Swarming Termites Mean Big Trouble (NAPSA)—If you’ve never experienced a subterranean termite problem in your home, consider yourself lucky. These destructive pests cause more than $2 billion in damage and repair costs every year. What’s worse, termite damage is rarely covered by homeownersinsurance. Termites eat wood 24 hours a day and are active throughout the United States, found in every state except Alaska. Because up to 80 percent of the wood in a typical home maybe hidden from view,termites can destroy new and existing homes without the homeowners’ knowledge. If homeowners discover any of the following signs they should contact a pest management pro- fessional and ask for a termite inspection to determine the extent of the problem. e Large swarms of winged insects * Dead termites or discarded wings Termite mud tubes Damaged or “hollow” sounding wood Live termites Termite swarmingis the most visible sign of termites. They swarm at various times each year according to geographic regions, species type and weatherconditions. In the past, people chose chemical barriers to protect their homes from termites. These treatments can provide adequate temporary termite protection, although application often involves messydrilling through the home’s foundation to inject hundreds of gallons of termiticide, and retreatments are often the norm. Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC HomeownerTermite Concern* 36 Markets: West, Midwest, Southwest, Southeast & Atlantic coast = Research shows that more and more people are turning to modern technology to protect their homes from termites—an innovative termite solution that protects structures long-term through proven termite colony elimination. The Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System, installed and serviced by a highly trained professional, safely monitors properties for termites. When termites are found, the system uses just grams of termite bait only where termites are present to eliminate the colony attacking the structure. The Sentricon System is environmentally responsible and less disruptive than other treatment options. The protection process begins immediately with installation. Ongoing monitoring offers the security of lifetime home protection from reinfestation and costly termite damage. Currently, the Sentricon System is protecting more than one million homes and structures, including historic sites such as the White House, Statue of Liberty and Independence Hall. For more information, visit www.sentricon.com or call 1-800686-6200. *Source: IPSOS-NPD, 2002
