Alabama Professional Services Pest and Termite Control

Frequently Asked Termite Questions

Termites are a big problem in a home. And, if you see termites swarming in your house, then you can be sure they've already been there, eating your home, for quite some time. But how can you tell what types of termites you have, or if they're not really carpenter ants? Is there any way to detect termites before they swarm?

Alabama Professional Services provides these tips for homeowners interested in learning more about termites in their homes. To meet with our experts for a FREE termite control estimate, at no obligation, call or e-mail them today!

Are they ants or termites?

For clues to help distinguish termites from ants, examine the insects' wings, waist and antennae:

While both insects have two pairs of wings, termite wings are relatively equal in size.
Ant wings tend to be longer in front and shorter in back.
Ants also have a narrow, pinched waist. Termites' waists are thicker and less distinct.
In addition, ants' antennae are elbowed, while termites' are straight.

What are Subterranean Termites?

The most common termite in North America and throughout the Eastern U.S are the Eastern Subterranean ( Reticulitermes):

Mature colonies may contain from 20,000 to 5 million workers averaging around 300,000.
Can enter buildings through cracks less than 1/16" wide.
Feed on cellulose materials including wood and pulp, even roots of shrubs and trees.

Subterranean Termites live in colonies containing specialized members:

A) King and Queen: At least one King and Queen are at the center of every colony
B) Eggs: Queens can lay thousands of eggs every year
C) Nymphs: White in the nymph state, termites diverge into different casts: workers, soldiers, and reproductives.
D) Workers: Workers are blind wingless termites that maintain, build and repair nests and tubes, and forage for food.
E) Soldiers: Their sole function is to defend the colony.
F) Winged Reproductives: These termites will eventually leave the colony as adult swarmers.

When do Termites Swarm?

Termites can swarm at various times throughout the year depending on geographic regions, species of termite and weather conditions:

Formosan termites, not indigenous to this area, are a notable exception to this rule. They typically swarm in the early evening.
Most subterranean termites normally swarm in the daytime -- usually midday -- when it is sunny and often, right after it rains.

What are Some Common Signs of a Termite Infestation?

Live termites in or around windows and door frames.
Hollow-sounding walls, baseboards and floors that also reveal visible damage from termite tunneling.
Mud tunnels, which often disappear into cracks of masonry, in and around doors and window frames or along siding.
Dead termites or termite wings.

How Can I Reduce the Likelihood of a Termite Infestation in my Home?

Maintain landscaped areas a few feet away from the foundation of the structure.
Keep firewood stacked away from the structure.
Keep crawl spaces and basements clear of wood debris and excess moisture if possible.
Routinely check in and around the structure for mud tubes, discarded wings and general signs of termite activity.
If adding a room or deck to the structure, make sure the wood has been "pressure treated" and the construction complies with local building codes.
Have soil treated or baited with an appropriate termite product by a Pest Control Professional.
Fix faulty drainage and any plumbing or roof leaks that cause moisture to accumulate.

Call for a FREE termite control estimate today!

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Areas we serve:

Cities in Autauga County, AL
Autaugaville
Billingsley
Booth
Jones
Marbury
Prattville

Cities in Baldwin County, AL
Bay Minette
Bon Secour
Daphne
Elberta
Fairhope
Foley
Gulf Shores
Lillian
Little River
Loxley
Magnolia Springs
Montrose
Orange Beach
Perdido
Point Clear
Robertsdale
Seminole
Silverhill
Spanish Fort
Stapleton
Stockton
Summerdale

Cities in Barbour County, AL
Clayton
Clio
Eufaula
Louisville

Cities in Bibb County, AL
Brent
Brierfield
Centreville
Green Pond
Lawley
Randolph
West Blocton
Woodstock

Cities in Blount County, AL
Allgood
Blountsville
Cleveland
Hayden
Locust Fork
Oneonta
Remlap

Cities in Bullock County, AL
Fitzpatrick
Midway
Perote
Union Springs

Cities in Butler County, AL
Chapman
Forest Home
Georgiana
Greenville
Mc Kenzie

Cities in Calhoun County, AL
Alexandria
Anniston
Bynum
Choccolocco
De Armanville
Eastaboga
Jacksonville
Ohatchee
Oxford
Piedmont
Weaver
Wellington

Cities in Chambers County, AL
Five Points
Lafayette
Lanett
Valley

Cities in Cherokee County, AL
Cedar Bluff
Centre
Gaylesville
Leesburg
Spring Garden

