All About Termite

I am no expert of termite and would like to share with you all some information about termite.

[quote]
Biology

Subterranean termites are ground-dwelling, social insects that live in colonies. A colony or nest of subterranean termites may be up to 12-20 feet below the soil surface to protect it from extreme weather conditions. Termites travel through mud shelter-tubes to reach food sources above the soil surface. The mature termite colony has three castes: a) reproductives (king and queen), b) soldiers, and c) workers. The colony reaches its maximum size in approximately 4 to 5 years and may include 60,000 to 2,000,000 workers. New colonies are formed when winged males and females from a parent colony emerge in flight or swarm. It is thought that a colony must be from between 2 - seven years of age before it can throw-off swarmers. The photo above is a dish of two types of termites. Subterranean on the left and drywood on the right.

Drywood termites need no link to the soil to obtain the water needed to support the colony. Although the colonies are smaller, they can still do a lot of damage to a home. And the worst thing about this type is that they are virtually impossible to detect and locate inside a structure. Most times, the extermination includes erecting a huge colored tent over the house or structure and pumping gas into the tent to fumigate the termite colony. This is a very costly process, and their is no residual benefit to having your home fumigated.

Evidence of Termite Infestations

* Wood damaged by termites always has remains of mud tubes attached to wood galleries or tunnels in an irregular pattern. The tunnels may contain broken mud particles with fecal materials. In the case of an active colony, white termites may be found in infested wood.
* The presence of flying winged males, females or their shed wings inside the building indicates an infestation.
* The presence of mud or shelter tubes extending from the ground to woodwork or on foundation walls also may indicate infestation. Workers travel periodically via shelter tubes to their nest to regain moisture and perform feeding duties. Each mud tube is approximately the diameter of a lead pencil.

How Old is the Damage?

Based on general feeding activity, it takes 3 to 8 years to cause appreciable damage. There have been some predictions that, under ideal conditions, a termite colony of 60,000 workers may consume a one-foot length of 2" x 4" pine in 118 to 157 days. In Texas, the extent of damage may be different because of extended feeding activity during the lengthy foraging season.

Have you ever seen termites before?? If no, check this out.

your house one ar? So serious? Do you ask Paramount come have a look for this ???

Yup. That hole happen only in 3 days.

Hi,

To those who have not seen termites like the pictures posted here by honkit7, the pictures look scary & horrifying isn't it? Wait till you see them in real life action, destroying your beloved belongings!

Now it is time to check your house at every nooks & corners. Don't be surprised to find these tiny little hardworking wood/paper eaters are in your house since honkit7's house was the first to be infected.

I am doubtful that the termite treatment chemicals used under our house (treatment during/before construction)were up to standard, otherwise honkit7's house would not have infected so soon. Our warranty covers for 5 years.!!! Anyway, our friend, Andy is going to write to Paramount demanding for assistance (Paramount only ask honkit7 to call up the anti-pest company by himself). If that fails to get Paramount to help, our next course of action would be to go to the media.

I had this termites infection experiences in both my previous houses. My first encounter was, when one day I went to my store room to get my garden tools, I heard tweezer noices coming out from the paper boxes where my daughters kept all her past secondary/university books and notes. Thinking that there might bee rats inside, I opened up one of them. To my horror, they were hundreds of tiny termites enjoying chewing the paper goodies. As I opened another and then another box, all were infected. I was wondering how come I didn't notice it all the while as I went in & out of the store so often, and the outside boxes were still in perfect condition. Actually the termites were smart insects. All they needed was to make a small hole to gain entry into the boxes and ate what were inside. As I traced their trials, it led me to the wooden door frame of which part of it was already hollow.

It is very difficult to prevent termites to attack our house because most of them are from underground and we don't get to see them until they are on ground. They will eat the way up to the roof.

Here are some of personal advices as to how we can lessen the chance from being infected:

1. Try to limit paper products at home especially old newspaper (please send them to
our recycling venue, time & date indicated in our forum). If you have books/reading materials that you want to keep for a long time, suggest to keep them in plastic containers with covers and add in some mothballs.

2. Do not keep unnecessary wood based material such as left overs from renovation.

3. Get anti-pest company to spray anti-termite chemicals in and outside your house. Get their advice what to put in your wooden cupboards. Or if you are a DIY guy, get the anti-termite chemical from hardware store and spray it yourself.

Good day.

JDdots

Advise your friends and family as well who are staying in condo. Had a friend who lives in condo many storey up too affected.

honkit7 wrote:Advise your friends and family as well who are staying in condo. Had a friend who lives in condo many storey up too affected.

HI Honkit, Since we are meeting tomorow with Paramount @ 11am - 10.6.09.( Paramount office)
It will be good if you can join us by bringing along the following

A) Your photograph of termites attacked Parquet.

B) A copy of Police report over the maid impragnated by Paremount Pakistanis worker. ( we do not have the lady contact, i believed tht she is your neighbor ?? Right ?

Hope to see u & dad tomorow.

Thank You