One of the questions that come up will be whether we can handle the pest problem ourselves or are pest control exterminators the better people for the job. Obviously these exterminators would have had some form of professional training in dealing with the termite damage and finding the colonies and ant farms which are creating so much havoc for home owners. The issue here is that how much does it really take to know or learn this ourselves? Can we sufficiently and adequately learn how to locate termite or red ant nests? And if found, do we know what to do to destroy these nests?

Now then you will see that professional exterminators should have the necessary tools and equipment to deal with termites and red ants. Such equipment can be costly, and the poisons they use to destroy the termite and ant nests are usually not for sale to unlicensed handlers, such as private home owners. If such material is not handled properly, it can cause unwanted accidents and deaths such as poisoning of other animal life and also humans as a result of direct or indirect contact. While red ants do not necessary require poisons to be gotten rid of, termites often require exterminators to spray or pour toxins into termite nests to effectively rid you of termite infestation. With these in mind, it might then raise an additional question of how much does termite extermination or pest control cost?

A key point would be how bad the termite problem is in your home. Has the termite damage and infestation proceeded to leave your home breaking down? Are there many termite nests and colonies established near your home? What about the red ants if it is the problem instead of termites? Red ants are dangerous insects as they can bite and leave painful marks and sometimes lead to poisoning as well as allergy reactions from the red ant bites. If you did a little study on ants, you will find that among the various types of ants in the world, red ants only rank second to fire ants in the dangers they pose, especially with their bites. People have been known to die as a result of fire ants’ bites.

So keeping in mind all these points, we need to understand whether each of us needs termite control to deal with the damage that these insects have brought upon us and our homes. Whether it be drywood termites or subterranean termites, red ants or fire ants, identification of these insects is crucial and needs to be done early to prevent further worsening of the problem. The worst thing to happen is if the colonies and nests mature and you have thousands and millions of termite or ant eggs ready to hatch underneath your home. That would spell absolute disaster for your home and is another clear reason why you should consider getting a professional termite or ant exterminator to deal with any such problem encountered.

Why should you be able to know if it is ants or termites that you see? One reason is the cost of pest control that you will hire. Getting rid of ants can be done yourself by tracing the ant trail and burning the nest. Finding termite nests is much tougher as they can hide buried deep in the ground. That is why you should hire professional pest control companies to provide expert assistance.

So how can you spot a termite from an ant? There are currently hundreds of termite species and they differ in traits and appearance. The rank of a termite in its colony can also be told from its physical appearance.

While ants are usually little and black in color except for red ants which will not be mistaken for termites, termites can range in different shades of brown. Queen termites are usually the ones with different colors, but you would not need to know them too well as they are often found only within termite nests. They also have more wings than other termite ranks. Four large wings compared to the usual two.

Soldier termites on the other hand are commonly in a shade of yellowish brown. These are the termites which can hurt you, with huge powerful mandibles. Their heads are also larger than the termites of other ranks.

Finally, worker termites are the tiniest of the line because of their function. They are also easy to differentiate from ants. Worker termites are white in color. They are the ones that you would normally see in your wooden furniture, attacking and breaking down your home as they gather food and material for their nests and colonies.

From the above, you should have an easier job of telling the difference between ants and termites. Remember that it is important that you know, as termites are more dangerous and difficult to get rid of, compared to ants.

The problem is quickly compounded if you live in a region where air dampness is common. When you get a combination of wood and damp conditions, it can quickly mean a termite nest. An ants nest can be simply destroyed, but if a termite colony lives in or near your home, without destroying the nest, your home can in turn be the one that is torn down.

So what can you do to prevent termites from carrying out an occupation of your home like the Japanese did with the rest of Asia in World War II?

1. Ensure there are no wooden scraps and tree stumps in or near your home and its foundation, especially the stumps. They are prime locations for a termite colony and they will migrate to your house the minute you start building it.

2. Constantly check for cracks or breaks in your house. Do not limit checks to just wooden parts. Termites are known to creep into cracks in brick walls as well, before attacking the wooden portions in the rest of the home.

3. Install moisture absorbers in your home. Termites love wood. They also enjoy damp conditions for their breeding ground.

4. Keep your home well-drained. Moisture absorbers are baby steps. Keeping your home dry through proper drainage is a major foundation.

5. Wood can add so much to the visual aesthetics of a home, but a smart person will keep it to the minimum. The less wood you have, the less appealing your house is to termites.

6. Schedule periodic maintenance by a pest control company if necessary, especially if your home is situated in a prime region for termite damage.

These are just some of the more basic measures in termite prevention. If you do not want these bugs to destroy your dream home, take early steps in strong termite control.