TERMITES
Termites are eusocial insects. There are currently over 3000 species in the world and although
these insects are often called “white ants” they
are not ants.
Termites feed on dead plant and cellulose based materials, generally in the form of wood, leaf,
litter, soil, or animal dung. These insects have caused billions of dollars in damage to homes
and properties, so time is of the essence when treating your property for this kind of infestation. Termites are found on all continents except Antarctica. Due to their soft cuticles, termites do not inhibit cool or cold habitats. Termites can make their way through hundreds
of feet under the soil and even through opening as small as 1/30th of an inch for them to
start creating wreckage to your property.
There are 3 ecological groups of termites:
- Damp wood
- Dry wood
- Subterranean Termites.
The two main groups found in Singapore are Dry wood and Subterranean Termites.
A termite colony has 3 main castes- The Workers, The Soldiers and the Reproductive Queen and King.
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The Workers do all the work, from feeding, grooming, to making tunnels by building mud mud trails to transport food back to the other castes in the colony.
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The Soldiers defend the King and Queen and protect the colony against attacks by enemies such as ants.
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The Reproductive Queen and King, as the name suggests, is to ensure that the numbers keep growing and their main function is to reproduce.
The presence of termites is not easily spotted because they are often hidden behind wallboards, door frames, wood trims etc. and goes undetected until the problem gets out of hand. There is a need for a professional inspection by a well-trained and experienced pest control personnel in order to access the situation and implement the
recommended treatment.
At Pragas Hunters, our methodology is to investigate the stage at which the infestation is and what treatment procedure is best to apply. Not only will our treatments eradicate the problem, they will also protect your biggest investments in the years to come.
TERMITE TREATMENTS
Early detection will significantly increase your chances of successfully removing termite infestations. Regular or routine inspections are required to detect the signs of termite activity in your residence or business. A myriad of methods and techniques are used depending on the situation and level of infestation. At Pragas Hunters, our technicians are trained to identity potential future risks and implement effective, preemptive strategies.
Spot Treatment
Spot Treatment, as the name suggests, is to treat the infested area only. A follow up will be conducted one week later and if there is still active infestation we will continue the treatment until the infestation ceases.
Spot Treatment or Dusting may not be effective if the level of infestation is heavy as the powder may not be able to reach as far to eliminate the colony. This method is effective in eliminating active termites from the structure and when the level of infestation is moderate.
Baiting System
Baiting systems includes both Above- Ground and In- Ground.
Above-ground systems are used to address sites with active termite activity above ground. The objective of termite baiting is to place a food source that contains toxicant to lure the termites to feed on it and spread the toxicant to the rest of the colony . As social insects, termites share their food in a process known as trophallaxis and this enables the toxicants to be transferred through the colony, including the Queen and King. Our trained technicians will monitor every 2 weeks until the colonies are eradicated and certified non-active. Total elimination will range from 2-12 weeks depending on the size of the colony and the number of bait stations required will depend on the level of infestation. Though the elimination process may be slow, this method ensures a total eradication of the colony.
In-Ground baiting systems are typically installed in the surrounding of the house (in the soil of gardens). It acts as a monitoring station and once termite activity is detected, toxicant bait will be placed in the station. Termites feed on the bait and spread the toxicant throughout the colony and finally eliminating the colony. Once it is confirmed that termite activity has ceased the toxicant bait can be disposed off and the bait stations continue to be monitored for any new termite activity with a replacement of plain cellulose bait.
Post Construction Protection/ Corrective Treatment
Post Construction Protection or Corrective Treatment as some may call it, protects your property against Subterranean Termite infestation by creating a barrier with the soil and the building structure.
A thorough inspection of the premise is conducted to identify any area(s) of infestation prior to carrying out the protection/ treatment. Should there be an infestation, it has to be eradicated beforehand.
This barrier treatment involves drilling holes through the slab at intervals around the external house or building perimeter and injecting 5 litres of liquid termiticide into each hole before sealing them up with concrete and waterproofing cement. To give customers peace of mind, we warrant the effectiveness of our termite barrier treatment for 5 years.
Pre Construction Protection/ Soil Treatment
Pre Construction Protection or Soil Treatment is primarily carried out during the pre-construction phase that involves creating an anti- termite barrier underneath a house or building prior to its construction. The site area is treated with liquid termiticide before concrete slabs are laid on the ground. With this barrier set up, Subterranean Termites that come into contact with the termiticide get "infected" and in return to the colony they transfer it to the rest, causing the colony to finally be eradicated. Such barrier treatment comes with a warranty of 5 years upon completion.
Roof Treatment
Most roof beams are chemically treated against termites before installation. However, over a period of time the chemical will breakdown and provide little or no protection at all.
Roof Treatment involves carrying out blanket spraying to wood rafters at the roof ceiling structures using termiticide solution. Potential damages caused by Subterranean Termites can be prevented with this treatment and a 1 year warranty will be provided.
Prodding Treatment
Any soil area, typically in the garden, the backyard, at the side and even the front of the property are treated with drenching or prodding. Liquid termiticide is injected along the base of the tree or plant to eradicate any active termites that could be infesting the tree/ plant. A follow up will be conducted 2 weeks later.
Whether it’s your home or business premises, termites are considered architecturally and financially damaging pest to manage. It is critical to do regular inspections to ensure the "health" of your property. An annual pest inspection at your property is the best preventive measure you can do to keep it termite-free. Contact us for a non- obligatory quotation.
Termites Foraging
Aftermath of Termites Attack