Canine Scent Detection

Canines have long been known to have terrific noses that could be trained to sniff trails, prey, missing persons, and even cancer in a human body. Now there are termite-sniffing dogs available that can be trained to track any sent of methane, which is the gas that is produced by termites.

Some of the best dogs that can be used for this type of work include beagles and hounds, but there are many other breeds that are being trained for scent work. There are many types of methane smells, but these dogs can sniff the exact concentration levels that indicate that there is termite infestation. They can also track other destructive pests like carpenter ants.

These great scent chasers are able to use their well-suited noses to track down the specific scent and they will alert their handler when they find a hot spot around or in a house. By using these clever canines to augment home inspections that are done by trained termite exterminators, a home can be guaranteed that there are no termites within sniffing distance of their residence.

Most termite inspectors look for insect involvement in the most common areas such as around the foundation or interior walls. These fuzzy termite vigilantes can go inside the home, up in the attics, through the basement and under and around the homes.

If these termite sniffers alert to a problem, you can bet that something is there. Many times, they have alerted and it has taken hours or days for humans to uncover the termites that the dogs had ratted out. There have apparently been a few false hits by some of the dogs according to studies.

One must wonder if these were truly false hits by these incredible pooches, or if their human counterparts simply could not uncover what the dogs’ noses had discovered. It seems almost like a case of sour grapes, but then it must pinch a bit to be shown up and outclassed by a 4-legged canine with soulful eyes and floppy ears.

Even entomologists are impressed with the work of these animals because they only hit on living termites, not the leftover termite damage. There is no other person or technology that can make such minute discrimination.

Dogs also eliminate the need to tent and exterminate an entire house. These animals are so well trained and do their job so well, that they find the exact spot that has termite infestation and then the pest exterminators can use localized baits or sprays to kill the termites without having to over treat large areas of the home and property.

By integrating these canine wonders into a routine pest inspection, homeowners can be assured that their home has been cleared of any threat from termites. This double-edged check will actually produce quicker and more efficient inspections. Dogs are meant only to complement the inspections that are done by the experts and to provide worried homeowners with additional safety nets and peace of mind about the structural safety and integrity of their residence.

By itself, or as part of a comprehensive Termite Protection Program, a termite canine can help provide the peace of mind you want, need and deserve.

Call our locally owned Texas based pest control and termite office today, or visit our site @ Jenkins Pest and Lawn Solutions

Do It Yourself Termite Control

There are many non-chemical, environmentally friendly ways to help prevent termites from infesting our homes. These methods are more focused on preventive measures than dealing with termites by eradicating them with pesticides, which can be quite harsh on the environment in some ways or the other. These methods can also be used outdoors as well as indoors to avoid colonies from growing and invading your home. These methods aim to protect our health, environment and also help us cut down costs in termite control and prevention.

Your Options

You can first apply termite control in your backyard as termites prefer humid and warm areas; they tend to live in backyards to breed. But this may not be applicable for all, as some areas have colder climates. Securing a termite free outdoor environment, you can use termite resistant woods for decks, sheds and the like. Another option is to treat concrete and stone foundations with water resistant sealers to prevent termites from infesting your backyard. Another option is to use orange oil which is derived from orange peels and serves as a natural non-toxic termite killer that has been proven to prevent termite infestation.

Pay Attention

As a part of a do it yourself termite control method, you should learn to keep a watchful eye on your yard or other areas of the house. You shouldn’t have any heaps of compost, wood stacks, and leaf piles anywhere your home. As termites survive in warm and moist areas in order to get food, any size of flower beds planted anywhere near a building or house structure is a risk for termite infestation. This is why flower beds should be structured a few feet away from the house to make a space that will then acts a barrier from termites.

Where to Look

Other areas prone to termite infestation are basements, attics, kitchens, and even bathrooms that tend to become humid and moist, making them a suitable termite breeding ground. Even stored paperwork, documents, books, and even old carpets are food sources for termites, so you should watch out for these when stored away in attics and basements.

Remember that termites are experts in making earth tunnels, allowing them to enter your home in many areas. As these do it yourself methods are mainly for prevention, it is another matter when there is already an infestation. At this point you may resolve to using toxic substances to completely kill termites. Other ways to eradicate termites are by using termite baits that can slowly but surely kill a colony of termites as the chemicals are distributed throughout the colony. Liquid termite treatments also used, are sprayed around the house to effectively repel termites. Also borate termite treatments are supplied directly to the woodwork of the home. Another method involved is fumigation.

It is up to you to decide on what methods to use when it comes to termite prevention and control depending on cost and effectiveness.
For More Information about Termite Treatments and Control visit us @ Jenkins Pest and Lawn