August 2010 Newsletter

How To Get Rid Of Fleas!

    Last year was one of the worst flea seasons we have seen in Orange County in over a decade and this year may be even worse. No one knows why this is happening.

    In the past ten years, pet stores and veterinarians sold flea control products to pet owners that all but eliminated most flea problems. Today, many pet owners and their pets are suffering from numerous flea bites because these products are no longer getting the job done.

How Do You Get Rid Of Fleas?

    The first thing you need to do is to learn and understand the basic biology of these pest. Fleas are small, wingless insects which average 1/12^th to 1/6^th of an inch long. They have what we call a “piercing-sucking” mouth that allows for them to pierce the skin and suck blood. They prefer non-human host, although they will readily feed on humans when infestations are heavy or when no other host are available.

    Another very important point to learn is that fleas have a “complete metamorphosis”.  The first stage is the egg. Depending on the temperature and humidity, these eggs will hatch anywhere from 2 days to several weeks.

    When the eggs hatch, out comes the larvae, so this is the second stage. Flea larvae look like small maggots without legs. A mature larvae will be about 1/8^th to 1/6^th inch long. They have “chewing mouthparts” and feed on all types of organic debris. They do particularly well when they feed on the feces of adult fleas which contains undigested blood. These larvae are rarely seen unless you get down and start pulling carpet fibers apart so that you can look in between them.

    The third stage begins when the mature larvae spins a cocoon for pupation. Many adult fleas will emerge from the pupa within 7-14 days. Others may not emerge for several months to a year later. This explains why home buyers can move into a home that has been vacant for 6 months and suddenly have fleas jumping all over them. It’s as if the fleas stay resting in their pupa until they feel the vibrations in the carpet and then they say to themselves that IT’S DINNER TIME!

    Adult fleas are the fourth and final stage of the metamorphosis. Once they emerge from the cocoon, adult fleas will be ready to feed and mate quickly. Female fleas will lay up to 200-400 eggs.

    Now, just think about those numbers of eggs and all of them eventually turning into adult fleas that will lay many, many more eggs. It’s no wonder that these pest are so difficult to deal with and why many are never able to get rid of them. Oh, they spend a fortune on bug bombs, flea collars and sprays, but the fleas keep going and going.

    Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a way to get rid of these pest? You want to know how? Here’s the secret;

You’ve Got To Break The Cycle!

    That’s right! The secret to controlling these pest is to break the cycle. If you’ll stop and think about it for a minute, you’ll see it’s pretty obvious why.

    Yes, you could do the same as many others and simply set off a bunch of bug bombs inside your house every week and that would kill off some adult fleas. But, the gas inside a bug bomb will not penetrate through flea eggs or flea pupae and in a very short time, these eggs and pupae will develop into adult fleas that will lay many, many more eggs. You can clearly see in this example that the cycle would not be broken and now you know why the flea problems would continue.

The Five Vital Steps
Needed To Control Fleas

1. Take your pets to the vet or groomer and have them flea dipped. Ask your vet or groomer about products they have that can be applied to the animal’s coat to help control fleas.
2. Thoroughly vacuum the carpets, flooring and upholstery in your home. This will remove countless flea eggs, larvae and pupae. By vacuuming them up and removing them from your home, you’ll never have to worry about these becoming adult fleas. NOTE: If you don’t have the time or energy to do this, call us and we’ll do the vacuuming for you!!
3. Next, we’ll apply a light mist of a special product on your carpets that will knock down the adult fleas and larvae. With this product we also add our secret ingredient - a “Growth Regulator“. Growth regulators are like “birth control” for fleas because they stop flea eggs and flea pupae from hatching and becoming adult fleas. This is where we really break the cycle!
4. Another step we take (Most other companies skip this part) is that  we also apply a very fine mist of our growth regulator on your upholstery, drapes and areas where your pets hangout. This product is very low in toxicity, is long lasting and really keeps pre-adults from developing into biting adults.
5. Treatment of the exterior is very important - Even if your pet only stays indoors. That is because there are so many stray cats and wild animals that wonder around our homes all day. A great example of a major flea carrier is the opossum. Did you know that an opossum carries hundreds of fleas on every square inch of their body? Just think of how many thousands of flea eggs must fall onto the ground when they jump down off your fence or porch. And, when you or your pet walk by this area, the fleas jump on for a free ride into your house! Our exterior treatment uses a combination of both liquid and granular products so that you’ll have the absolute best results.