Cities in Chilton County, AL
Clanton
Jemison
Maplesville
Stanton
Thorsby
Verbena

Cities in Choctaw County, AL
Butler
Gilbertown
Jachin
Lisman
Melvin
Needham
Pennington
Silas
Toxey
Ward

Cities in Clarke County, AL
Alma
Campbell
Carlton
Coffeeville
Dickinson
Fulton
Gainestown
Grove Hill
Jackson
Morvin
Thomasville
Whatley

Cities in Clay County, AL
Ashland
Cragford
Delta
Hollins
Lineville
Millerville

Cities in Cleburne County, AL
Edwardsville
Fruithurst
Heflin
Muscadine
Ranburne

Cities in Coffee County, AL
Elba
Enterprise
Jack
Kinston
New Brockton

Cities in Colbert County, AL
Cherokee
Leighton
Muscle Shoals
Sheffield
Tuscumbia

Cities in Conecuh County, AL
Brooklyn
Castleberry
Evergreen
Lenox
Range
Repton

Cities in Coosa County, AL
Equality
Goodwater
Kellyton
Rockford
Weogufka

Cities in Covington County, AL
Andalusia
Florala
Gantt
Lockhart
Opp
Red Level
River Falls
Wing

Cities in Crenshaw County, AL
Brantley
Dozier
Glenwood
Highland Home
Honoraville
Luverne
Petrey
Rutledge

Cities in Cullman County, AL
Baileyton
Bremen
Crane Hill
Cullman
Garden City
Hanceville
Holly Pond
Joppa
Logan
Vinemont

Cities in Dale County, AL
Ariton
Daleville
Fort Rucker
Midland City
Newton
Ozark
Pinckard
Skipperville

Cities in Dallas County, AL
Marion Junction
Minter
Orrville
Plantersville
Safford
Sardis
Selma

Cities in De Kalb County, AL
Collinsville
Crossville
Dawson
Fort Payne
Fyffe
Geraldine
Groveoak
Henagar
Ider
Mentone
Rainsville
Sylvania
Valley Head

Cities in Elmore County, AL
Coosada
Deatsville
Eclectic
Elmore
Kent
Millbrook
Tallassee
Titus
Wetumpka

Cities in Escambia County, AL
Atmore
Brewton
Flomaton
Huxford

Cities in Etowah County, AL
Altoona
Attalla
Boaz
Gadsden
Gallant
Rainbow City
Walnut Grove

Cities in Fayette County, AL
Bankston
Belk
Berry
Fayette
Glen Allen

Cities in Franklin County, AL
Hodges
Phil Campbell
Red Bay
Russellville
Spruce Pine
Vina

Cities in Geneva County, AL
Bellwood
Black
Chancellor
Coffee Springs
Geneva
Hartford
Malvern
Samson
Slocomb

Cities in Greene County, AL
Boligee
Clinton
Eutaw
Forkland
Knoxville
West Greene

Cities in Hale County, AL
Akron
Greensboro
Moundville
Newbern
Sawyerville

Cities in Henry County, AL
Abbeville
Clopton
Headland
Newville
Shorterville

Cities in Houston County, AL
Ashford
Columbia
Cottonwood
Cowarts
Dothan
Gordon
Pansey
Webb

Cities in Jackson County, AL
Bridgeport
Bryant
Dutton
Estillfork
Fackler
Flat Rock
Higdon
Hollytree
Hollywood
Langston
Paint Rock
Pisgah
Princeton
Scottsboro
Section
Stevenson
Trenton
Woodville

Cities in Jefferson County, AL
Adamsville
Adger
Alton
Bessemer
Birmingham
Brookside
Cardiff
Clay
Docena
Dolomite
Dora
Fairfield
Fultondale
Gardendale
Graysville
Kimberly
Leeds
Mc Calla
Morris
Mount Olive
Mulga
New Castle
Palmerdale
Pinson
Pleasant Grove
Sayre
Shannon
Trafford
Trussville
Warrior
Watson

Cities in Lamar County, AL
Beaverton
Detroit
Kennedy
Millport
Sulligent
Vernon

Cities in Lauderdale County, AL
Anderson
Cloverdale
Florence
Killen
Lexington
Rogersville
Waterloo

Cities in Lawrence County, AL
Courtland
Hillsboro
Moulton
Mount Hope
Town Creek

Cities in Lee County, AL
Auburn
Auburn University
Cusseta
Loachapoka
Opelika
Phenix City
Salem
Smiths Station
Valley
Waverly

