Termite and Wood Boring Insects - Monthly, Quarterly or Yearly Pest Control Service?

We are looking at get a pest control and termite prevention services. Both services are the same across most companies. The termite is a quarterly and its the tubes in the ground with wood and poison type thing for all. Two or so offer insurance that covers any damage to your home (including structural) if you get an infestation with the tube system which makes me lean to them. Its the pest control I am unsure about. Some companies do once year service. Others do twice a year. Some do quarterly and then others do each month. Of course each says each service is as effective.

What I am wondering is for a pest service what is the best schedule to have to effectively keep pests out? Also, how effective are the termite tube/bait systems that go in the ground? Just as an FYI, as far as we know we have no termites (visual inspections and no visible indications of it) and the only pest problem we have is a few ants sometimes in the summer, spiders or lady bugs. So I am looking at this as preventing these and future pests. Definitely looking at the termite prevention for peace of mind.

Thanks in advance.

Jimmy,
You may not need any routine treatments at all. That's not a popular statement with the pest control industry but it's true. If you live in the southeast the biggest threat to your home is subterranean termites. Our native species can be dealt with by annual inspections for what are called "mud" or "shelter tubes". These are termite-contructed tunnels that extend from the soil to the building. If found the soil can be treated by localized soil injection with a termiticide.
If you live where Formosan subterranean termites are active, however, you may need a more active approach. Formosans are a non-native species that is very aggressive and damaging. They only occur in certain areas in the southeast, originally around New Orleans but have spread elsewhere. Check with your local county extension office and ask if this termite is in your area. You may need a baiting program if Formosans are present. This is the only situation where I believe routine maintenance treatments are warrented.
In other parts of the country carpenter ants replace termites as the predominant structural pest and these can the handled by annual (summertime) inspections and treatment when found. Powderpost beetles are the third structural pest and they tend to be a structural problem only in damp climates. Routine treatments won't have much effect on powderpost beetles anyway.
So, the key is do annual inspections for water damage (actually the biggest threat to your house), mud tubes and carpenter ants and hire someone to bait for Formosan termites if you live in one of their infestation areas. Otherwise you probably don't need routine treatments. I wish more pest control companies offered an annual "inspection only" service. Some do. Good luck.

Whatever type of termite prevention system you choose, go with the recommended inspections to maintain your warranty. Tube type systems and other bait systems tend to be more expensive than traditional termite soil treatments over the long haul because of the inspections and maintenance of the system.

Contact your local Dept. of Agriculture Extension Agent for information on termites and other wood boring insects in your area and their recommendations for the most effective termite control in your area.

Jimmy it depends on what part of the country you are in and also what the area surrounding you home is like what kind of pest control treatments you would need. I would say generally speaking that a quarterly service should do just fine in most cases. I do many quarterly services and have no problems with them. It also depends on the quality of the service provided to you quite honestly.

As far as termite baiting I would not recommend it, it just has not been proven to me, I do use baits but I use them in conjunction with a Termidor treatment and only on a house that has areas that are inaccessible. If all areas of the house are accessible I treat the entire house. Let me point out something to you about damage repair guarantees. Ask your self this, why would a company even offer one if they get rid of the termites? I dont and I have never had a retreat or a damage claim. If the house is treated properly with Termidor it should never have a re-infestation of termites. Ask the companies offering the damage repair guarantees how many times they have had to honor the guarantee. I would go with a company that would treat your home using Termidor and give you a renewable guarantee.

I wish you all the very best

Tim Wise

Thanks to all for the feedback. Per the suggestion I contacted the local Agri extension. In our area (Cleveland, TN) we have just the subterrean termites. They have a great publication they referred me to that was very helpful and unbiased (http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/pbfiles/PB1344.pdf). I also read another from Virginia Tech that gave a good comparison (http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/entomology/444-500/444-500.html). From what I read the two choices are the chemical liquid (ex. termidor) and the bait traps (ex. sentricon). Both have advantages and disadvantages. The chemical work immediately if you have the problem existing and then protects about 5 years. The negatives to it seem to be the application and such. If for some reason there are gaps of the chemical in the soil you can have an unprotected area. For the baits they are less intrusive and such, but they can take time to work and they require constant monitoring which by the quotes I have gotten is not cheap. The agri center here said bait or chemical or just as effective, but it depends on what you prefer.

So I guess I just have to decide which I would like. The main thing I am looking for really prevention service as it relates to termites. Something to just give peace of mind that I am doing my best to prevent termites. Unless they are hidden in my walls and came through some other way than my foundation then according to all the inspections from the potential services I don't have any termites currently and we have not had any for 37 years. One guy attributed to something like a Chloride pretreatment done when the house was built. I think the hardest thing about the termite decision is that even in the unbiased publications there is no recommended process. I guess like most things its a preference and choice option.

On the pest control portion of course several companies have the "package deal". It seems that either quarterly or monthly is standard. Again we don't have a overall bug problem. Just ants and spiders sometimes.

Thanks again for all the input. It gives me a lot to ponder.

Jimmy, if you have no termites then why have it treated at all, baits or liquid? Many times I go to homes that do not have termites and I tell the people such. I recommend that they have it inspected yearly and I go back on an annual basis and once the termites are found then I treat the house. If you hire a company to do regular maintenance Pest Control have them check it on a regular basis for termites, they should be more than happy to do it for you. Why pay to have a chemical applied in the ground that is going to last for 5 years and take a chance that it will be 7 years before termites ever show up at your house? Understand what I mean? This way the company can inspect it and once the termites show up they can apply the chemical when it is needed and when it will do the best for your $$$.

I wish you all the very best.

Tim Wise

Accept nothing but Termidor.
And most importantly, dont use the band aid until you get cut. Prevention is not the way to go.