Terry’s Tip!
By having your pet treated and by doing exterior flea treatments on a regular basis, our clients have found that they rarely need to have the interiors of their homes treated after our initial service. This will provide your family with a safer environment and $ave you money!

Need help with fleas? Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form to schedule an appointment at your convenience.

    When you call, don’t forget to ask about Terry’s new “Extreme Flea Service”. This service includes complete vacuuming of your home’s carpet and flooring, interior treatment with special products, an application of growth regulators and exterior treatments. It also includes monthly follow-up services and comes with a One year, money back guarantee! If you have a flea problem and don’t have the time or patience to deal with it, Terry’s “Extreme Flea Service” is the answer to your needs! Call (949) 631-7348 or click on order form!

Rave Review!

Dear Joe (Johnston) ,

     I just wanted to take a moment and thank you for the efforts of your crew that did the recent exterior wood repairs on my home. The two men that you had out there were Jose and Saul. I have to tell you that I found them to be both thoroughly professional and enjoyable to have around. They went out of their way to keep the work areas cleaned up and free of any debris (in case any realtors happened to stop by to show the house).  They dealt with the little “anxieties” of any installation in a thoroughly professional manner.  A specific case was when they realized that the old patio cover they were removing actually was supporting my satellite TV antennae. They let me know of the problem so that I could get Dish Network out to move it. We had a commitment for “A.M. 1^st appointment of the day” from Dish . . . Nice thought but they forgot to tell their technician. Without even missing a beat, your crew moved the antennae so that they could continue with their work.

     As a contractor myself, I know how important “presentation” is and that no matter how good you, Terry or all of your staff may be, it all comes down to the crew that is out doing the work. Poor performance, poor attitudes or even the little things like not picking up the trash can take what should have been a quality installation and turn it into a negative relationship with a customer. That was clearly not the case here. I would recommend your company (and actually already have) and your employees to anyone looking for similar work.

     Should you have any questions or if I can assist you at any time in the future, please feel free to contact me.

 - John M. Maggio,
V.P. Regional Sales, Celergy Networks,  Anaheim

Roaches Share Info On Hot Dining Spots

    In a new study published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, roaches are like miniature restaurant critics and we now know that they share tips on where the hot spots are to dine.

    Dr. Mathieu Lihoreau, at Queen Mary University of London, says it was previously assumed that cockroaches foraged for food and ate alone. However, he long suspected that wasn’t so. He said, “If you walk into an infested apartment, you’ll see them in a group.” Dr. Lihoreau believed this kind of social behavior was a sign that the roaches were communicating with one another.

    To prove his point, Dr. Lihoreau conducted an experiment. Two identical slices of bread were placed in a 1-meter-square enclosure and gangs of roaches were released inside. The Doctor wanted to give the cockroaches an opportunity to choose which slice they like best. “If they were behaving individually, then they would split into two similar sized groups and head to both food sources,” he said. “But, if they were communicating and cooperating, then they would aggregate on one slice of bread.”

    The test was conducted with groups of 50 to 200 cockroaches. Lower density groups didn’t seem to show as much of a preference. But, the larger groups of roaches repeatedly gathered around just one of the slices. Dr. Lihoreau said, “What it means is that we have a collective decision by the cockroaches to select one food source.”

    Are the roaches telling all of their friends to come over to your place tonight? If so, you need to call Termite Terry Pest Control at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll be glad to deliver their “last supper”!

Landscaper Dies After Bee Attack

    A 55 year old man died after suffering from hundreds of bee stings. He was operating a backhoe, in the Encinitas area, when his equipment disturbed a colony of bees located in some bushes. The bees attacked, stinging him more than 100 times. He ran to seek shelter in an outhouse, about 200 yards away. His nephew called 911 and moments later the emergency crews arrived. They found the man inside the outhouse, covered with honeybees and in full cardiac arrest. He was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The nephew was stung twice but did not need to be hospitalized.

    The San Diego entomologist, David Kellum, could not determine if these were Africanized (killer) bees but stated that 80% of bees in the county are Africanized bees.

