may not capture the headlines the way destruction caused by fires, hurricanes and tornadoes does, but the damage can be equally devastating. In fact, in the United States, termites cause more than $2 billion in treatment and repair costs each year. There are 45 termite species found in this country, but in the southern coastal regions, drywood termites are responsible for much of this damage. Drywood termites are just what their name implies—they like to eat dry wood. They live inside the wood and do not require contact with the soil. Termite swarming may be a sign of a drywoodtermite problem. Termite swarming seasons vary from California to Florida. In Northern California, termite swarmers can typically be seen in June and July. As for the southern part of the state, they can be observed from September through November. In Florida, termite swarmers take flight in spring through fall, from February through November, usually on warm sunny daysafter a rain. Other signs of drywood termite infestation include six-sided fecal pellets, blistered wood, pinheadsized holes in woodwork and dead termites and discarded wings found nearlight sources. When homeowners see these signs, it is important to contact a pest management professional right away. These professionals can recommend a numberof treatment options. Localized treatments may be considered for an accessible drywood termite infes*Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC Vikaneis a federally Restricted Use Pesticide. Blistered wood and pinheadsized holes in woodwork are two signs of drywood termite infestation. tation within a structure, such as part of a wall void, attic or porch. These “spot” treatments target infestations such as those found in a door casing, windowsill or piece of furniture. Whenseveral infestations are found or they are suspected in areas that cannot be accessed, a whole-structure treatment is usually recommended. When done properly, a whole-structure fumigation with Vikane* gas fumigant is the only way to ensure 100-percent control of drywood termite infestations throughout the structure. The effectiveness of Vikane is confirmed by 40 years of university research, practical use and published reports. More than one million structures have been fumigated with Vikane over the years, including homes, museums, foodhandling facilities, rare book libraries, university facilities, medical research libraries and historical landmarks. To learn more about drywood termite treatment options, visit University of Florida’s Web site www.ftld.ufl.edu/drywood.htm.
