The Termite Exterminators of Peninsular Pest Control have been providing Pest Control Services in Jacksonville since 1954. Homes, businesses, and hospitals all depend on the award winning services of The Critter Gitter.
Our Service Professionals are bonded professionals trained to provide you with the best Termite Treatment for your Termite Infestation Problem. Offering Termite Inspection and Removal for both inside and outside because both are equally important.
Peninsular will keep your home or office Termite free, and your lawn healthy and green. Our Commercial and Residential Services are perfect for anyone searching for: Pest Control Services, Termite Control or Lawn Services
Most importantly, our lawn service includes, weed control, lawn aeration, lawn and turf Termite Treatment, and fertilization. We can even treat your yard and shrubbery for Termites.
The Critter Gitter will work around your schedule and treat your home or business on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis.
We can even offer one time Pest Control Services for special needs however, some insects, especially mosquitos can really take a bite out of a backyard festivity.
Termites are often a silent, invisible destroyer, as termite damage can go unnoticed until the problems they cause have already become an emergency.
By enrolling in a termite protection program or plan, homeowners can prevent thousands of dollars worth of damages from occurring as a result of termite infestation.
Read on to learn about what termite protection is and whether it’s worth the investment.
Termite damage can occur without a homeowners knowledge.
What is Termite Protection?
Termite protection refers to a specific type of pest control service that extends beyond a standard pest control plan. In comparison with DIY termite bait stations that last about a year, professional termite protection methods (liquid treatment, heavy-duty bait, wood treatment) can provide homeowners with up to five years of protection.
A termite bond is an agreement that clients get into with a pest control company that assures routine termite checks and termite treatment procedures. With these bonds, the pest control company will usually cover any damage that occurs as a result of termite habitation. It’s similar to an insurance policy that protects homes and commercial buildings from termite damage.
Most termite species thrive in moderate temperatures and moist climates, but desert and drywood termites can survive in hot, dry climates like the deserts of the Southwestern US.
These pests are a common issue across most of the country, other than Alaska, where termites are rare due to the cold weather.
Because of how prevalent termite infestations are throughout the US, termite protection is definitely worth considering. Homeowners who live in areas that are particularly prone to termite infestations can rely on termite protection plans to keep their homes structurally sound and increase the overall value of their property.
How Much Damage Can Termites Do?
To provide an accurate estimate of the damage a termite infestation can cause, it’s important to determine the size of the colony. Larger, older colonies can do more damage in a shorter length of time than newer, smaller colonies.
One termite can consume around 2% of its body weight in a single day, and a colony of around 60,000 can eat one square foot of wood in about a month. The colony in this example is quite small, as moderate colonies are at least twice this size. Large colonies can have around 2 million termites in their midst.
Usually, it can take around three years for small to moderate termite colonies to cause noticeable damage, but by then, the cost to remedy the situation is already going to be several thousand dollars.
In any situation, it’s better to prevent damage from being done to a home rather than having to pay for repairs later. Termite protection provides homeowners with significant savings opportunities, as the cost of a plan is only a fraction of the cost needed to replace termite-damaged wood.
For peace of mind, reach out to the Critter Gitter today to schedule an inspection.
There are four main types of wood-destroying organisms in Florida. Subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-destroying beetles and wood-destroying fungi. Unfortunately, all of these termites are problems for Florida homeowners. The Subterranean termites cause the most damage. Their colony can include millions of termites and the worker termites forage for food 24/7. Their food is the wood in your home: your floors, walls and ceilings.
One of the four types of termites in Florida
Termite Damage to homes
Drywood Termite Damage
Five million homes in the United States have termites every year and the damage caused is normally not covered by homeowners insurance. As a result, homeowners end up paying for the repair out of pocket.
Termite Bonds or Warranties offered by Pest Control companies usually cover the cost of any termite damage repairs. But, it’s important to know that not all of these warranties are the same.
At Peninsular Pest Control, our Warranty includes the cost of repairing any NEW termite or wood destroying insect damage. This includes an unlimited retreatment and repair guarantee of the structure and contents of the home. Additionaly, Peninsular continues to inspect the home annually.
Is the Peninsular Pest Control Termite Warranty transferrable?
YES. The Peninsular Pest Control Termite Warranty is transferrable to a new homeowner and is an added benefit to any property listing.
When it comes to Termite Infestation and Termite Control, a good offense is the best Termite defense. Contact the Best Termite Pest Control Company, the Critter Gitter for a free inspection. Our service technicians are bonded professionals, and will provide you with the treatment you need.
“When it comes to Termite Treatment, most people don’t realize they’re even looking at a termites swarm when they see one. Generally speaking the termites swarm on top of the ground and often come out of a root, a stump or other rotted wood and materials in the yard.” said, George Richardson, Technical Director for Peninsular Pest Control.
“People often ask me what they can do to keep termites out of their home. I’m going to show you some simple inexpensive ways to help keep subterranean termites out of your home. If you can’t… termite treatment may be needed.” responded Richardson.