    “Termite” Terry says that anytime you encounter a colony of bees, you should always assume that they are Africanized. He warned that if you do disturb Africanized bees, they are likely to attack you just like they did the man in Encinitas. These bees are relentless and you don’t want to have your name added to their list of victims. If a colony of bees are endangering you or your family, call Termite Terry Pest Control at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and have one of our professionals take care of them for you. This is no time or place for a “rookie” to practice with your life.

National Colorectal Cancer Month

    Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum and it is found equally in both men and women. Almost 150,000 people were diagnosed with this disease during the past year and close to 50,000 died from it.

    With the recommended screening and early detection, you can prevent this cancer by having polyps removed before they become cancerous.

Who Is At Risk?

• Men and women over the age of 50
• Smokers
• Those that are obese or sedentary
• Those with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease

How Can You Reduce
Your Risk?

• Keep active and exercise regularly
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat a high fiber diet
• Keep your calcium intake up by consuming low-fat dairy products
• Limit your red meat consumption
• Drink alcohol moderately
• Don’t smoke

    If you are at average risk, you should start having regular screening at age 50. Those at greater risk may need to start at an earlier age. It is always best to get screened before any symptoms occur.

Advanced disease may cause:

• Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
• Changes in bowel habits
• Bloating, fullness or cramps
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Unexplained weight loss
• Constant fatigue
• Vomiting

    The most common treatment is surgery. Once the cancer has spread, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be given before or after surgery. Have you had a check up lately? Maybe its time to call your doctor!

Pennywise and Million Dollar Foolish . . .

Not long ago, a client called to tell us that he had his home for sale and that he needed a termite report. He had a huge home and we told him that our fee for the escrow report would be 150.00.  His realtor later called back and told us not to do it because she had someone that would give them a “free termite inspection“.

    A few days later, the owner called back and was really upset. The “free termite inspector“ had told him that his home had a moisture and mold problem under the house and that it would cost over 40,000.00 to fix (Plus several thousand more for termite treatments!). The owner asked me to meet with the realtors, buyers and contractors to go over this matter. Well, it didn’t take long for everyone to figure out that there really wasn’t a problem with moisture or mold. Apparently, the “free termite inspection“ guys never went under the house and this moisture and mildew story was a complete scam. Meanwhile, the buyers were scared off by all this drama and the homeowner had to put his home back on the market.

    This 1.5 million dollar home had to be put back on the market because his realtor didn’t want to pay $150.00 for a termite inspection. Now, think of all of the tens of thousands of dollars in monthly payments that poor owner will have to make until he finds another buyer. Think of all of the many thousands of dollars in property tax he’ll have to pay, too! That “free termite inspection“ wasn’t free - It actually cost him a fortune!

    Folks, don’t be “Pennywise and Million Dollar Foolish”. If you need a termite inspection for escrow purposes, don’t take chances with one of these “free termite inspections“ because you never know what you’re really going to get. Call Termite Terry Pest Control at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form. Our fees are reasonable and who knows, our inspection might even save you a fortune.

July 2010 Newsletter

Tips To Help Keep Your Home Pest Free This Summer!

    It’s summertime here in Orange County and the insects are going at full speed. In the old days, everyone would reach for a big jug and start dousing everything down with some kind of smelly bug spray to get rid of these pests. This may surprise you, since we’re in the business of pest control, but we don’t recommend that you do that. Believe it or not, there are a lot of things that you can do yourself - Without having to use insecticides! Here are ten tips that you can use to help keep your home pest free this summer:

• 1. Guard against importing pest by checking incoming materials for “hitchhiking” bugs. Many pests can be carried in luggage, laundry and groceries and others, such as Argentine ants, may be introduced in nursery stock.
• 2. Trim trees and bushes away from buildings to discourage insect passage.
• 3. Remove plants that attract insects because of their fruit or nectar, or because they harbor honeydew-producing insects (e.g. fig trees, cherry laurel, bamboo, oleander).
• 4. Eliminate tree stumps, leaf piles, boards on the ground and other favored nest sites outdoors.
• 5. Seal cracks in walks and driveways and rot holes in trees where these provide harborage for many different pests.
• 6. Store firewood off the ground away from building, and check it for pest before bringing it indoors.
• 7. Screen windows and vents, and seal crevices in foundations and around doors, windows and vents to discourage pest entry.
• 8.  Correct outside moisture problems, such as leaking flashing, clogged gutters and downspouts and soil-wood contact.
• 9. Ensure good ventilation in attics and eaves, and eliminate moisture problems caused by plumbing leaks or condensation in bathrooms and kitchens.
• 10. Keep food and garbage in tightly fitting containers, especially overnight, when many pests are most active.

