What Do The Experts Say?

Eliminate conditions in and around your home that attract termites Dr. Bob Davis, Field Development and Technical Services Representative, BASF Pest Control Solutions

Protect your house from termites the same way you protect your body from disease - with an annual check-up. Pest Management Professionals (PMPs) advise an annual inspection to prevent termites and other wood-destroying pests from destroying your property.

Your PMP will examine the structure thoroughly, looking for the insects themselves or signs of an infestation. PMPs also focus on what we in the pest management industry call "conducive conditions." All living organisms require food, water and shelter to survive. Conducive conditions exist in environments where these essentials are available for pests to exploit. Often, one or more of these favorable conditions exist in excessive amounts. This may lead to population increases.

Maintaining a relationship with a PMP is critical to ensure the prevention - and detection - of these insect invaders. PMPs are armed with the knowledge, training and tools to conduct a thorough and proper inspection, which is a key to solving pest problems quickly and efficiently.

Integrated Pest Management
PMPs operate on a service paradigm called Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The five steps of IPM include: (Inspect, Prescribe, Communicate, Treat, Follow-Up)

• Inspect - gather information
• Prescribe - a strategy to address problems
• Communicate - recommendations with a homeowner
• Treat - take actions to achieve strategy goals
• Follow-up - evaluate success and determine next steps

What will the PMP's inspection cover?
During an inspection, a PMP will look for pest harborages, entry points (slab penetrations, pipes, foundation voids, wires, guidelines, sewers, drains, etc), food and water. Identifying evidence of infestations (swarmers, damage, frass, dead pests, etc.) can also reveal the conditions conducive for pests.

Specific Conductive Conditions for Termite Infestations
Within the structure, your PMP may focus on:

• Wood-to-ground contact
• Excessive moisture (always critical!), including leaky pipes and faucets, poorly sealed drains and water damage of any kind
• Insufficient clearance in a crawl space
• Poorly ventilated or excessively wet crawl spaces
• Expansion joints or cracks in a foundation slab
• Poor door or window seals
• Excessive storage conditions

Outside the structure, your PMP may focus on:

• Trees, shrubs and other landscaping elements - including mulch - in contact with the building
• Firewood lying near or against the structure
• Soil sloping toward the building (poor drainage)
• Gutters clogged with debris
• Debris on the roof
• Decks adjacent to the structure
• Excessive moisture from air conditioning drip lines
• Dripping lawn and garden hoses or spigots

What Happens Next
After the inspection, the documented items should be presented to the property owners and a plan should be put in place to alleviate the conducive conditions.

A proper annual inspection performed by a PMP can help prevent damage or - equally important - reveal wood-destroying insect infestations early, before they cause excessive damage. Call your Pest Management Professional and make sure your property is placed on an annual inspection schedule. Working closely with an expert can protect your property from wood-destroying pests!

• Stop Termite Damage Before it Starts