Mother Nature dumps a flood on you. Now what? Here are five things to know about termites after a flood.
Be prepared to talk to your customers about how termites can survive flooding and, sometimes, come back stronger. The threat increases because the soils around structures are wet and conducive to foraging termites. Here’s a list of the top things to know about termites post-flooding.
1. Termites may not have gone away. Termites on the front lines in foraging tunnels are not very likely to survive flooding; however, that doesn’t mean that the entire colony is eliminated. Termites have been known to infest structures and debris just one month after a flood. The pests can move up in trees and stumps to avoid drowning in floodwater and/or enter an immobile state that conserves oxygen for several hours. After the waters subside, termites are able to start foraging immediately.
2. If you had soil washouts, then a liquid barrier protection is most likely gone. Termiticides subjected to wet conditions are more prone to biological degradation than termite bait stations.
3. Noviflumuron does not leach from Recruit® HD termite bait. A Dow AgroSciences study confirmed that the active ingredient noviflumuron is stable in the highly durable matrix, preventing further movement into the environment. When the Sentricon® System station dries out, termites return to the bait in the station. Most importantly, bait remains palatable.
4. Sentricon stations should be checked and replaced if necessary. A service contract includes the replacement of missing stations. Take a look to make sure there is a station spaced evenly on average every 10 to 20 feet around the home.
5. Soil grading will need to be restored if low spots were created as a result of flood waters. Stations also may have to be moved to ensure that termite control is present in newly created conducive areas.
If you are located in a region that experiences flooding, take the opportunity to follow up with your customers after heavy rainfall. The best way to make sure that your customers’ homes are protected around-the-clock is to set up an onsite visit to evaluate and inspect Sentricon stations.