The Complete Guide to Termite Pest Prevention, Treatment and Control in Myanmar
Termites are notorious for their ability to damage wood. Termite infestations are a nightmare to many homeowners or individuals who have experience dealing with them. In this complete guide, you will learn all you need to know about termites in Myanmar. We'll also discuss various prevention and treatment methods.
What Types of Termites are there in Myanmar
Worldwide there are over 3000 types of termites (living and fossil).
These three types of termites are the most common and are active in Myanmar:
Subterranean termites
Drywood termites
Dampwood termites
Dampwood termites are relatively harmless. They play a vital role as a decomposer in the ecosystem. Dampwood termites find great pleasure in forested areas.
The other two types of termites in Myanmar - subterranean and drywood - are of more concern to human beings. Let's take a closer look.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites usually live underground in moist-rich areas. They tend to hide away from humans. Their underground network consists of mud tubes (soil, cellulose and other particulate matter).
Drywood Termites
In contrast to subterranean termites, drywood termites are not so attracted to moist-rich underground areas. Instead, they live inside dry wood parts including walls, doors and shelves.
Dampwood Termites
The third type of termite common in Myanmar is the dampwood termite. As its name implies, it is attracted to moist-rich wooden areas. Therefore you'll often find them inside logs in forests. The forest offers a great home to dampwood termites due to its constant availability of water.
The Life Cycle and Biology of Termites
Eusociality is a common trait of termites. 'Eu' is Greek for good, hence the combination of "good" and "social" makes up the word eusocial. Termites are known to take good care of their surroundings.
Termites:
live in multigenerational families
practice cooperative brood care
perform division of labor
Within a termite colony, different roles exist:
Reproductives
Workers
Soldiers
Reproductives
The reproductives give birth to new offsprings. They are winged termites that swarm around light sources. Also known as alates or swarmers. Interestingly, winged termites form new colonies when leaving their nest.
Swarming is their way of finding new mating partners. Once they've found a suitable partner and a nesting site, they then mate. These termites are known as the king and queen of the new nest.
Queen termites lay over 1000 eggs per day! Also, they can live for more than 20 years. The termite colony is a strong structure and it may even survive after the death of the king and queen. In that case, secondary reproductives take over their duty.
Soldiers
Next in line are the soldiers. Their role is to serve as pincers. This task comes naturally due to the large mandibles. Soldier termites use pincers as a shield to protect the colony. Some species may even secrete white latex through their head to defend the colony. The mandibles are large and prevent the soldiers from eating comfortably. Therefore, the soldiers depend on the worker termites for food.
Workers
Workers are in charge of finding food and feeding the other termites. In addition, they help the young termites by building and maintaining their nest. Are there any damages? Workers to the rescue! Sometimes, workers also consist of immatures. These may then grown and become soldiers or reproductives.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
The most common sign of a termite infestation is damaged wood. Termites love to feed on wood, usually underneath the surface. If you visibly notice bubbly surfaces, it's likely to be the cause of termites. In case there is water damage, the subterranean termite may well be responsible.
Subterranean termites construct mud tubes, which allows them to travel above ground. The mud tube is another clear sign of a termite infestation. Severely infested areas often have a large amount of mud tubes.
Tapping sounds coming from infested wood is a more rare sign of termite infestations. The tapping sounds are a result of termites feeding on wooden interior. This causes the structure to empty. Subsequently, when termites hit their heads, a hollow sound is produced. Termites do this because their communication is through sound. For example, termite soldiers alert other colony members by hitting their heads against the tunnel.
Termite wings are another sign that your house or office has a termite problem. Flying termites shed their wings. If you see a large number of wings lying around, it is likely to represent the presence of many termites.
Let's take a look at drywood termite infestations. One of the more evident signs of drywood termite problems is the presence of wood dust, which represents fecal pellets. They are found near infested wood structures.
Finally, spotting actual termites is obviously the clearest sign of a termite infestation. This is not so common, though. Accidental disturbances to their mud tubes or wood may cause them to wander around. This makes it possible to spot them.
Damage
Termites are capable of causing severe damage. One of the reasons is the capacity to reproduce. A subterranean termite colony can reach over 1 million termites without a problem. It would take them just a few months to thoroughly destroy a 2x4 wooden beam.
Structural Damage
Significant damages to buildings and structures make termites a real nuisance. How do they achieve this type of damage? By feeding on cellulose material in wood. First, they hollow it out. By doing so, the structure of the wood is weakened. Eventually, this leads to the collapse of structures, unless the termites are exterminated.
Safety Concerns
Older buildings generally consist of timber as its primary material. Some of these wooden buildings, due to their historical significance and beauty, are preserved. And rightly so! Unfortunately, termites don't think the same way. These wooden buildings offer a paradise for termites. They chew on the structures and sometimes cause the roof of a building to collapse.
Aesthetic Damage
Aesthetics of buildings also offer another excellent source for termites to do their thing. Grooves on the wood, paint, chipping paint and mud tubes are signs of an infestation.
Fire Hazard
Subterranean termites can cause real havoc. Some of the things they aim for are electrical components such as wire trunkings and circuit boxes. The termites can bring about severe damage causing short circuit and sometimes even fire.
