April 2018

PEST CONTROL... from page 24.

“Female carpenter bees hollow out holes and bore out tunnels after making the entranceway.”

best resolved in their early stages while itis still localized and has not spread throughout the complex. There is a long list of summertime pests that cause problems for property managers. However, a few deserve extra attention. These “special” pests are more than mere annoyances. Some cause significant property dam- age while others are a serious health hazard. The property damaging pests that all property managers should worry about are termites, carpenter bees, and carpenter ants. Here’s a quick rundown of these weapons of wood destruction: Termites Let’s start with the worst first. Termites are enemy number one when it comes to property damage. They are often called the silent destroyers, and for

stroying insects like termites, carpenter ants, and carpenter bees can quickly become maintenance and repair night- mares for property managers already under pressure to work under a budget. But there is also good news. Property managers do not have to passively wait until summer for the pests to arrive. Thorough pest control planning in the spring can minimize , pest infestations and often, outright avoided. Regular inspections and preventative treatments can make all the difference. A pest control professional can help determine if there are conditions on the property that are attracting insects or are making it easy for pests to gain access inside buildings. Of course, despite one’s best efforts, infestations do happen that are

good reason. Since they are subter- ranean insects, they are rarely seen and move straight from the ground into the wood. Also, because they eat building materials from the inside out, damage can go unnoticed for years. Needless to say, property managers and maintenance staff should be on high alert for signs of termite activity. The two most visible signs are swarming ter- mites and mud tubes. Termites common- ly swarm in early spring as the weather starts to warm, often after a heavy rain. A resident or staff may report seeing

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