If termites are found after the house is built, it may be necessary for the pest control operator to drill holes in concrete to inject the termiticide into the areas of the home. That may disrupt family activities if the operator has to cut into walls to get to bath traps and shower stalls. The second treatment is effective against the subterranean and the Formosan termite, another species found in Texas. Cellulose, or wood, that's been impregnated with a pesticide is used as a bait to draw termites in. The bait is carried back to the queen and other reproductive termites to wipe out the entire colony.
Preventative treatment takes place before the house is constructed.
Swarms are the result of the mating season of the subterranean termite. That termite is fairly recognizable, Gold said. They initially have two pairs of wings which are very transparent when they swarm, but they lose the wings very quickly. The queen termite normally will try to find a place very rapidly where there is damp wood that has contact with the soil. Even though a swarm or colony can strike fear in a homeowner's heart, Gold said, it may take quite a while for termites to destroy a house.