Health Concerns
Unlike other pests such as mosquitoes, termites do not transmit diseases to human beings. However, since termites usually reside in humid and moist areas, their presence stimulates the growth of mold and fungi. People who suffer from allergies or asthma may be affected by the presence of mold and fungi.
Damage and Repair Costs
Though termite's destructive activities often go unnoticed, somewhere along the way a significant reparation is required. The unwelcome damage and repair costs resulting from termites can be severe, especially for homeowners. For example, infested wooden parquets and skirting require the replacement of both items.
The Best Way to Get Rid of Termites – What Can You Do
It is recommended to have Pest Management Professionals in Myanmar carry out inspections in your home, office or other building. If you do not yet have a contract with such a pest control company, there are some things you can do to get rid of termites yourself.
Where to Spot Termites
1. Flooring and skirting
Damaged wooden flooring and skirting are the main indications of a termite infestation. In the corners and edges where the wall and floor meet, mud tubes are usually visible.
2. Storerooms
Spot termites in storerooms. This is especially worth a proper inspection in case you don't visit the storeroom often.
3. Pipes
The increased humidity in and around pipes offers an excellent home for termites. Leakages are also an invitation for welcoming termites.
4. Exterior wall
Keep an eye on mud tubes on exterior walls. Termites love to build their way into the house via these mud tubes.
5. Outdoor area
Termites hide between building materials outside of your home. Also, tree stumps may be infested with termites if not removed abruptly.
6. Wooden door and window frames
Lastly, wooden doors and window frames offer a suitable environment for a termite infestation. Look out for termite mud tubes, exit holes and fecal pellets when cleaning the windows and doors.
What to Do When You Spot Them
Early detection is vital! Termites do not cause severe damage overnight, so do not panic if you notice them. Also, we don't recommend using insecticide aerosols in affected areas.
Instead, take a photo and send it to your preferred pest management service provider. They can identify the type of termite infestation and severity. Remember: Do not disturb the affected area!
Some people try to clear the infested wood and mud tubes on their own. Unless your pest control provider recommends you to do so, do not take such initiative on your own.
Disturbed colonies can severely hinder the control and eradication of termites. Again, contact a local pest management professional in Myanmar to help you out.
DIY Termite Treatments Under 10$
Termite treatments require professional expertise, though there are some things you can do to get rid of termites. The simplest solution requires soapy water and a light source.
Flying termites are attracted to light sources, thus placing water under such a light source can confuse termites. They easily get drawn to the reflection of the light in the water, causing them to drown.
Top Ways to Get Rid of Termites
Most colony members live underground, while a small number of termites move above the ground. Thus, treatment must always include targeting the underground population. Since this treatment is difficult and risky, we do not recommend you to carry it out on your own. Instead, rely on a pest control company based in Myanmar.
Professional Termite Extermination Treatment: Baiting
Baiting is the most suitable termite treatment method to target underground colonies. The bait only targets subterranean termites and consists of cellulosic material impregnated with an insect growth regulator. The cellulosic material is a food attractant, while insect growth regular is a slow-acting toxicant.
Once termite workers consume the bait, the other colony members receive the toxicant. It takes about 1-2 months to eliminate an entire termite colony through baiting. Though that appears to be a long time, it is the most effective treatment available. It is by far the best method to prevent recurring infestations.
Professional Termite Extermination Treatment: Soil
Some other subterranean termite species are not as affected by the baiting treatment. In some cases, soil treatment replaces baiting.
Green-label certified liquid termiticides are spread to create a chemical barrier in the soil under or around the foundation of a building during soil treatment. The termiticides are so effective that they prevent the invasion of subterranean termites for years.
Professional Termite Extermination Treatment: Foaming
Also, one of the most conventional methods in managing termites is foaming. This method is the least expensive treatment. It is used to inject a foam that propagates into the mud tube of termites and any narrow spaces that termites may enter. The foraging termites, which have come into contact with the foam, are expected to pass the toxicant to their nestmates by social interaction.
The success of foaming depends on the skill and technique of the pest management professional. If too much foam is injected into the mud tube, the treated termites will die before they pass on the toxicant, or it may cause the tunnel to collapse.
Different Treatment Methods for Termite Pest Prevention
Treatment methods for preventing and eliminating drywood termites are different from the treatments used for subterranean termites. Earlier we discussed that these types of termites have a different biology and behavior.
Drywood termites don't need soil and moisture to build and grow their colony. The entire colony of drywood termites can live within a simple timber structure. Therefore we should inspect and treat the wood before we use or move it into our home.
Pre-treat wood using chemicals helps prevent termites from entering into the wood. Next, varnish the wood and apply paint. This will help prevent future drywood termite infestations.
In many cases, it is too late to do prevention. The presence of termites is firmly established. Wood replacement may be the next logical step. By doing so, you radically remove the entire termite colony.
However, the go-to method is to engage a pest management professional to provide specialised drywood termite treatments (as mentioned earlier). If you would like more information on how Titan Pest Management can help you from termite infestation, get in touch or call us now!