What We Can Do For Termites.

We can treat for subterranean with three methods.

1.) The first method is pre-treatments, this is done by treating the soil with a termiticide before you build your house.

2.) Conventional treatment: we would treat with termiticide to block the house from the termites

The two main types of termites in New Mexico are, Subterranean and Drywood termites.

Q. What is the difference between Subs and Drywood?
A. Subs (subterranean) have their colony in the soil (from 1' to 4' down). Subs have to return to the soil every 72 hours or so to replenish their moister. Dry woods live in the wood it's self and don't have the soil to wood contact that subs need.

Q. What do they eat?
A. They both eat the cellulose in the wood. They also have a symbiotic relationship with an organism called a protozoa that lives in the gut of the termite and breaks down the cellulose for the termite to digest.

Q. What kind of damage can they do?
A. This all depends on what species of termite.
We have western subs, Eastern subs, Desert subs and about 2 or 3 other minor species.
The Eastern subterranean probably has the biggest colony and can do the most damage of our different species in New Mexico. The next would be the western sub, then the , Drywood termites then the desert sub
.

The Desert sub is the most prolific in Otero county. The Desert sub is more a cosmetic termite, they rarely delve into the wood like east and west subs do. They are more adept to the climate and will readily forage on top of soil in their mud tubes..

 

 

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