Mice

The house mouse (Mus musculus) is native to Central Asia, and was brought to North America by ships from Europe and other points of origin. The house mouse is a very adaptable animal, which thrives under a variety of conditions. They are found in and around homes, and commercial structures, as well as in open fields and agricultural lands. The house mouse is a nibbler and will sample many foods, but prefers to eat cereals and grains. They consume and contaminate food meant for humans, pets, livestock or other animals. In addition to damaging structures and property they can also transmit pathogens that cause disease, like salmonellosis (a form of food poisoning).

Mice are very small rodents, the adult house mouse is about 5 1/2 to 7 1/2 inches long including the 3 to 4 inch tail. They weight only about 1/2 ounce, and are usually brownish to gray in color. They can fit in a crack of only about a quarter inch. They have large ears and small black eyes. Mice are mostly active at night, but occasionally will be seen during the day. Mouse nests are made from shredded paper or other fibrous material. The house mouse has a distinct musky odor that identifies their presence. Droppings, gnawing marks, and tracks will indicate areas that mice are active. Sanitation will not completely control mice, however poor sanitation will help them thrive in larger numbers. Exclusion is the most successful and permanent form of house mouse control.

Rats 

Rats are some of the most problematic rodents in the US. They consume and contaminate food, damage structures and property, and transmit parasites and diseases to other animals and humans. Some examples of diseases that can be spread by both rats and mice are salmonellosis (acute food poisoning), Rickettsia Pox, Hantavirus (via droppings), tapeworm, infectious jaundice, and tularemia. It has been reported that rats bite more than fifteen thousand people per year including the both the very young and old. They scamper through your attic and walls, keeping you awake at night, and they often chew their way through drywall and enter the home to contaminate food and leave droppings. They like to chew and gnaw everything and create a fire hazard by chewing on electrical wires.

Norway Rats (Rattus Norvegicus)

The Norway Ratsaka brown rat or the sewer rats, they are stocky burrowing rodents that are larger than roof rats. The Norway rat is large and robust, with a blunt muzzle, small ears, and is mostly gray in color. They burrow along building foundations, under rubbish and woodpiles and in moist areas around gardens and fields. When they invade a structure, they generally stay at ground level or the basement. Their nests are usually lined with cloth, shredded paper, or fibrous materials. Norway rats eat a wide variety of foods but prefer to eat cereal grains, meats, fish, nuts and some fruits. When scavenging for food and water, the Norway rat usually does not travel further than 100-150 feet in diameter, seldom do they travel further than 300 feet from their burrow or nest. Norway rats and roof rats do not get along. The Norway rat is larger than a roof rat, and the more dominant of the two species, it will kill a roof rat in a fight. The Norway rat has an average of four to six litters per year and may successfully wean 20 or more offspring per year. Norway rats are found throughout the contiguous United States.

Roof Rats (Rattus rattus)

There are about 2000 known species of termites throughout the world. In the U.S., Subterranean Termites, including Eastern, Western, Desert and Formosans, which build underground nests, are a concern in every state except Alaska. Subterranean termites are extremely destructive, because they tunnel their way to wooden structures (like your home), into which they burrow to obtain food. Termites all share a virtually insatiable appetite for wood and other cellulose-containing materials. Given enough time, they will feed on the wood until nothing is left but a shell.

• A Caste of Hundreds of Thousands
• Look for Signs
• Who's Coming to Dinner in Your Neck of the Woods?

A Caste of Hundreds of Thousands
Termites are highly social insects that live in large colonies where populations can reach more than one million. A colony consists of several structurally differentiated forms living together as castes (including reproductives, soldiers, and workers) with different functions in community life.

Those "Ants" Might be Termites Both ants and termites have two pairs of wings, but ants' wings are different sizes while the termites' wings are all the same size. Also, ants have narrowed waists and elbowed antennae while termites have thick waists and short, straight antennae that resemble strings of beads. Don't be fooled by color or size. Ants can vary in size, and winged termites can be brown or black like ants.

• Piles of small, delicate wings shed by reproductives
• Small piles of sawdust
• Mud tubes built by termites for aboveground travel
• Damaged or hollow sounding wood
• Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper

Of course, it's quite possible to have a hidden termite problem even if you never notice any of these signs. The best way to be sure is to contact a licensed pest control professionalto conduct a complete inspection of your home….

Eastern Subterranean Termites

The Eastern Subterranean termite is the most common and most widely distributed termite in North America. It is a problem for home owners from southern Ontario in Canada, south throughout the Eastern United States and as far west as Montana.

This native American pest feeds on such cellulose materials as structural wood, wood fixtures, paper, books, and cotton. Occasionally, it will even attack the roots of shrubs and trees.

A mature colony of Eastern Subterranean termites can range from a low of 20,000 to a high of 5 million workers, with an average of 300,000. The colony's queen will add 5,000 to 10,000 eggs per year to the total.