Cities in Limestone County, AL
Ardmore
Athens
Belle Mina
Capshaw
Elkmont
Lester
Madison
Mooresville
Tanner

Cities in Lowndes County, AL
Fort Deposit
Hayneville
Letohatchee
Lowndesboro
Tyler

Cities in Macon County, AL
Fort Davis
Hardaway
Notasulga
Shorter
Tuskegee
Tuskegee Institute

Cities in Madison County, AL
Brownsboro
Gurley
Harvest
Hazel Green
Huntsville
Madison
Meridianville
New Hope
New Market
Normal
Owens Cross Roads
Ryland
Toney

Cities in Marengo County, AL
Demopolis
Dixons Mills
Faunsdale
Gallion
Jefferson
Linden
Magnolia
Myrtlewood
Nanafalia
Sweet Water
Thomaston

Cities in Marion County, AL
Bear Creek
Brilliant
Guin
Hackleburg
Hamilton
Winfield

Cities in Marshall County, AL
Albertville
Arab
Boaz
Douglas
Grant
Guntersville
Horton
Union Grove

Cities in Mobile County, AL
Axis
Bayou La Batre
Bucks
Chunchula
Citronelle
Coden
Creola
Dauphin Island
Eight Mile
Grand Bay
Irvington
Mobile
Mount Vernon
Saint Elmo
Saraland
Satsuma
Semmes
Theodore
Wilmer

Cities in Monroe County, AL
Beatrice
Excel
Franklin
Frisco City
Goodway
Megargel
Mexia
Monroeville
Perdue Hill
Peterman
Uriah
Vredenburgh

Cities in Montgomery County, AL
Cecil
Grady
Hope Hull
Lapine
Mathews
Montgomery
Mount Meigs
Pike Road
Pine Level
Ramer

Cities in Morgan County, AL
Danville
Decatur
Eva
Falkville
Hartselle
Laceys Spring
Somerville
Trinity
Valhermoso Springs

Cities in Perry County, AL
Marion
Uniontown

Cities in Pickens County, AL
Aliceville
Carrollton
Ethelsville
Gordo
Mc Shan
Reform

Cities in Pike County, AL
Banks
Brundidge
Goshen
Troy

Cities in Randolph County, AL
Graham
Roanoke
Wadley
Wedowee
Woodland

Cities in Russell County, AL
Cottonton
Fort Mitchell
Hatchechubbee
Holy Trinity
Hurtsboro
Phenix City
Pittsview
Seale

Cities in Saint Clair County, AL
Ashville
Cook Springs
Cropwell
Margaret
Moody
Odenville
Pell City
Ragland
Riverside
Springville
Steele
Wattsville

Cities in Shelby County, AL
Alabaster
Birmingham
Calera
Chelsea
Columbiana
Harpersville
Helena
Maylene
Montevallo
Pelham
Saginaw
Shelby
Siluria
Sterrett
Vandiver
Vincent
Westover
Wilsonville
Wilton

Cities in Sumter County, AL
Bellamy
Cuba
Emelle
Epes
Gainesville
Livingston
Panola
York

Cities in Talladega County, AL
Alpine
Bon Air
Childersburg
Lincoln
Munford
Sycamore
Sylacauga
Talladega

Cities in Tallapoosa County, AL
Alexander City
Camp Hill
Dadeville
Daviston
East Tallassee
Jacksons Gap

Cities in Tuscaloosa County, AL
Abernant
Brookwood
Buhl
Coaling
Coker
Cottondale
Duncanville
Echola
Elrod
Fosters
Kellerman
Northport
Peterson
Ralph
Samantha
Tuscaloosa
Vance

Cities in Walker County, AL
Burnwell
Carbon Hill
Cordova
Eldridge
Empire
Goodsprings
Jasper
Kansas
Nauvoo
Oakman
Parrish
Quinton
Sipsey
Sumiton
Townley

Cities in Washington County, AL
Calvert
Chatom
Deer Park
Frankville
Fruitdale
Leroy
Malcolm
Mc Intosh
Millry
Saint Stephens
Sunflower
Tibbie
Vinegar Bend
Wagarville

Cities in Wilcox County, AL
Alberta
Annemanie
Arlington
Boykin
Camden
Catherine
Coy
Furman
Lower Peach Tree
Mc Williams
Oak Hill
Pine Apple
Pine Hill

Cities in Winston County, AL
Addison
Arley
Delmar
Double Springs
Haleyville
Houston
Lynn
Natural Bridge

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