Termite Inspection
People often pile unused bricks up against the side of their home. This is one of the worst places to store them. This will actually allow the termites to come up behind bricks and enter the home unnoticed and start damage inside the walls. Another conducive condition for termites is wood piled up against the home. You’ll also notice that the siding of this structure goes all the way to the ground and this tree is growing very close to the structure. The termites will actually follow the roots of the tree as they would a major highway and come up into the siding. Termite Treatment will help with some of these issues.
One simple way to rectify the situation is to install rock around the edge of the home. Also, make sure that the siding does not come in contact with the ground in any way. In this example you’ll see the siding is actually above the ground allowing us to see a termite tube if there is one. Although this is paint, it’s a great example of what termite tubes would look like as they enter your home.
“Now you know what a termite swarm looks like and several ways to protect your home. If you still think you have a problem and need us to come out and inspect your home for you, we’ll do it for Free, just give us a call.”
Many people have never seen termites and when they do, they often mistake them for flying ants. Another thing homeowners are not usually aware of is the fact that there are four different types of termites in the termite colony: Soldiers, Workers, Reproductives (or Swarmers) and of course the Queen. Each member has a specific duty:
The Reproductives or Swarmers, have one job only and that is to seek out a mate, reproduce and create a new colony. The Reproductives don’t actually do any damage to the structure of a home but, they do indicate that a colony is most likely nearby. If you see them swarming in the home or find the wings they drop, simply vacuum them up. BUT, seek immediate help from a Professional Pest Control Company to begin treatment.
The Soldier’s primary job is to protect the colony, mostly from ants. If you look closely at the Soldier termite, you will see the mandible or horns they use to defend the colony. The Workers of the Subterranean Termite Colony are the real concern for homeowners. These termites will build mud tubes up into the home and do some serious structural damage. They can also enter the home virtually undetected. For this reason, it’s important to do several things to minimize this situation, as you’ll see in the video below. Finally, the Queen; She is the most important member of the subterranean colony, capable of laying 6 or 7 thousand eggs a day.
So, when you ask the question: What Do Termites Look Like? You now have the knowledge to identify which member of the colony you are seeing and peace of mind knowing there is termite protection available to you.
Peninsular Pest Control is a Certified Sentricon® Specialist and one of our highly trained Pest Control Professionals will be glad to provide a free estimate for your home. Sentricon® Always Active Bait Stations do not disrupt the existing landscaping. The original Sentricon® system is the only termite product awarded the EPA’s Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for superior environmentally responsible chemistry.
After a Peninsular Pest Contol technician, who is a Sentricon® certified specialist, inspects your property, the Sentricon® Termite System stations are set up around your home. Thanks to Always Active ™ technology, Recruit® HD bait is available immediately. In-ground stations have a visible service cover which can only be opened with a special key.
About the Sentricon® Termite System
By preferring the bait almost 10 times more than wood, worker termites quickly discover and share their find within the colony. When ingested, the active ingredient in the Sentricon® Termite System prevents termites from molting maturity. Unable to molt, termites die. And when the colony dies, the queen is not far behind. Like a captain who sinks with the ship, despite the determination to survive, there is simply no hope.Sentricon® Termite SystemBy preferring the bait almost 10 times more than wood, worker termites quickly discover and share their find within the colony. When ingested, the active ingredient in the Sentricon® Termite System prevents termites from molting maturity. Unable to molt, termites die. And when the colony dies, the queen is not far behind. Like a captain who sinks with the ship, despite the determination to survive, there is simply no hope.
Imagine worry-free protection 24/7 now and in the future. All you need are your original bait stations and ongoing service from a certified Sentricon® specialist. For what it’s worth, termites prefer you to exclude yourself from this offer!
Swarming
Termites often swarm in warmer weather and after a rain shower to start new colonies. The swarming event can be brief, so even if you do not see flying termites, you are likely to see the discarded wings around window sills, doors, heating vents, bathtubs and sinks after a swarm takes place. Termite swarmers use their wings to move away from their original colony. Their wings break off and they pair up and find locations with a wood source where the male and female can begin a new colony. Whether you see the swarm or think there might have been one, call Sentricon® Termite System professional immediately.
Mud Tubes
Foraging worker termites, the ones that eat wood to feed the rest of the colony, must stay in moist conditions and away from natural enemies like ants. To get across barriers between the soil and the wood above, termites construct small, meandering mud tubes from moist soil and excrement. The tubes are about the diameter of a pencil, though they can become wider. Tubes can be seen on foundation walls or inside walls, on plumbing pipes and spanning crawl spaces between the ground and the subfloor. These termite highways are a sure sign termites are or have been in the home. Another reason to install the Sentricon® Termite System
Installation does not disrupt existing landscaping.
With this year’s unually warm weather, termites have begun to swarm. It’s time to look around your home and check for these pesky pests. Here are the Critter Gitter’s top 5 places to look:
Tree stumps close to your home
Garage door jamb—where the concrete of your house meets the concrete of your driveway
