ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603130007
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Get ready, folks, the termites are returning. Or maybe they never left.
While this winter's subzero temperatures caused school and business closings across in the area and brought discomfort to many residents, they had little impact on subterranean termites, according to entomologists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Rather than facing freezing temperatures, the termites remained comfortably burrowed in their nests below ground or concealed inside the walls and foundations of homes and businesses.
"Many people believe that termites would have been killed by the cold snap," said Charles Hromada, an entomologist and senior vice president of technical services for Terminix International. "On the contrary, the increased moisture from melting snow and ice was beneficial for them. We will see the evidence this spring as swarming season begins."
And if that's not bad enough news, consider that Roanoke has made Orkin's list of the 20 worst-infested cities in the country. Roanoke comes in at No. 19; two other Virginia cities - Norfolk and Richmond - are ranked No. 5 and No. 18, respectively. The rankings are based on the number of sales Orkin has in a particular area.
Termite swarming generally occurs as the temperatures begin to approach the high 60s and low 70s immediately after inclement weather. A spring rain followed by sunshine creates the ideal combination of temperature, humidity and sunlight that triggers termite swarming in a given geographic area.
"The swarming season varies with the climate changes between the northern and southern parts of the country," Hromada predicted. "Termites swarming activity has begun in the southern parts of the United States. We expect swarming season to run from April through June in the northern regions."
Home and business owners may never witness the actual swarming, but can find evidence of the activity indoors by inspecting windowsills, door frames and light fixtures for discarded termite wings.
Although swarming and discarded wings are the most visible evidence of infestation, the actual damage to homes and businesses is exacted by worker termites, rarely seen except when an infested piece of wood is closely examined. There may be hundreds of thousands of termites in the colony, where they consume cellulose primarily found in wood and building materials.
Termites are expected to cause more than $750 million in damage in 1996, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Those figures represent the actual cost of materials, as well as inspection and treatment.
Regular inspections from a trained professional are the best way to avoid expensive problems in the future.
Choosing a pest control company to protect a home or business should be based on a number of factors, including:
Recommendations from friends.
Inspection of state licensing.
Training and experience of inspectors and the company's reputation.
Availability of low-cost renewable warranties.
Reimbursement for damage or repairs if termites return during the warranty period.
Orkin offers information for homeowners with its free homeowner video. It gives a full explanation of termite warning signs, preventive tips and myths and may be obtained by calling 1-800-563-HOUSE. Information is also available on the Internet at http://www.orkin.com
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart: Termite top 20.by CNB