Brentwood's Complete Guide To Eastern Subterranean Termites

What It Means To Be Subterranean

A subterranean termite lives in the ground. If you want to protect your property from damage, your termite control needs to go into the ground. There are two ways professionals protect properties from subterranean termites. They are termiticides and bait. The experts here at All-American Pest Control consider bait to be the best solution because it only uses a small amount of material (about the same size as a packet of sugar). Bait also makes it easier to check for termite activity.

When subterranean termites come into your yard, they're going to look for any wood that is touching the ground. While they can get at sources that are off the ground, wood-to-soil access makes it easier for workers to go unnoticed and the food is easier to acquire. We recommend to:

• Remove dead branches from your property after you collect them. If you're able, burn the branches in your fire pit to remove them as a food source.

• Refrain from burying any scrap wood in your yard and store scrap wood on a platform above the ground.

• Make sure any wooden support beams for your deck are above the ground and placed on concrete piers.

How Destructive Are Eastern Subterranean Termites?

These termites cause more damage to structures in the United States than any other termite species. It isn't because they are more voracious than other species; it is that they have the greatest distribution. They can be found feeding on structures as high up the east coast as southern New Hampshire and as far up the west coast as middle Washington. Eastern subterranean termites establish their nests below the frost line and are able to tolerate cold conditions. This makes them active all year long in Brentwood homes and businesses. You can't take a break from doing routine inspections of your property. Here are a few warning signs this termite species may provide:

Shelter tubes. When Eastern subterranean termites access food sources that are above the ground, they must create shelter tubes to get to them. These tubes are made of saliva and soil. Look for them in dark, humid locations underneath structures and on foundation walls behind your landscaping.  
Swarmers. These are winged termites. Eastern subterranean termite swarmers are about ⅜ of an inch long and are black in coloration with long white wings (long being relative to their size). The wings of a termite swarmer stack on its back and significantly reach past the abdomen. They're also round and do not have a cleft, like the wings of ant alates (flying ants).

Workers. You may see termite workers on your property if you pick something up, such as a dead branch. The workers of this species are ⅛ of an inch long, pale in coloration, and have six legs. When you see them, you might think you're looking at fat, pale-colored ants.

Damage. Most of the damage these insects do will not be visible. If you want to uncover damage, you'll need to look in humid or damp spaces and examine wood that is near or touching the soil. This damage might look like trenches or grooves in the wood. Keep in mind that carpenter ants may create damage that looks like this. If carpenter ants are the culprits, the trenches will be smooth to the touch. Termites carry soil up into their tunnels. This makes their tunnel walls gritty to the touch.

What Brentwood Owners Do To Guard Against Termite Damage

There are two ways property owners address the threat that Eastern subterranean termites present. They invest in annual termite inspections from a certified termite control professional or they purchase termite control in the form of a termite bait solution or the application of a termiticide barrier. As you consider what is best for your Brentwood property, keep in mind that all termite baits are not considered equal, and termiticide treatments come with some disadvantages such as the need to trench, drill, and inject chemicals into the ground.

At All-American Pest Control, we use Recruit™ bait, which is a part of the award-winning Sentricon® System. No other termite bait has as much research and real-world success as the Sentricon® System. If you're not ready to invest in a Brentwood termite control solution that is always actively guarding your property against termite damage, we can set you up with an annual inspection. Our certified Specialists have the training and experience to uncover termite activity on your property and alert you to conducive conditions. Reach out to us today to get more information on our residential and commercial pest control services in Brentwood. We look forward to helping you find the right solution for your specific needs and budget.

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