While Eastern Sub termite colonies are not the largest termite colonies you can find, there will often be more than one of them working in a single building. Signs of Easterns include dirt-colored tubes built to serve as protected paths from the earth to the wood the termites are feeding on, and the translucent wings shed by the kings and queens during swarming. Swarming usually occurs in the spring, but other, smaller swarms can occur throughout the summer and fall.
Some quick facts about Eastern Subs

• An average Eastern Sub termite colony can consume 5 grams of wood per day, the equivalent of 2 1/3 linear feet of a 2'x4' pine board annually.
• Colony growth is slow, and it may take years before swarmers are produced.
• Eastern Sub termites can enter buildings through cracks less than 1/16" wide.
• The termite colony is made up of different types (castes) of termites - each with separate work responsibilities.
• Although Eastern Sub termite colonies are largely located in the ground below the frost line, secondary colonies can exist above ground, and examples of true above ground colonies existing without any ground contact have been seen. However, such above ground colonies have access to moisture and often the source is a roof or plumbing leak.
• Eastern Sub termites will often build mud tubes for travel between their colonies and their food sources.
• The king and queen in a colony can live for 10 to 30 years, while workers live for about two years.

Formosan Subterranean Termites

Formosan termites are one of several termite species that threaten homes and other structures in Hawaii and the southern half of the continental United States.

Originally from mainland China, Formosans have been established in the continental U.S. for only about 50 years. Unfortunately, they are more vigorous and aggressive and successful than native termites. In fact, the Formosan termite has been called the "Super" termite because of its large colonies and its ability to consume vast amounts of wood in a relatively short time.

• Formosan colonies are big. While native subterranean termite colonies might support an average of 300,000 workers, for example, Formosan colonies can average millions of workers - all of them foraging for food (wood).
• A typical colony of Formosan termites could forage an area more than one acre in diameter.
• As Formosans infest a structure, they use soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces to build hard nests called cartons within walls. Large cartons can actually cause walls to bulge. These nests house thousands of termites as well as hold moisture. Once established, Formosans can live indefinitely without soil contact.
• Formosan termites can also infest and destroy otherwise healthy trees.
• Swarmers are larger than native species, and they swarm in the evening and later in the year (May-June).
• Soldiers comprise about 10% of the colony.
• Formosans will even attack and destroy non-wood materials. They have been known to chew through plaster, plastics, asphalt, and even thin sheets of soft metals like lead and copper.
• Queens can produce 1,000 eggs a day.

Whatever the species, Termidor® termiticide/insecticide is your answer

Fortunately, there is a solution to even big termite problems like those posed by Formosans: It's Termidor, the world's most amazing termiticide.

Through seven years of testing, Termidor has repeatedly proven itself to be 100% effective against subterranean termites, including Formosans, in even the most challenging situations. It will completely eliminate your termites within 3 months of application. No exceptions. No excuses.

Termidor is a non-repellent

If a termiticide is non-repellent, that means the termites can't see it, smell it, or feel it. In fact, they don't know it's there at all. As a result, they'll continue to forage in treated areas. That might alarm you, but it's a good thing. Termites that are active in areas that have been treated with Termidor are helping to spread Termidor to more termites; they are helping the termiticide do its job. Rest assured that in a short time all the termites - those you see and those you don't - will be controlled.

Remember, Termidor kills in two ways

First, Termidor kills termites when they eat it (since they don't know it's there, they readily ingest it along with the wood fiber and other material they typically eat). Second, Termidor kills termites that simply come into contact with it. So, even if your termites are not feeding, Termidor will kill them.

Termites that come into contact with Termidor will also carry it on their bodies. As a result, every other termite they contact, feed, or groom will also be exposed to Termidor. All these termites will in turn transfer the termiticide to still more termites. This will go on for several days, allowing Termidor to be spread throughout the entire colony.

This unique mode of action is known as the "Transfer Effect™". At the same time, the active ingredient in Termidor, fipronil, is slow acting. That's a very good thing for you, and a very bad thing for the Formosan colony. Why? Because Termidor remains active long enough for one termite to transfer the termiticide to a large number of other termites in the colony before dying itself. And although the Termidor effect on individual termites is intentionally slow, the overall colony impact is fast: It can be 2-6 times faster than bait systems.

What to expect after application

Certainly, every home is different, so the specifics of your Termidor treatment and results will depend on your home's age, configuration, construction, and level of infestation. Your Termidor Certified Professional will explain the best procedure for your situation. The entire application program is typically complete in a day or less; however, you may see some evidence of termite activity for several days afterward. That's okay. Rest assured that Termidor is working, and its unique ingestion, contact, and "Transfer Effect" will eliminate termites from your home. Remember, responsible termite control demands periodic inspections by a licensed pest management professional.

If you believe your home may be in danger form Formosan Subterranean Termites, contact a Termidor pest control professional now.

Termite Prevention Tips