Gulf Coast Pest Control can help you take back your property. After a complete inspection of your property, If treatment is needed the technician will provide you with a price quote for the best treatment of your termite situation. We use variety of treatment methods. From spot to partial treatments to baits. We treat garden variety sub termites, Formosan termites, and of course we can occasionally spot treat for dry wood termites,

• Remember termites are just a bug and there is no need to panic. It is never an emergency.

• The damage they cause is slow and gradual at first. If you  waited weeks or months the cost to treat or repair any current activity / damage is relatively the same.

• THE MOST DANGEROUS TERMITE IS THE ONE YOU DO NOT KNOW YOU HAVE.

• Moisture can increase termite breeding if the structure ever gets termites. Thus cause extensive  hidden termite damage.

Homes in the Texas area either have, had or will have termite's, not detecting them during an inspection is by no means a guarantee that termite's are not present or near by.

The only way to be reasonably sure that termite's are in check, is to have your property treated and or monitored on a routine basis, or at the very least you should have your home inspected often.

Gulf Coast Pest Control can inspect your home or business on an annual basis. Even after a potentially successful termite treatment has achieved assumed elimination of a pre-existing termite infestation, your property should be monitored at least once per year. If termites ever become active, Gulf Coast Pest Control can help you take back your property.

We recommend a standard liquid treatment with Termidor®. One application controls 100% of the termite population in 3 months or Less for 5 - 10 years with less chances of re-treatments. Baits also can work when needed. Baits kill the entire termite colony and are very labor intensive on the pest control company. So many will shy away from baits with a variety of reasons or excuses.
 

Never let your guard down. Don't forget when dealing with Mother Nature & termites, "Always expect the unexpected." For a professional and honest termite inspection report, please give us a call at 281-342-7378 in the Houston Metro area.

Some  Termite / Pest  Prevention  Quick Tips  

• Remove wood, like fire wood, rotten material, siding, form boards from up against or on the structure. 

• Eliminate all leaks, wet or moist areas immediately around the structure. Caulk or seal any entry points.

• For quick  Identification of Termite shelter tubes.  Keep the slab exposed  by 4- 6"  from the soil line.  

• Have Landscaping  planted away from structure by at least 24-36" 

• Do not plant vine foliage directly onto house, use a trellis.  

• Cut tree limbs off of and away from your home.

• Remove any uneaten pet food that has been left outside. Especially at night.

Differences between ants / Termites

Often times swarming termites will be confused with a winged ant. Winged termites are typically 1/8" or so in length and have straight antennae and have no "waistline". Their wings are longer and are equal in length. Ants are generally several times larger. Ants have elbowed antennae and have distinct body segments, with very slim waists. Their front wings are much longer than the back ones. Termites break off their wings and ants do not.

Signs of Infestation

                       Subterranean Termites

         Queen              Swarmers            Soldiers

The subterranean termite swarmers are black and have two pairs of equal length wings that extend beyond the body. Once they have developed into swarmers they are no longer fed or cared  for by the colony. Termite swarming is common in the spring and fall, especially after a rain. After flight, the winged males and female swill try to return to the ground and shed their wings. The males and females will pair off and search for sources of wood and moisture in soil. The couple digs a chamber in the soil near wood, enters the chamber and seals the opening. After mating, the queen starts laying eggs. The queen may live as long as 25 years and can lay more than 60,000 eggs in her lifetime. The eggs are yellowish white and hatch after an incubation of 50 to 60 days.

The presence of swarmers, wings or damaged wood signals that termites are infesting a structure. Swarmers Swarmers: Generally, the first sign of infestation noticed by homeowners is the presence of swarming reproductive's on window sills or near indoor light. Swarmers inside the house nearly always indicate an active infestation in the structure. The presence of swarmers outdoors is a natural phenomenon, but should warn that termites are near and possibly in your flower beds somewhere ( Pine Bark Mulch is one of a sub termite's favorite food source's) or attacking a nearby building.  

Subterranean termites are ground-dwelling, social insects and live in colonies. A colony or nest of subterranean termites may be up to 12-20 feet below the 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: 1) reproductive's (king and queen), 2) soldiers, and 3) workers. The colony will reache its maximum size in about  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.  They go through a metamorphosis and can change into whatever cast member that may have a shortage of members.

Worker termites work 24 hours a day and will move above ground to find a food source. They are blind and detect a food source by temperature. They are the only cast member that concumes the food source and are responsible for feeding the king, queen, and solders. Some workers never venture out they stay deep within the colony and tend the queen, nymphs

Soldier termites are just that soldiers. They provide the colony with protection from other dangers which may threaten the colony like fire ants.  There heavy mandibles can crush a their enemy insects. Soldiers do not eat like worker termites do. They must be fed by workers. They are fed from the rear of the worker termites. 

Termite Shelter Tubes

Subterranean Termite damage

Subterranean termite damage almost always is confined to the soft, spring wood growth of the wood. Tunnels tend to follow the wood grain. They either are lined with the same material used to build shelter tubes, or have a pale, spotted appearance resulting from soft fecal material plastered on tunnel surfaces. Look for moisture sources that may cause wood decay, which can encourage subterranean termite infestation. Extensive deterioration from wood decay can be confused with termite damage.

Distribution area of  Sub Termites

Gulf Coast Pest Control can help you take back your property!