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Termite Damage |
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Dead trees, branches, brush and firewood from residential areas
are the primary habitat of drywood termites. |
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When land is
cleared and houses or other buildings constructed, these structures
are then subject to attack.
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Drywood termites enter structures
through attic or foundation vents, directly through or
under wood shingles, under eaves and fascia boards, and through
natural cracks, checks and joints in exposed wood trim, window
and door frames and sills.
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Drywood termite alates can penetrate
flat wood surfaces, but prefer to wedge themselves into
narrow places to begin tunneling.
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Most new homes are constructed
on concrete slabs and have tile roofs. However, attic areas
are normally vented and wood trim is still commonly used
externally.
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Signs of Infestation |
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- Generally, the first indirect sign of infestation is the discovery
of fecal pellets or the presence of alates on windowsills or near
lights.
- Alates found inside the house (if windows and doors have
been closed), are an indication of infestation within the
structure.
- Another indication of infestation is the presence
of discarded wings near emergence sites, on windowsills or
caught up in cobwebs.
- The presence of alates outdoors is a natural
phenomenon and is not an implication of home infestation.
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- Drywood termites spend their entire lives
inside wood.
- They construct round “kick holes” in infested
wood, through which the fecal pellets are eliminated from the
galleries or tunnels.
- These pellets accumulate in small piles
below the kick holes, or will be scattered if the distance
between the kick hole and the surface below is very great.
- Fecal pellets also may be found caught in spider webs.
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- Fecal pellets are distinctive and used for identification of drywood
termite infestation.
- Drywood fecal pellets are hard, elongated and
less than 1/25 inch long.
- They have rounded ends and six
flattened or concavely depressed sides with ridges at angles
between the six surfaces.
- The characteristic shape results
when the termite exerts pressure on the fecal material to extract
and conserve moisture in its hindgut.
- Typically the pellets
are a light tan in color with some black ones mixed in.
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