Labor Day for Americans - Another Day of Feeding for Termites; Unlike Homeowners, Voracious Wood-eaters Won't Take a Break This Holiday Weekend.

INDIANAPOLIS -- As you relax at home this Labor Day weekend, there may be silent destructors lurking behind the walls of your largest investment - subterranean termites. These voracious pests feast on wood seven days a week, 24 hours a day - there's no resting for them.

Termites infest nearly 4 million homes each year(a) and cause $2.5 billion in property damage annually.(b) Unfortunately, termite damage is rarely covered by homeowners insurance.

According to Don Zeman, national home-improvement expert, "While you are doing odd jobs around the house this holiday weekend, it's the ideal time to keep your eyes open for evidence of termite damage." Experts like Zeman recommend that you should not treat termites on your own. However, there are a few telltale signs of what to look for around your home. Here's a checklist.

1. Dead termites or wings around windows, doors, heating vents, or in bathtubs and sinks.

2. Termite mud tubes on walls located outside or inside the structure. The tubes are either round or flat and usually measure at least 1/4 inch or wider. They look like their name - a tube of mud.

3. Damaged wood. Termites eat from the inside of the wood out, so damaged wood is sometimes very difficult to detect. "Hollow" sounding wood should be inspected for termite damage.

4. Live termites. Termites are sometimes found while doing home remodeling or repair. Worker termites are small, whitish creatures that will quickly move away when exposed to light.

If you find evidence of the above signs, contact a pest management professional for an inspection. Ask about the Sentricon(R) Termite Colony Elimination System, an innovation in termite control that detects and stops termites from attacking homes by eliminating existing colonies. Then, an authorized pest management professional provides ongoing monitoring to watch for new ones. Its protection is designed with families in mind and it's easy on the environment, as only grams of termite bait are used when and where termites are present (most liquid chemical treatments require hundreds of gallons of chemical solution).

Additionally, the system is less disruptive to homes and lifestyles than most liquid treatments, as there's no drilling, trenching, property disruption or scheduling hassles. The Sentricon System protects more than 1 million homes and structures, including the White House, the Alamo and Statue of Liberty.

To learn about the termite threat in your area, and for additional information, visit www.signsoftermites.com or call 1-800-352-6776.

(a) Source: National Pest Management Association 

(b) Source: National Panel Diary 2000

(R) Trademark of Dow AgroSciences LLC