The Sentricon System: Combining Termite Control And Earth Day Celebrations

Let us at Russell’s Pest Control wish you a happy, though somewhat belated, Earth Day (Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22 in case you didn’t know). Lots of people think that the pest control industry and any event celebrating the earth and the environment are probably at odds with one another. We’re here to tell you that this is simply not the case. And, since it is termite season, let us give you the low down on why the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System with Always Active Technology is such good news to Earth-lovers around the globe.

The Sentricon System has been given the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, an honor presented by the Environmental Protection Agency for scientific developments that show a marked interest in changing old habits to help reduce the number of hazardous materials released into the world. In the past, the only way to treat a home for termites was to use hundreds of gallons of a diluted chemical around the entire foundation of a home. The Sentricon System completely turned the industry on its head by introducing a method where we can use very small amounts of bait to draw termites into the Sentricon Stations. This means that all of the bait that will be used to eliminate the termite colony is contained in one place, and those stations are equipped with a slide lock on the top so they can’t be opened by a child or by a digging dog.

However, my favorite thing about the Sentricon System is the bait that’s placed inside each station. Most of the time, when you think of a pesticide, you probably imagine that its box or bottle would come with a clear warning on it. We’re used to seeing things like that; in fact, most of us probably have several items in our homes with various warning labels saying things like CAUTION or WARNING. The most potent products get the high-level DANGER rating, which indicates that the ingredients in that item can be deadly if handled improperly. The bait used in the Sentricon System has no such label. Seriously. This means that the cleaner you use to scrub your shower is considered more dangerous to humans than the bait inside the Sentricon System! This is because the bait is specifically designed to target termites. Their digestion process breaks down the bait in such a way that it becomes deadly to them. No wonder the Sentricon System received that Green Chemistry Award!

I’ve got a whole list of reasons why the Sentricon System is an environmentally sound choice for termite prevention and elimination, but perhaps you get the idea already. You can hear more information by calling us at 865.584.8549 for a free termite inspection, or you can visit our contact page.

A Wet Season Is A Termite’s Delight

Let it never be said that an East Tennessee season change is anything but unpredictable! Over the last few weeks, we’ve basked in the glow of the spring sunshine and shivered through the return of a late-winter snow. However, one thing that Knoxville residents have done a lot of in 2013 is dodge rain drops. January was an astonishingly wet month, and March also dealt us above-average rainfalls. While Knoxville homeowners may have mixed feelings about this damp weather, you can be sure that one portion of the population is perfectly pleased by all this moisture: That would be the millions of termites that reside in Knoxville, Maryville, Lenoir City, Sevierville, and other surrounding cities.

As we’ve mentioned before, termites thrive in wet environments. Termites are the clean-up crews of our world. They cheerfully consume dead and rotting (in other words, moist) wood that we view as unsightly clutter. Unfortunately, termites aren’t picky about what they eat. You might be glad that they’re busily getting rid of the fallen tree in the back of your property, but you would probably be less pleased to find that they’re hollowing out the support beams in your crawl space.

Because termites are completely moisture dependent, they must make mud tubes or tunnels for themselves so that they can cross spaces above ground. When a crawlspace or basement holds dampness for an extended amount of time, this makes the termites’ job a lot easier. They can chew through damp wood very quickly and access areas that might otherwise be unappealing in dryer times. So, if you have excessive condensation in your crawl space or water pooling near your slab foundation, you are at a greater risk for termite invasion.

We try to make sure that this blog is as full of self-help tips as possible because we want Knoxville homeowners and business owners to be actively involved in preventing unwanted pest invasions. But, termites are tricky. The average person will likely have a hard time spotting termite activity (which can lie hidden inside your walls for an extended period of time), and effective over-the-counter termite treatments are extremely rare.

Because of this dilemma, we at Russell’s Pest Control like to make the termite prevention process as painless as possible. We do free inspections for termites, so you can have professional eyes on your property without having to pledge your first-born as collateral. Additionally, we use the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System with Always Active Technology.  That’s a long, intimidating product name, but let us assure you that it’s the best termite prevention and elimination system out there. The Sentricon System uses cutting-edge baiting technology to ensure that this product ends up in the mouths of every termite in the invading colony. And, because this system takes advantage of the specific structure of termite biology, we can achieve colony elimination without employing harsh chemicals that could have negative side effects on other bugs or animals in the area.

After just a few more warm, sunny days, the termites are going to wake up and start swarming, and that has potential to add unneeded stress to your already overly-busy life. We can’t make sure that you don’t get stuck in a traffic jam on the way to work or that your dog doesn’t track mud across the kitchen. Termite maintenance, however, is one stressful detail that Russell’s would be happy to take off your plate. Questions? You can always reach us on our contact page.

A Lesson In Termite Identification And Biology

In one of our last articles, we put out a warning because termite swarms are happening all over East Tennessee. If you have already seen a swarm at your home or found the cast off wings that indicate you missed a swarm nearby, you should contact an exterminator (like Russell’s Pest Control) for an inspection immediately. After all, termite colonies typically only produce swarms after they have already been breeding and feeding for about three years. If you’re seeing them above ground, they’ve already got the jump on you.

