Facts


Termites can actually make a difference to whether your house lasts for decades or gets literally eaten up within a matter of months. These little insects can do some serious damage to your house, especially if its foundation is predominantly made up of wood. Termite eradication should therefore be high on your priority list.

Fortunately though, there are some simple steps that can you can take in order for effective termite eradication and protect your house.

1. The first step in termite eradication actually starts with early detection. You should be constantly on the lookout for breaks or cracks in your house. Your checks should not be limited to wooden parts for termites are also known to get inside cracks present on brick walls too. If you have a wooden fence outside your house, then you need to check it too.

2. You will need to ensure that there are no wooden scraps lying near your house. They are the places where termites thrive in large numbers. The area near surrounding your house should be kept clean of wooden as well as cardboard debris.

3. If you have a crawl space, just make sure that it has adequate ventilation to prevent excess moisture.

4. Installation of moisture absorbers is another termite eradication step that helps. Damp conditions are the breeding ground for termites and it therefore makes sense to invest in a quality moisture absorber.

5. Another simple termite removal method lies in simply reducing the number of wooden furniture items in your home. Remember, the less wood you have, the lesser the number of termites in your house.

6. You should schedule periodic visits by a pest control company. Although we can always do our bit for termite eradication, it is still something that is best left to professionals.


  


The simplified model of a termite life cycle indicates the three castes, the reproductives, the soldiers and the workers.

Due to the fact that termites are hemimetabolous insects, even the nymphs take part in the social life and have their specific tasks to fulfil. The so far poorly understood concept of caste determination does not seem to be definitive or too rigid.

Once the caste of an individual is determined, development into other castes is still possible.

Soldiers, also referred to as intercastes might turn into workers or even into reproductives, if there is a shortage of individuals of other castes. This process is controlled by pheromones.

In the case of the queen, there is a specific ‘queen’ pheromone, preventing other individuals from turning into queens. Only if the queen is removed or dies, does the lack of the specific pheromone promote the development of a new queen.