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What every potential
homeowner "MUST KNOW" before you buy! Let us help.
"Wood-Destroying
Organism" means arthropod or plant life which damages and can re-infest seasoned wood in a structure, namely termites, powder post
beetles, old house borers and wood decay fungi.
Reports are made
on the basis of what was visible and accessible at the time of
inspection.
It is NOT an opinion covering areas such as, but not necessarily limited
to, those that are enclosed or inaccessible, areas concealed by wall
coverings, floor coverings, furniture, equipment, stored articles, or
any portion of the structure in which inspection would necessitate
removing or defacing any part of the structure.
This is NOT a
Structural Damage Report!
A wood-destroying organisms inspector is not ordinarily a construction
or building trade expert and therefore is not expected to possess any
special qualifications which would enable him/her to attest to the
structural soundness of a property. We
ensure that ALL applicable paperwork is submitted accurately and in a
timely manner.
As
this is a formal inspection, our rates are based upon the square footage
of your home.
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Subterranean
Termite
(Length: 1/8" – 3/8")
These are social insects living in colonies in the soil. The
colony is made up of workers, soldiers and reproductives.
Subterranean Termite colonies feed on wood or other cellulose
material such as paper, cardboard and fiberboard. They do
excessive damage in the U.S. every year. Workers are blind and
cream colored, entering homes while foraging for food, through
cracks as small as 1/64". The workers return to feed the
other members of the colony on a regular basis. Winged
reproductives (swarmers) are dark, and many lose their wings
shortly after their swarming flight.
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Subterranean
Termite Swarmer
(Length: 1/2")
These dark brown to black winged insects are the male and female
reproductives. They emerge from the colony in a dark cloud at
least once per year. Their short flight drops them to the ground
where they then seek the proper conditions for the king and
queen to start a small brood chamber in the soil. The swarmers
are often confused with winged ants. The major visible
differences are the waist (pinched in the ant, broad in the
termite), the antenna (elbowed in the ant, straight in the
termite) and the wings (two different sizes in the ant, all the
same size in the termite).
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Drywood
Termite
(Length: Up to 1/2")
This termite species does not live in the ground, but lives
inside wood. They are most likely to be found in humid, coastal
areas. Their colonies are much smaller than subterranean
termites, and infestations found in wood are usually confined to
a small area. One sign of a drywood colony is the presence of
fecal pellets, often found in piles like tiny stones. Drywood
termites push out these pellets through small "kick-out" holes they make. The holes are later
resealed.
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Drywood Swarmer
(Length: about 3/16")
These brown flying insects, identified by 3 darker veins on the
front edge of their wings, swarm in late Spring and early
Summer. Presence of straight antennae and only two distinct body
segments differentiate them from flying ants.
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Formosan Subterranean Termite
(Length: About 1/2")
Like subterranean termites, Formosan termites feed on cellulose
material (i.e. wood), but they are more aggressive and attack
wood at a much faster rate. They nest in the ground but can also
live in aerial "carton" nests they make from chewed
wood, soil, saliva and fecal matter. A Formosan termite colony
is significantly larger than that of the subterranean termite,
and can cause significantly more damage in a shorter period of
time.
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Powder Post Beetle
(Length: 1/8" – 1/4")
Adults are reddish brown to black and very slender. The Powder
Post Beetle damages seasoned hardwoods such as flooring,
furniture and structural woods. The larva, living in and eating
the wood, can take up to four years to develop. Their presence
is often indicated by piles of fine dust and by small exit holes
in the wood. Control requires treatment by fumigation or
replacement of the infested wood.
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Old House Borer
(Length: 1/2" – 3/4")
This is a member of the group known as "long-horned
beetles". Eggs are laid in crevices of the bark of cut
logs. The whitish larva live 3-5 years or more, eating through
the wood. During quite times, their feeding may be heard as
clicking and rasping sounds. Adults leave infested wood through
oval holes about 1/4" in diameter.
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Carpenter Bee
(Length:
3/4" – 1")
These large dark bees that resemble bumble bees are often seen
hovering around the eaves of a house, wooden fences or the
underside of deck in the late spring. They bore round holes into
wood to nest. They will nest in a wide range of woods, but
prefer weathered and unpainted wood. Typically they do not cause
serious structural damage unless a large number of bees are
involved over a long period of time. Male carpenter bees tend to
be territorial and can become aggressive towards humans by
hovering close by. But this is merely a show as they have no
stinger.
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To determine structural integrity of a home or building, certified
contractors in this field must be consulted.
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