Termite Identification
The most common termite found in our region is the Eastern Subterranean Termite. These termites live in highly organized colonies consisting of five (5) to six (6) castes, each with a specific role.
Reproductives (King, Queen, Alates/Swarmers)
- The Queen is the largest member of the colony and is essential to population growth.
- The King is much smaller than the queen.
- Alates (swarmers) have dark brown to nearly black bodies with milky-translucent wings and measure
approximately ¼–½ inch in length. Wings may contain faint, barely visible hairs.
Workers
- Cream-colored, wingless, approximately ¼ inch or smaller.
- Responsible for damaging wood and transporting food and materials.
Soldiers
- Identified by large mandibles and rectangular, darker heads.
- Bodies are creamy white like workers, with brownish heads.
Signs of Termite Infestation
Termite activity may occur inside or outside a structure. Common indicators include:
Mud Tubes
- Narrow tunnels made from soil and wood particles found on interior or exterior surfaces.
- Protect termites from drying out while traveling between the soil and structure.
Wood Damage
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Blistered, bubbling, or uneven paint
- Discoloration of wooden surfaces
- Small piles of frass (fecal material) resembling sawdust near activity areas
Swarmers
- Subterranean termites typically swarm in spring when temperatures rise above 60°F, often after warm, rainy mornings.
- Heated structures may experience small indoor swarms during winter.
- Discarded wings near windowsills or doorways are a common sign of swarming activity.
Treatment Types & What To Expect
Horizon Pest Control uses modern termite control methods designed to eliminate the colony, not just repel termites. Your treatment plan may include one or both of the following approaches.
Liquid Termite Treatment
(Soil-Applied Non Repellent Termiticides)
Liquid treatments create a treated zone in the soil around and beneath the structure. Termites do not detect the product and unknowingly travel through it, allowing the active ingredient to spread through the colony.
What To Expect After a Liquid Treatment:
Swarming Activity
- Seeing swarmers after a liquid treatment is normal and does not indicate failure.
- Swarmers do not eat wood, bite, or sting and cannot cause structural damage.
- You may vacuum them or save a small sample for inspection if requested.
Why Swarmers May Appear
- Swarmers may leave the colony due to stress caused by treatment, including termite mortality or reduced moisture.
- It is common to see swarmers for 3–4 weeks following a liquid application.
- Swarmers may use old mud tubes that were abandoned after treatment.
- Because swarmers move quickly, they may absorb less termiticide than workers.
- Once outside the colony, swarmers will die shortly afterward, either naturally or from exposure.
Termite Baiting System (Sentricon®)
The Sentricon® System uses a bait matrix that termites prefer up to 10 times more than wood. The active ingredient, noviflumuron, is shared throughout the colony through trophallaxisn (food sharing, grooming, and antenna contact).
Noviflumuron prevents termites from molting, which ultimately eliminates:
- Workers
- Soldiers
- Reproductives
- The Queen
How the Sentricon® System Works
- Stations are installed in the ground around the structure.
- Termites discover stations during their continuous and random foraging for food.
- When active feeding is found, additional stations may be installed.
- Once feeding begins, colony elimination typically occurs within approximately 90 days, depending on colony size and activity.
Situations That May Allow Termites to Avoid Treated Soil
In rare cases, subterranean termites may survive above ground without soil contact if a constant water source is available. Possible sources include:
- Roof leaks
- Bathtubs or showers
- Dishwashers
- Plumbing leaks
This situation is uncommon in New Jersey.
Situations That May Allow Termites to Avoid Treated Soil
Termite control has evolved significantly over the past 30 years.
Older Methods relied on chemical barriers designed to block termite entry, often leaving colonies active elsewhere on the property.
Modern Methods, including liquid non repellent treatments and baiting systems, are designed to eliminate the entire colony.
For these systems to be effective:
- Termites must travel through treated soil or feed on the bait matrix
Depending on colony size and activity, complete elimination may take several months up to two years, in accordance with product labels. It is important that treatment systems remain in place, intact, and undisturbed to protect against future termite pressure.
