perpetual source of misfortune for homeowners, they are actually a complex species who, like humans, are part of a social structure and have roles in their respective society.
Classified under the order of Blattodea and the infraorder of Isoptera, termites are believed to have evolved from close ancestors of cockroaches around the Jurassic or Triassic eras. They are also often called “white ants”, despite not actually being ants—ants undergo a complete metamorphosis, while termites undergo an incomplete metamorphosis which goes through the egg, nymph, and adult stages.
Despite being frowned upon by humans, termites are actually one of the most successful and organized insect groups on Earth. Termite colonies are described as superorganisms—collectively, termites form a part of a self-regulating entity, the entity being the colony itself.
Termites range from a fourth to a half of an inch in length, while king and queen termites are significantly larger, capable of growing to over an inch long. Additionally, queen termites have the longest lifespan of any insect in the world—some queens are reportedly able to live up to a maximum of 50 years.
Colonies begin with the king and queen termite. Once they have found a suitable nest, the queen begins to lay eggs and continues doing so at a steady rate for years, increasing threat levels with each day that passes by.
What makes termites dangerous is the same reason why they are so successful as insects: they work perfectly together and for a common goal. The more in sync and larger in number they are, the more problematic it’s going to be for the homeowner, which is exactly why containing them is an utmost priority.
Harmful Effects of Termite Infestation
Pests are unwanted in homes because they provide no benefits to the homeowner whatsoever. While some pests are infamous for being destroyers of properties, others are directly harmful to humans. In any case, an uncontrolled pest infestation will always end up badly for you.
A termite infestation, for example, is extremely bad news. While termite bites aren’t toxic and dangerous like bites from bed bugs, their ability to consume wood (and damage your house) is astounding. Some types of subterranean termites can even consume up to 15 pounds of wood per week—let that sink in for a moment. What’s even worse is that they’re good at staying hidden, meaning that the likelihood of them doing significant damage before even being discovered is pretty high.
Wood isn’t the only thing termites feed on too—other materials such as paper and cloth aren’t safe from them as well.
Termites, based on their biology and nature, are by definition, the archenemy of humans. Humans can crush them with little effort, but their mere presence can cause allergic reactions and asthma attacks. Furthermore, heating and ventilation systems (which are essential in daily life) can greatly contribute in the spread of particles from termite nests to the walls of the house.
Resorting to pesticides just to get rid of these pests is a big risk on its own as well. Pesticides are known to contain different chemicals that are harmful to humans, and when distributed in an environment such as a home, can fan the flames instead of extinguishing it.
Even if whoever was living in a termite infested house didn’t have any allergies or asthma, knowing that termites are hiding behind the walls can cause him to be nervous all the time. Indeed, termites can get on humans’ nerves quite effectively.
Signs of Termite Infestation
A full-blown termite infestation can be incredibly hard to stop, which makes stopping it in its tracks as early as possible very important. The signs that indicate a termite infestation in your home may be subtle, but they aren’t too hard to find if you keep a close eye.
Shelter Tubes
Termites are commonly found in shelter tubes, which are tiny tunnels you will see as a pattern similar to the roots of plants on the walls of your house. They can be difficult to locate at first glance but are easy to distinguish when they are found.
Shelter tubes afford termites a variety of benefits. One of them is protection from predators, as the holes are small enough for only termites and other insects close to their size to be able to access. Another reason is that shelter tubes have dark and humid environments that allow their development and are excellent food storages.
Termite Frass
Termite frass, or termite droppings, are tiny pellets that can be found near entry points of termites. They are also a clear indicator that you have termites in your home—take action the moment you see even just one pile of them!
Termite Wings
Swarmers, or reproductive termites, are a kind of termite whose main purpose is to look for new places to create new colonies in. This requires them to fly around various areas while searching for a suitable location.
During this process, it is possible that some wings will be discarded, and left in various places. Another possibility is that you will find the swarms themselves. In any case, this only translates to a termite infestation inside your house.
Tapping Sounds
The tapping sounds that termites make are barely audible, but if the colony is large enough, they can easily be heard. Termites tap their mandibles and their heads on wood to signal the rest of the colony, and as more termites get the signal, the sound becomes louder and louder.
