Termite Treatment Services
Protect your investment with professional termite treatment.
We Offer Termidor Termite Treatment
At Lincoln County Exterminating, we are Termidor-certified professionals, offering you the best you can get in termite treatment. Termidor has a proven track record. It kills the termites that crawl through it, and those termites transfer the product to other termites that they come in contact with. A Termidor treatment can give you many years of termite protection.
We provide free termite inspections and free estimates. After your termite treatment, our team offers annual re-inspections to ensure your home is still termite-free.
Termite Warning Signs: How to Tell if You Have Termites
While vigilance is good, many people don’t even realize they have termites. They aren’t like ants or cockroaches that come out into the open.
Termites usually stay inside the mud tubes, soil, or food sources where they tunnel. Sometimes they swarm if their habitat is damaged (during construction, for example). This may be the first and only sign of termites.
You can, however, look for termites. You can use a flathead screwdriver or small chisel to probe exposed wood for hollow spots and potentially find them there. You should also be on alert if you see what looks like a termite swarm come from wood that has been damaged.
Termites look remarkably similar to flying ants. Thankfully, we provide free termite inspections, so if your “termites” turn out to be a different insect, you won’t be out any cash!
How to Tell Termites from Flying Ants
Termites and flying ants look a lot alike. But if you take a closer look, you can tell the difference. Here is what to look for:
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Wings that have been shed. Flying ants sometimes discard wings, but termites shed their wings once they establish a new colony. If you see a couple of shed wings, they’re probably flying ants. If you see a large number of shed wings, there’s a better chance they are termites.
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Flying ants have narrow waists just like regular ants. But termites’ waists are closer to the width of the rest of their bodies.
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Flying ants have antennae that are straight. Termites’ antennae are bent.
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Flying ants have larger front wings and smaller hind wings. Termites have front wings and hind wings that are the same length.
Steps for Keeping Termites Away
MINIMIZE EARTH-TO-WOOD CONTACT
Even pressure-treated wood is vulnerable to termites through cracks and cut ends.
DIVERT WATER FROM THE FOUNDATION
Termites are attracted to moisture. Gutter downspouts should point away from your home.
ALWAYS KEEP CRAWL
SPACES DRY
Keep vents to crawl spaces free from leaves, dirt, debris, and vegetation.
STORE FIREWOOD AWAY FROM FOUNDATIONS
Firewood attracts termites and may provide hidden entry to the structure.
FAQs About Termites
Q. How long do termites live?
A. Individual termites live for about two years. A healthy termite colony, on the other hand, will continue to reproduce and may live for many more years.
Q. What is a termite swarm?
A. Termites swarm during particular stages of the colony’s lifecycle. Swarming termites leave their nest when it gets too crowded. A swarm will move to a new area to start a new colony. Once they establish their new colony, they shed their wings en masse. Therefore, if you see a lot of shed wings on the ground, there may be a termite colony nearby.
Q. How can you tell if there is a termite infestation?
A. You may notice cracks in wood surfaces or maze-like “tunnels” in wood. Sometimes the tunnels result in a hollow sound when you tap on wood. The ground outside an infested home may have mud tubes leading to structures, firewood, trees, or other sources of termite food. A large number of shed wings near points of entry are a sign there may be a termite colony nearby.
Q. Do termites only eat wood?
A. Termites love wood, but they will also eat other sources of cellulose, including cardboard and paper. Finding them in wood can be difficult because they feed from the inside out, so the surface of the wood may look normal.
If you suspect a termite infestation or if you are simply worried about termites, contact pest control professionals as soon as possible. Some homeowners choose to have regularly scheduled termite inspections for added security. DIY pest control is no match for termites. Pest control professionals have the products, application techniques, and knowledge necessary to end termite infestations.