Termites, often incorrectly referred to as ‘white ants’, have been on this earth for more than 250 million years, long before humans. They are not ants but are more closely related to cockroaches. They play an important role in nature – they break down dead or dry wood.
There are hundreds of species all over the world but two species are of economic importance – Subterranean and Dry wood (or wood-nesting) termites, of which subterranean termites are responsible for most of the damage.
As their name suggests, these termites live below the soil in well-organized colonies that are made up of reproductives (king and queen), workers and soldiers. They can digest anything containing cellulose, such as wood, paper or natural fabric.
Once a food source has been detected, workers construct mud tubes to it and from then on, the march is relentless. They stop at nothing and a gap of just 0.5mm is enough for them to gain entry. In their search for food they can even damage materials such as plastic, synthetic rubber and neoprene.
Termite damage worldwide runs into crores of Rupees every year. In most cases, the infestation goes undetected until it is too late. Therefore, the longer the delay, the more extensive and expensive the damage will be.
Preventive anti-termite treatment is essential for any premise – whether it is an existing structure, or under construction or renovation. Terminix® treatment uses the chemical-barrier method that includes slab injection (post-construction) and surface spray (pre-construction).