This time, however, I thought it might be important to cover the basics of termite biology so that you can recognize and understand these little critters if you encounter them. Termite identification is important so that you can be sure you know which enemy you’re facing and can act accordingly. First off, you should know that, unlike other wood-destroying insects, termites actually use their powerful jaws to eat the wood that they encounter instead of just tunneling through it. They are able to do so because tiny, single-celled creatures in their stomachs convert the wood particles from cellulose (which is indigestible) to starch. The term “starch” should ring a bell for you; we eat that, too, in foods like bread and pasta. Termites then convert that starch into their functional energy source: sugar. Combine this with the realization that termites work without sleeping, and they start to sound fairly alarming. They’re working 24 hours a day to sustain a life-long sugar high. Yikes!

So, how will you know them if you see them? Please refer to the photo below while we cover the basics of a termite’s appearance by comparing it to a very familiar spring-time bug: the ant. As you can see, termites are somewhat similar to ants, and swarming ants and termites are often mistaken for each other. The key differences between ants and termites are highlighted below.

  • Waist Size: The tiny, pinched waist of the ant gives it a slightly waspish appearance; termites, however, are almost the same width all the way down their bodies. This shape and the dirty whitish color of the workers give them an almost grub-like appearance.
  • Antennae Shape: Ants have long, thin antennae that bend like an elbow joint after leaving their heads. Termites have shorter antennae that do not bend at all.
  • Wing Shape: This factor is particularly crucial for identification during swarm season since swarming termites are darker in color than the workers and are more likely to have an ant-like look about them. Ants have two pairs of wings of different shapes, and the front pair is noticeably larger than the back pair. Termites also have two pairs of wings, but all four wings are the same shape and size.

If you encounter insects like these around your home, you can use these features and this picture to try your hand at termite identification. Of course, you can call Russell’s Pest Control at 865.584.8549 for a free termite inspection if you want an expert’s opinion on the subject.

Just in case you suspect a termite problem and are worried about the cost of a treatment, we’ve got good news for you. If you call and mention this blog post, you can receive $100 off the installation of an Always Active Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System.* In our opinion, this is the best termite treatment available, and we stand by it with our 100% damage repair guarantee. If termites get past our defenses while your home is protected by this system, we’ll handle 100% of the needed repairs. Naturally, this discount can’t be combined with any other coupons or offers. Give us a call or contact us online if you want more details.

*Trademark Dow AgroSciences

Termite Swarms In Tennessee

Even though it’s only March, reports are already coming in: Termite swarms are occurring in East Tennessee. Swarm season started early this year because of the recent mild weather, so we decided to do a series of articles about termites so that residents in the area can be on their guard. Understanding termites is crucial for people living in the South where these little invaders do millions of dollars of damage a year. So, let’s take some time to study the enemy. In this post, we’ll discuss termite swarms and how they affect homeowners. Next time, we’ll cover practical ways to prevent and eliminate termites.

Normally, termites do not have wings (check out the photo from the pest experts at Univar). They are tiny, pail insects that almost look like grubs with legs. However, when the warm weather arrives, termites begin to focus on expanding their colony and growing their numbers. Colony members spend most of their lives underground (hence the name “subterranean termites”). But, when it’s time to expand, certain termites will develop wings. Termites with wings are capable of reproduction (which is usually left to queen). When the temperature and humidity are right, the winged termites will burst out of colony above ground. They are scattering themselves so that they can start new colonies with the original winged termite as the new queen. Since they are poor flyers, they leave the nest in a crowd so that even if predators take down many of the colony-builders, some are likely to survive.

Knowing about termite swarms is important for homeowners for a couple of reasons. The presence of the swarm indicates that new neighbors are trying to move in, and they’re going to need food fast. A swarm near a building indicates that the new colony will be foraging in that area. Many features of the home will be appealing for the buffet line, including support beams behind the walls, hardwood floors in the den, and cabinets in the kitchen. In addition, the presence of a swarm also indicates that a large, healthy colony is already nearby. Most of the members of an existing colony will not grow wings and scatter, which means that if you see hundreds or even thousands of swarming termites, there are many more underground throwing the goodbye party. A swarm near a building could indicate that termites are already feeding on the structure and causing damage.

A termite swarm will only last for a few minutes, which means you could easily miss the big event around your home. Be on the lookout for small groups of wings lying on your porch or around your foundation. The termites shed their wings after flying, and the lost wings are often a good indicator to homeowners that trouble is nearby. If you see a swarm, try to keep a couple of the dead bugs in a bag or jar for identification. We suggest that you call an exterminator immediately for a full inspection. Most companies, including Russell’s Pest Control, will inspect for free, allowing you to rely on an expert to identify whether your home is in danger. More information about termites can be found here, and you can call to request an appointment or just click here. If you want to see what a swarm looks like, check out this video on our Facebook page of some swarmers that we encountered last year.