The Las Cruces Bulletin
Few
guests are more unwelcome in a home than the termite, but the tiny wood-eaters
are common in Doña Ana
County, and some professionals say they are seeing
growing numbers of some
aggressive species that were once uncommon in this area.
"Over
the past 15 years, we've noticed infestations of drywood
termites in the area, especially in the older homes in Mesilla," said Jim
Dye of Border Pest
Control. "This is a species that is native to the forest and has always
been abundant in Grant County. It was probably brought to Mesilla several
years ago through firewood or infected vigas."
Dye
said that throughout the county, there are about six different varieties of
termites, and although
they all thrive on wood, some cause more damage then others.
In
nature, termites serve a valuable function. Often referred to as "nature's
recyclers," the termite's reason for existence is to
recycle dead trees into organic matter. That matter
then benefits living trees and
other living things. As most homes
are
built either partially or entirely with wood, the building
is an easy meal that the insects are unlikely to pass
up.
"When
we build homes using wood, we are giving termites
a banquet,"
said Dr. David Richman, curator of
the Arthropod Museum in
Las Cruces. "Termites are not
the super problem that
they are in other places like New
Orleans, but they are still a problem."
Ironically,
termites are not able to digest the wood on
their own but rely on a tiny microorganism that lives in their digestive tract
to break down the particles, Richman said.
Nationwide, termites cost homeowners an estimated
$5 billion annually in
treatment and repair costs and the
damage is rarely covered by homeowners insurance.
They are the single largest insect-related problem faced by homeowners.
"There
are some wood-boring beetles in the area that do eat wood, but not like the
termite," Richman said.
When
a homeowner notices insect damage, it may be difficult
to determine whether termites or another insect
is the source of the problem.
"I've
seen the Powder post beetle make Swiss cheese out of
wood," Dye said.
He
added that carpenter ants, although not as destructive as the termite can cause
some damage to wood by tunneling through it, and are often mistaken for
termites.
As
well, with several different types of termites in the area – some subterranean
and others that approach a structure
from its top rather than its bottom
– it may be difficult to know which chemical to use to treat the problem.
"It
takes a trained eye to know the difference," Dye said. "We
have different techniques that we use."
He
added that although the Mesilla area has experienced growth in drywood termites,
which build their nests in the
wooden portion of
a structure, other parts
of' Doña Ana County
have problems with other, subterranean species, which nest in the soil and send
workers into the home via tubes, made from soil, to do the damage. The
subterranean species are voracious wood-eaters and
although colonies often war with each other, they also may feast alongside each
other on the same house.
"In
many cases, there won't
be just one colony working
on a house, there will be many," Dye said.
Often,
he added, because the damage takes place silently, between the home's
walls, a resident may have no
idea that an infestation has occurred until after damage
has been done. By that time, a colony may have spent
years eating the wooden parts of a home.
Part
of the termite's success is due
to an elaborate caste system. Unlike their chief rival in nature, the ant, each
termite colony has a queen as well as a king who breed
new members of the colony. Workers, who actually
do the work of breaking down wood, and soldiers, who defend the colony, round
out a nest's population.
Termites
are most noticeable when they swarm, generally after a rain or when their nest
becomes so crowded that parts
of the colony branch off to find their own nest.
It is when termites swarm that a homeowner may first notice the insects.
While
the queen could have a lifespan of many years, the
lives of workers and soldiers are considerably shorter.
And they are active year round.
"Since
termites are inside the house, they don't
have a winter season,"
Dye said.
"Pretreatment
is an
inexpensive way to protect a family's most valuable asset – their
house," he said.
Most
drywood termite cases require tenting and fumigation once the pests take up
residence in a home.
Dye
said that early detection of drywood or other termites may save homeowners
expensive fumigation and extermination
costs
that generally occur once an infestation
has become extensive.
"A homeowner who suspects a problem should call a professional right away," he said. "Letting a suspected infestation continue only makes the problem worse."
Termites are often unseen – doing their work and causing damage for years before a homeowner discovers that they're present. Jim Dye, of Border Pest Control said that often, homeowners will discover the insects when starting a remodeling project, or when extensive damage has been done and a floor caves in or a part of a structure collapses.
Do-it-yourself techniques are on the market to help homeowners battle
termites, but Dye said that some products are not effective with all varieties
of termites.
With
more than six termite species in the area, it is often difficult for a homeowner
to know which species they're dealing with, and accordingly, they may not know
which chemical to use to exterminate the insects.
"Its
not the chemical that counts when dealing with termites – it's knowing which
species your dealing with," Dye said. "This is not something you
should do yourself. Just like you shouldn't deal with a bee hive by yourself,
because it effects your health – this involves the health of your home, you
want it done right."
Dye
said that it takes a trained eye to look for some of the more subtle signs of
termites. Among the more obvious signs are:
1.
Holes in the wood
2.
Crumbling drywall
3.
Insect wings
4.
Cylinder-shaped tubes made from discarded material
5.
Sagging doors, floors or other weakened wooden structures.
Professionals
say that because termites have a strong survival
instinct, if they are disturbed without being destroyed, they
are likely to move their nest to a nearby area of the building.
"When you think of the value of your home, you need to think of the value of protecting your home against termites – the cost is small compared to the cost of what you're protecting," Dye said.