    Will this eliminate all of your pest problems? Probably not. However, by correcting these problems first, you will substantially reduce the amount of insecticides needed to control your pest problems. That is why we so highly recommend this new integrated pest management plan - It is better for you, your family, your pets and the environment!

    Are you having problems with pest during this hot summer? Would you like to have some help in dealing with these bugs? If so, may we suggest that you call our office and ask for a complimentary “57 Point Pest Audit“. Your home or business will be inspected, inside and out, top to bottom and you’ll learn many ways to help you stay pest free. To schedule your complimentary pest audit, call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an appointment at your convenience!

Rave Review!

    As an out of town landlord, I want to let you know just how thankful I am for calling you. You are absolutely true to your ads, testimonials and Better Business Bureau A+ rating.

    I was only in town a few days to prepare my Newport Beach rental property for new tenants. I called three exterminators when I noticed termite droppings. You were the only company whose complimentary termite inspection was thorough, inspecting the entire unit, inside and outside, including the attics. The detail of your inspection report, with your guarantee printed after each infested area, was impressive. I used your advice and asked other exterminators about their procedures. The others hardly inspected, were vague about their own extermination procedures and were priced higher. On top of that, you even covered the cost of putting my tenants in a hotel for the two days of fumigation.

    Thank you again for working so quickly to coordinate between the gas company, my tenant’s schedule, my schedule and your own staff’s schedule. Your coming to do the mandatory termite fumigation preparation meeting with my tenants on the weekend was very much appreciated. I am still amazed that you came out on Friday to give me a bid, had my place tented and fumigated on Monday, termite damage repaired, and my tenants back in their unit by Wednesday.

    I have already recommended you to my next door neighbor and will enthusiastically recommend “Termite” Terry when anyone asked about pest control.

    Thank you again. It was wonderful working with such professionals.

-Sheri H., Newport Beach landlord. Pleasanton, Calif.

Honeybees Used For Detecting Landmines!

    When we think of honeybees, we usually think of them as flying around, gathering nectar and taking it back to the hive. But, the U.S. Department of Energy is different. When they think of honeybees, they think of turning them into a “squadron of landmine sweepers”. 

    About 60 people are maimed or killed by landmines everyday. The Red Cross estimates there are 80-120 million landmines currently deployed in 70 countries around the world.  They also estimate an average of 40,000 more landmines are being deployed each week! Unfortunately, our current landmine detection techniques aren’t getting the job done.

    Chemist from the Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories are working with entomologist from the University of Montana to see if they can get foraging bees to reliably and inexpensively detect landmines. The research is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Controlled Biological Systems Program.

    Jerry Bromenshenk at the University of Montana is working with Sandia. Their goal is to train bees so that they can find residues of TNT. That is the main ingredient in most land mines.

    Bromenshenk and his researchers have found that honeybees attract particles of dust, soil and pollen to their fuzzy wings. While they are out foraging for nectar and pollen, they will bring samples of dust, soil and pollen back to the hive. And, by doing so, they are able to provide a chemical survey that extends a mile or more from the hive in every direction.

    Landmines all leak small amounts of explosives into soil and water nearby. Researchers want to train bees to seek out these chemicals by associating odors of explosives with substances that attract them, such as sugar.

    Spectrometers will be placed in bee hives, located near areas of suspected minefields. These devices will perform chemical sniffing and be able to determine what kind of agents the bees bring back to the hive.

    Another project researchers are working on is experimenting with different types of plants. They want to find out which plants will readily accumulate TNT. If this works, they may be able to eventually seed minefields with these plants and that will maximize the chances of bees finding the mines.

    “The beauty of this approach is that bees are indigenous to every climate on earth, and there are beekeepers everywhere,” says Susan Bender of Sandia National Laboratories. “And you wouldn’t need a million dollar piece of equipment and extensive training to use it. The countries where landmines are a problem typically don’t have those kind of resources.”

