TERMITES & TERMITE TREATMENT Termites can destroy the structure of your home.  You should visually inspect your home for termites often to determine whether you need to seek assistance from a qualified termite inspector.  Your inspector can assess damage to your home's structure and help you determine the appropriate way to deal with these invaders. There are many signs of termite infestation.  Monitor your home in the spring and autumn for swarms of winged adult termites.  Also, check your foundation walls periodically for mud tubes 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide.  Mud may also protrude from cracks between boards and beams.  Physical properties of termite-infested wood include a hollow sound upon tapping, extreme softness when probed with a knife, and sponginess when pressure is applied. In order to determine whether you have swarms of termites around your home, you must be able to identify these insects.  Termites range in size from 1/4 to 3/8 inches long.  There are three castes (types) of termites in each colony.  These include reproductives, workers, and soldiers.  There are two types of reproductives:  primary and secondary.  The color of the primary reproductives ranges from black to pale yellow-brown.  They have fully developed wings that are pale gray or brown.  The secondary reproductives are white or cream in color.  They have short wing buds rather than mature wings.     Workers are white to grayish-white.  They are completely wingless.   Soldiers have large, well-developed brownish heads with strong mandibles.  Their bodies are wingless and whitish in color.   If you do detect signs of infestation, call an exterminator as soon as possible.  After evaluating the colony, Tru-Spec® will give a bid onsite for the treatment cost.  After the termite infestation has been treated, you should have a professional inspection once a year to ensure that none of the pests remain in the structure of your home.  Tru-Spec® offers a one-year warranty against the reappearance of termites after treatment.   Inspection Points: Outside Walls Basement  - Foundation Walls Door and Window Frames Attic Floors and Stairs Tru-Spec® uses PremiseTM by Bayer to incapacitate termites.  PremiseTM is a water based termiticide that is non-toxic to mammals but lethal to insects.  It has little odor, and is non-repellent to the termites.  The non-repellant quality gives the chemical time to affect the nervous system of the insects.  PremiseTM acts by reducing the movement and feeding behavior of the termites.  Without these processes, the termites die within three to seven days. Unfortunately, termites are just one of the local wood destroying organisms.  During the termite inspection, Tru-Spec® will also watch for signs of fungus, wood boring beetles, and carpenter ants.