There are numerous varieties of wood destroying insects. The types we provide treatment options for include: Termites Carpenter Ants Carpenter Bees Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding any type of wood destroying insect. If we are unable to furnish the type of treatment you need, we will give you a reputable referral. Termite Control Termites eat wood, and can consequently cause great structural damage to your home if left unchecked. A typical homeowner's insurance policy does not cover destruction caused by termites, even though they cause over 1 billion dollars in damage to homes throughout the United States each year. Our inspection and treatment program can help you understand the threat of termites, and take the necessary steps to protect your home. You can’t assume your home is termite-free just because you’ve never seen them – they only swarm once or twice a year, and you might miss it. We thoroughly inspect your home or business, looking for the tell-tale signs of termite infestation. Some of the things we look for are: Mud tubes built for traveling above ground Damaged or hollow-sounding wood Pinholes in drywall or wallpaper Small piles of sawdust Piles of small wings Other specific termite indicators Termite Treatments To control these unwanted pests, we provide an effective treatment plan, which may include: Exterior Protection - a continuous chemical barrier is created around the exterior of your home or building to keep termites from entering Direct Contact - as possible, we apply chemicals directly to the pests  Termite Facts Subterranean termites, when left untreated, can be extremely destructive. First they build tunnels to wooden structures, and then they burrow into those structures to obtain food. Any wood or cellulose-containing material constitutes termite food, and given time to do so, they’ll eat until nothing is left but a shell. Termites avoid light and air, so they build their colonies where you’re not likely to stumble upon them. Is it a termite or an ant? On the off chance you do see them, remember that it’s easy to confuse termites with ants. Fortunately, there are features that distinguish them. Ants narrow waists bent antennae two sets of wings (one wing is longer than the other)   Termites thick waists straight antennae two sets of wings (same size) Back to top of page Carpenter Ants All kinds of buildings, regardless of age or type of construction, are vulnerable to infestation and damage by carpenter ants. They are very difficult to control. Colonies can contain up to 50,000 workers. Although they do not eat wood, they will feed on nearly anything people eat—particularly sweets and meats. Will also feed on other insects. Resides both outdoors and indoors in moist, decaying or hollow wood. They cut "galleries" into the wood grain to provide passageways for movement from section to section of the nest. Can leave "sawdust" behind that provides clues to nesting location. Back to top of page Carpenter Bees The species of most importance are about 1-inch long and have a robust, bee-like shape. Like bumblebees, carpenter bees are black with some yellow. One carpenter bee species in the southwest, the valley carpenter bee, has a metallic-black colored female and a tan colored male. Carpenter bees chew out tunnels in wood in which to lay their eggs and provide a protected site for their larvae to develop. The female bee selects a suitable log or piece of wood and chews a round, 1/2-inch diameter tunnel into the wood. About one-inch deep, she turns at a right angle and chews a tunnel (nest gallery) about 12 inches in length. The bits of wood she chews off are deposited outside the nest and end up on the ground below. These bits of wood, called frass, often are streaked yellow from pollen on the female s legs. An egg will be deposited at the end of the nest gallery; the female will then pack the gallery about an inch deep with pollen. This process is repeated until the entire gallery has been filled. The male carpenter bee guards the outside of the nest and tries to chase away potential predators. He does not have a stinger, but still causes concern with his aggressive buzzing if people venture near the nest site.