“Termite” Terry’s Economic Stimulus Plan

    Let’s face it, our nation’s economy hasn’t been good for several years and at the rate we’re going, it may be a while before things get better. However, “Termite” Terry is not waiting on politicians to solve our economic problems. That is why he wanted to remind you about his “Economic Stimulus Plan”. This plan is easy to use and please note that it does not raise your taxes!  Here’s proof that it works:

•  Kandy Fahrenholz of Anaheim referred us to Sandy So of Buena Park and received a $50.00 gas card.
• Poly Yau of Irvine referred us to her neighbor, Maggie Ni, also of Irvine and received a $50.00 gas card.
• Dorothy Silverman of Huntington Beach recommended us to Jerry Wright of Huntington Beach and received a $50.00 gas card.
• Elizabeth Pontius of Laguna Beach referred us to Niclas Kruger of Laguna Beach and received a $50.00 gas card.
• Sweet Pea of Fountain Valley referred us to Allen Pham of Garden Grove and received a $50.00 gas card.

    “Termite” Terry’s stimulus plan is amazingly simple and very effective. All you have to do to take advantage of this plan is recommend our pest and termite control services to your family and friends. And, if they become a member of our pest control service plans or have termite work done on their home or business, Termite Terry will see to it that you get your economic stimulus package (Can you imagine how good it will feel to pull into a gas station and get a FREE tank of gas?) To schedule services, call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule service at their convenience!

Pest Management Pledge To The People Of Haiti

    The National Pest Management Association (NPMA) is known for responding to overwhelming pest problems and outbreaks in the aftermath of disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and September 11^th. Recently, they sent a delegation to Haiti so that they could assess the severe pest infestations that threaten to make that country’s health problems even worse.

    This delegation consisted of pest control experts that have all seen some very “gross” pest problems. However, no amount of experience or training could have prepared them for what they were about to see in Haiti, especially in hospitals.

    During their visit, they saw mosquitoes flying around operating rooms. Nurses were seen shooing rodents out of recovery rooms and children’s wards. They also saw roaches crawling across beds and floors that were dining on human corpses, body parts and waste left out in the open. Doctors were heard expressing concerns about flies landing in open wounds during surgery.

    There are many diseases carried by pest and the number of health problems they cause is almost incalculable. Dengue fever, malaria, E.coli, salmonella and asthma are just a few of the diseases caused by insects. These can make a healthy person sick. But, when a person’s immune system is already weak, the consequences can be much worse.

    The medical practitioners knew about the risk of having patients exposed to pest. However, they were busy saving lives and didn’t have the knowledge, experience or resources to deal with these pest problems.

    That is why the NPMA has pledged to provide the needed resources, materials and people. Over the next year, they will be providing pest management to Haitian hospitals. They are also going to hire, train, guide and mentor Haitian employees so that they will be left with a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. These personnel will be compensated through funds raised by the NPMA.  Haiti needs help in so many areas and the NPMA is proud to be there to assist during these challenging times.

 Alcoholics Anonymous Celebrates It’s 75th Anniversary

    Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) was co- founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in 1935. It is a worldwide fellowship of men and women whose main purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety.

    AA came up from the Oxford Group in Pennsylvania. This was a non-denominational group that was modeled on first century Christianity. This group was not focused on sobriety, but some of its’ members were alcoholics. Ebby Thacher was one of these members and he recruited his drinking buddy, Bill Wilson, to the group. Thacher told Wilson that he was sober because he had got religion and that Wilson should do the same. 

    Wilson considered Thacher to be a hopeless alcoholic but he continued to meet with him and ceased to drinking within a week.  And, at Thacher’s urging, he “turned himself over to God”. Wilson then looked to help other alcoholics, including another member of the group, Dr. Bob Smith. Dr. Bob was the first man he helped quit drinking. Thirty days after working with Wilson, Dr. Bob had his last drink, on June 10, 1935.

    Wilson and Smith believed that their ability to remain sober was due to their work and support of other alcoholics. In 1937, they separated from the Oxford group and formed Alcoholics Anonymous.

