#Liquid defense termites windows#

There's also a problem with CCA breaking down over time and leaching into the environment. CCA is applied using a liquid solution under pressure, and the pesticide isn't always distributed evenly in all woods. Termites can still go around treated wood to other edible surfaces, like the wood in your furniture and even your carpeting, or find pockets in CCA-treated wood that don't have high concentrations of the pesticide. It also has the advantage of being resistant to deterioration due to sun and water exposure, and inhibits the growth of microbial agents like fungus that accelerate wood's decay. This lethal cocktail, called chromated copper arsenate (CCA), has been in use since at least the 1940s for outdoor applications, especially where wood comes in contact with the soil. In the next section, we'll take a look at how copper's bug-busting properties were discovered and how it works to control pests.Ī successful approach to making a house an unappealing food source for termites is by treating the wood used in its construction with a combination of chromium as a binder, copper and arsenic. A good way find out if the insects are actively feeding in or near your home is to demolish part of a suspected tunnel and see if they rebuild it. These tunnels are between a 1/4 of an inch to an inch wide (6.35 to 25.4 mm) and can be an indication that you have termites. Termites protect themselves from predation by ants and from the elements by building above-ground tunnel shelters to get from place to place when they can't travel underground. If you see shed wings inside your home, it's time to call a termite professional.Īnother way to identify the presence of termites is to look for stalactites made of dried mud or narrow, long tubes made of mud between your beams or along your foundation. Examining any cobwebs on your property for long, slender termite wings is another good way to check for signs that termites are nearby. A termite's wings are longer than its body, while a flying ant's wings are about the same length as its body. Termite wings are long and slender and can be distinguished from those of flying ants by their size. Reproductives shed their wings when they find new homes.

#Liquid defense termites windows#

Swarming termites are attracted to light, so check around the exterior lights and windows of your home for discarded wings or dead termites. If you think there may be termites in the neighborhood, spring is a great time to keep an eye out. Even though they can be tough to spot, especially at first, termites do leave signs of their presence.