Termite and Wood Boring Insects - Ants and bugs where caulking on stairway meets stucco
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Learning2cope
07-05-08, 12:31 PM
Live just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in CA. Trying to solve problems in an old building with little knowledge or experience because my husband is ill.
Yesterday while washing and cleaning brick steps, a large piece of caulking fell out between stucco and brick steps. Ants came pouring out. I was told that ants are attracted to and eat termite eggs. Also told that ants were beneficial for that purpose.
It's not the ants that worry me but the termites.
Keep hearing the ads for Orange Oil termite treatment. Does that work for termites? Poison treatments scare me because of the infant living here.
It seems that rot and ants are usually found in wet areas here. I don't know the difference between wet rot and termite damage. How do I tell the difference?
What is the best solution?
Yesterday while washing and cleaning brick steps, a large piece of caulking fell out between stucco and brick steps. Ants came pouring out. I was told that ants are attracted to and eat termite eggs. Also told that ants were beneficial for that purpose.
It's not the ants that worry me but the termites.
Keep hearing the ads for Orange Oil termite treatment. Does that work for termites? Poison treatments scare me because of the infant living here.
It seems that rot and ants are usually found in wet areas here. I don't know the difference between wet rot and termite damage. How do I tell the difference?
What is the best solution?
Newt
07-09-08, 01:17 PM
I always say 'know thine enemy'. I think you should try and id the type of ants and then any termites you have before you treat with anything.
Let's see if you can id the type of ants you have as that may lead you to know if you have termites.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html
Here's some info on termites in your area.
Termites - drywood, dampwood and subterranean.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/lewis/
Drywood termites
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7440.html
Newt
Let's see if you can id the type of ants you have as that may lead you to know if you have termites.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7411.html
Here's some info on termites in your area.
Termites - drywood, dampwood and subterranean.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7415.html
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/lewis/
Drywood termites
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7440.html
Newt