Jacksonville Termite Control Services

All homeowners have nightmares about termites munching away at the vital structural timbers of their homes. This is not an irrational fear, because termites cause millions of dollars in damage to homes every year. One of the most destructive of these pests is the Eastern subterranean termite. Orange Environmental Services offers residential termite control in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas. We are an Authorized Operator of the Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System with Always Active™ technology from Dow AgroSciences. The Sentricon System was registered under the Reduced Risk Pesticide Initiative of the EPA and it is the only termite control product to ever receive the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.

Understanding Jacksonville termite infestations

Subterranean termites maintain a central nest underground. From there they construct mud tunnels to get to their food source, people's homes. These tunnels may radiate out for a hundred yards or more. They also construct smaller nests in or near homes. The termites take advantage of moist areas to build these nests. The queen lives in the central nest, doing nothing but laying eggs and producing more termites. She may lay 2000 eggs a day and live for 25 years.

Most of the termites produced are workers, and they do all the damage. They're about 1/8 of an inch long, cream-colored, and without wings. They gather food for the colony, leaving wood spongy and full of holes. They also repair the nests and care for the young termites.

The workers don't reproduce, but there are swarmer termites that do. The swarmers fly around looking for mates and opportunities to create new colonies. They like areas with lots of wood and moisture. They generally swarm in the spring, after a rain. The swarmers are about 3/8 of an inch long, with a black body and clear wings. They can produce hundreds of new colonies with millions of termites.

There are also soldier termites, which are orange and have large heads with pinchers. They're often the first termites to be seen in an area of termite infestation, since they guard the nests. If you see them near your home, you can suspect that termites are at work there.

Know when to call a Jacksonville termite control professional

What should you do if you see a termites in our around your home? The best plan is to call professionals to exterminate these unwelcome guests. One in five homes in the area will be attacked by termites. Even if you see only a few termites, it's highly recommended that you contact Orange Environmental Services for a termite inspection.