|ORRIBILU: Taking The Bite Out Of Termites (NAPSA)—Imagine if you had house guests that ate 24 hours a day, seven days a week—only instead of eating in your house, it’s your house they ate. Experts say that’s what it can be like to have termites. It’s estimated termites cost about $2 billion in damage every year, worldwide. The most destructive—of the over 2,000 types of termites—are the Formosan species. Formosans are the most voracious and aggressive of all the termites and their colonies often number a million or more. Damage they cause is often so great that entire structures have collapsed as a result of infestations. Unfortunately, most homeowners insurance does not cover damage caused by termites. That’s why experts say it’s so important to immediately hire a professional to rid your homeof termites, as soon as any of the bugs are found. “Trained professionals can help identify the termites,” says Cindy Mannes,director of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). “That’s important because it can help determine the treatment that should be used to end the infestation.” Currently there are three types of treatment available: Soil treatments, wood treatments and baits. Each method involves a variety of tools, chemicals and techniques that eliminate termites and help keep them from coming back. To help discourage termites from visiting your home ak = y : ie LLJaen [ Keeping moisture away from a house’s foundation can help pro- tect it from termites. in the first place, the NPMArecommendsthefollowing: * Do not let moisture build up around the foundation of your house. Divert water away with downspouts, gutters and splash blocks. * Reduce humidity in crawl spaces by ensuring proper ventilation. Prevent shrubs, vines and other vegetation from covering outside vents. Never bury wood scraps or waste-lumber in the yard, especially near a home. Also, remove old tree stumps and roots from around a house. Keep an 18-inch gap between any wood portions of a home and the surroundingsoil. To learn more or find a professional pest control company in your area visit www.pestworld.org.
