Termites treated in West Long Branch, NJ home
Challenge
Recently, I completed a termite treatment for a commercial building in West Long Branch, NJ. Termites, wood-consuming insects, cause more far more property damage to homes and other structures than any other pest. As often happens in early spring, the customer observed a termite swarm inside the building. “Swarmers” are the flying reproductive termites that are released form the colony in order to mate and produce new colonies. Unfortunately, with insects, it’s a never-ending cycle.
Here, the termite swarm was in a bathroom where the termites emerged out of an opening in the wall under a sink. Termite swarms sometimes happen inside buildings if the subterranean nest is underneath the structure and there is some gap or crack in the foundation that gives them access inside. Swarmers do not want to be inside the building and they will look to escape. Swarmers soon break off their wings, and you’ll often see piles of wings accumulated near windowsills, around doorways, and other light sources. Although it is upsetting to see a termite swarm, it is the most visible evidence of an infestation and is far better than suffering expensive property damage from a hidden infestation.
Solution
To treat this infestation, I drilled a few holes in the wall in order to access the wall void. I then applied a foam treatment directly into the wall void. Termites are fragile, soft-bodied insects that must stay hidden for their own protection. As a result, the termite professional must apply the applications in locations that are often inconvenient and out of plain view. Outside, to treat the infestation, I needed to apply product directly into the soil that would reach the subterranean nest.
Here, there was asphalt and concrete up against the building foundation. To reach the soil, I drilled some holes through these materials. I applied a non-repellent liquid that would seep deep into the soil to reach the nest. As termites move through the soil, they will unknowingly carry the product back to the nest where it will spread throughout the entire colony. Soon, the colony will be dead. A mature termite colony that is left alone will have thousands of workers looking to consume building materials and other wooden products for food. Many property owners have learned the hard way that the property damage that these insects can cause, in even just a few years, can be tremendously expensive to repair.
