Termite Inspection and Control

Termites are the most abundant form of life on earth. As a single “bio-mass” they outweigh all other forms of life on the planet! With an ecosystem designed around plant life, termites are an indispensable tool in turning plant fiber back into useful base nutrients the plants need to flourish. Termites are the only “animal” capable of digesting cellulose. Although the bulk of the work of converting cellulose to nutrients is actually performed by wood destroying fungi, termites are major partners in the process of recycling cellulose into useful soil elements.

Wood from trees is an essential material for construction of homes, furniture and even artwork. Dead, cured wood is an extremely stable construction material. It is strong, flexible and light in weight. Without some process to deteriorate it, wood will last almost indefinitely. If it were not for “Wood Destroying Organisms”, trees and all plant life would die and cover the earth surface to a point that no new plant life could emerge. This is why a few inches of mulch will stop new plant life from sprouting in your flower bed. Termites, along with other wood destroying organisms, are actually the reason our ecosystem functions. Without Wood Destroying Pests, life on earth would end.

What do you do if you have something made of wood that you DO NOT want to be turned back into soil? This has been a problem for thousands of years. Wood is such an perfect construction material, we use it to build most of our homes in the United States. The problem is, the same environment that provides us the trees also comes with an ecosystem that turns the dead wood of these trees (lumber) back into soil. This is where a qualified termite control company is invaluable. The ability to STOP the natural decay process of wood is the essential role of a Termite Control company. If you suspect that you may have termites in San Luis Obispo, CA or along the Central Coast, it is essential to locate and destroy the infestation immediately before any further structural damage. CLICK HERE TO ORDER AN INSPECTION!

Here is a study by Vernard Lewis from 1996 regarding non-chemical treatment methods for Drywood Termite control. 1996 Non chemical study
NOTE: The electrocution method required a “drill and pin” technique that is rarely employed. Surface application of high voltage electricity failed.

The most extensive research has been performed by Vernard Lewis of UC Berkeley. UC Berkeley Termite Management site

Here is an excellent termite control research paper from 2009. Vernard 2009 Field Report

Additional research has also been performed at UC Davis. UC Davis Pest Management site