In Oklahoma, the eastern subterranean termite is widespread. These insects feed on cellulose-containing material, including dead wood and other plant material. The problem for homeowners is that termites can also feed on structural wood and the paper facing on drywall. Keeping these insects away from your home is very important, and giving a Tulsa Pest Control company a call can be a first step if you suspect termite activity.

Let’s take a good look at termites and how they work. Termites are wood-feeding insects. They obtain energy from cellulose with the help of digestive enzymes and microorganisms in their gut. Wood contains cellulose, lignin, and other components, and cellulose is an important food source for termites. Oklahoma State University Extension provides information about subterranean termites, their biology, signs of infestation, and control.

Termites live in organized colonies and divide work among different castes. Workers perform many of the colony’s tasks, including foraging and caring for other colony members. Soldiers help defend the colony and have enlarged heads and jaws adapted for defense. Reproductives are responsible for reproduction, and the queen lays eggs that help maintain and grow the colony.

If you think you’ve got termites, two common professional treatment approaches a Tulsa Pest Control company may discuss are bait station systems and liquid soil treatments. With a liquid treatment, termiticide may be applied to soil around or beneath parts of the structure according to the product label and the construction of the building. Depending on the active ingredient, termites that contact treated soil may also transfer some termiticide to other termites.

Bait station systems use stations placed in the soil around a structure. Foraging termites may discover the bait, feed on it, and share it with other members of the colony. The bait’s active ingredient is designed to affect termites over time and can suppress or eliminate a colony when the system is properly installed and maintained. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes termite identification and professional treatment approaches, including soil-applied termiticides and termite baits.

If you think you’re having problems with termites or other pests, it’s time to give a good Tulsa Pest Control company a call. TermMax Pest Control can inspect the situation, explain the available termite-control options, and help protect your home. Call us today.