Be sure to listen closely for any peculiar sounds if you feel like there’s even a slight chance that your home may be infested. If you’re already able to hear them without having to try, then there’s a pretty good chance that you’re sharing your home with a colony of termites.
Hollow Wood
Some termites operate much more silently than others, but don’t think that you wouldn’t be able to do anything about it in this scenario. If you have a feeling that you have a termite infestation but don’t see any signs, an effective method is to tap your wooden walls or the floor and hear if the underneath is hollow.
If some places sound hollow (and they shouldn’t), termite infestation is almost always the cause.
Cracked Paint
If you see cracks on the paint on your walls, it could be because of termites crawling too close to them underneath. This is a dead giveaway that termites have created a colony—or colonies—inside the walls of the place you live in.
Ceptiva, and How It Works
One of the biggest breakthroughs in termite control is the powder application of Ceptiva, one of the most effective termite control products that was created with data gathered from over a decade of scientific research and experiments.
Ceptiva is produced by Baden Aniline and Soda Factory (BASF), and it is guaranteed to completely eliminate termite infestation in just a few weeks.
One of Ceptiva’s primary ingredients is patented microcrystalline cellulose matrix, which are to be ingested by termites—Ceptiva is so effective that they can spread from one termite to another by mere body contact, effectively proving fatal to termite colonies. Powder application of Ceptiva is easy to use, yet it yields impressive results.
Administration of Ceptiva is simple: the powder is inserted into ready-to-use vials, which are placed near termite nests—after which waiting is the only process remaining. With the powerful effects of Ceptiva on termites, it is only a matter of time before termite colonies in your home are eradicated.
Preventing Termite Infestation
As with all other pests, it is possible to prevent termite infestation from ever happening. There are products that are specifically created for this purpose such as pesticides and the powder application of Ceptiva, along with other simple precautions that are easy to do but can greatly aid in controlling termite infestation.
Repair Leaky Faucets and Water Pipes
Leaking faucets and water pipes, or anything that causes water to go to places where they shouldn’t be, adds to how much moisture is in your home—and the more moisture there is, the better it’s going to be for the termites.
Termites are extremely attracted to moisture, so keeping the moisture levels in your home to a low level is optimal. Being able to do so already contributes a huge amount in preventing termites from invading your house and creating colonies inside it.
Divert Water Away from Your House
Maintaining moisture levels inside your house is within your control, but the situation is much more different outside. For example, when it rains, water can get everywhere, from your roof to the soil which your house is standing on. One of the most common things that lead to a termite infestation is water seeping to the foundations of the house through the soil, before being infiltrated by termites—and not long after, they make their way into the walls.
An effective way to prevent this is to have properly working downspouts, gutters, and splash blocks. These work together to make sure that water is directed away from your house and doesn’t get into places where termites could be lured into.
Eliminate Wood Contact with the Ground
If termites can go through wood without too much difficulty, then soil isn’t a big deal either. Once a termite comes across wood while burrowing across the soil, it’s a go signal to them.
That said, you should eliminate all wood contact with the ground, because termites don’t just enter your house through empty spaces underneath unless you give them a reason to. Make sure that there is always a layer of concrete that is at least six inches thick between your house and the soil—this applies to the floor, the porch, pillars, and every single part of your house that needs to be connected to the ground.
Seek the Help of Professionals
Pest control professionals are called pest control professionals because they can effectively handle these pests, and it’s their job. They have the necessary tools and knowledge required to handle termites or any other pest for that matter, and they are guaranteed to eliminate your pest problems.
Eliminate Your Termite Worries with Topbest’s Services
When it comes to termite infestation, pest control services, and especially termite control, we at Topbest know just what to do. From administering termiticide to the right places to making great use of the powder application of Ceptiva, we know precisely how to handle any situation regarding termites, or any kind of pests.
Topbest only uses the best equipment available, and our technicians are complete with the skills necessary to make your termite troubles go away. We believe that there is no such thing as an unstoppable infestation—click here to find out what we can do for you.