    Wilson and other members wrote “Alcoholics Anonymous” which today is informally known as the “Big Book”. This book recommends a twelve step program where members admit they are powerless over alcohol, accept a higher power, take a moral inventory, make amends to those they have harmed and seek direction and guidance from God, as they understand him. Today, AA has over two million members and over 100,000 groups worldwide.

Beware Of Low Ball Quotes…Because All Termite Trteatments Are Not Created Equal  

    You can’t blame anyone for getting several estimates before they hire someone to work on their home. It is a smart thing to do. However, you can’t base your decision on price alone. That is why we always give you a very detailed estimate.

    When biding drywood termite fumigations, we always tell you how much Vikane gas we’re going to use on your project.  Our subterranean termite bids include specifications that tell you how many gallons of Termidor we’ll use, how many linear feet of treatment are included and we even tell you how far apart the holes are drilled!

    The point that I’m really trying to make here is that if you are going to get several quotes, find out exactly what everyone else is including in their bids before you decide.

    For instance, let’s say that you went to a doctor and he said that you need an operation, it will cost you $10,000 and it may work and you may feel better after he’s done. Is that a good deal? (Sounds pretty risky to me!).

    On the other hand, let’s say you went to another doctor and he quoted you $15,000. But, he also told you that he’s done that same operation for hundreds of other people and he promises that you’ll feel better and be stronger than you ever have in your life. His quote is $5,000 more, but wouldn’t you agree that’s a better deal?

    We like doing business like the latter doctor. With “Termite” Terry, you know what you’re going to get, you know we’ve done hundreds of homes just like yours with great success. And, you know we’ll get rid of all your termites or your treatment is FREE! Now, that’s a real deal!  Need a detailed quote? Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form.

Don’t Miss This Unbelievable Letter From One Of Our Clients! No one could have said it better!

Termite Terry is always telling everyone of how important it is to nail down these termite inspectors when getting bids for termite fumigations. He cautions everyone that he is not exaggerating when he says that most termite reports and bids aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on - It’s worse than you can even imagine!  Today, one of our clients sat down and wrote this letter to explain her experiences with three other termite companies.

 This client took our advice, asked the important questions needed and was astonished at what she heard. Take a look at what she wrote and please pay extra attention to the other three termite company’s lousy measurements for fumigation. It is really important to note that this home is actually 45,000 cubic feet. In fact, one of the other three companies sent one of their supervisors out to re-measure the property and he confirmed that it really was 45,000 cubic feet.

 No, it was not somewhere between 28,000 to 30,000 cubic feet like the other three companies said and this is really a key point. If you don’t measure a house correctly and you don’t put in enough Vikane gas - You’re just wasting your time and money.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s proof that you had better watch out when you’re collecting bids. All three of these bids came in at a lower price than our’s but they were all a complete rip-off because none of them were going to come even close to using enough gas to do the job;

Dear Joseph,

 You did just as you stated.  You set the bar high!  I’d like to take this time to thank your for giving me a crash course in termites 101, and informing me of what to look for in selecting a termite control company; one that abides by the rules and regulations that are mandated by the Structural Pest Control Board.  

 Armed with just a bit of knowledge I was able to weed out the bids that were inaccurate, not detailed, did not show the cubic footage, and eliminate the companies that were more concern about a pay check than giving the customer quality service. 

 No one was as forthcoming with information regarding the laws and requirements associated with this industry.  No one took the time to disseminated information regarding termites and the process to eradicate them.  Thanks for informing me of my rights, and advising me of what to expect from a qualified and reputable termite company. 

 I had 3 other bids from Termite Companies A, B, and C:

Termite Company A
Inspection June 14,2010 

• This inspector was not a seasoned inspector.  He was a young college graduate who has a degree in engineering and wasn’t able to find a job in his degree, so he took a job with Termite Co A.  He’s been an inspector for about a year.  I have nothing against his age, but with experience comes knowledge.
• He did not use any measuring device to measure the cubic footage of my home.
•  Just as you suggested, when it was time to explain the estimate, I did not see the cubic footage recorded on the  estimate.  Just as you suggested I asked for the cubic footage.  The inspector said the cubic footage was about 30M cubic feet. I asked him if he measured my home.  This moment was golden.  The look on his face gave him away.  He admitted that he did not measured my property.  He said that he could judge that it is about 30M cubic feet.  This is when he recorded the footage on the estimate.  He claimed he left his measuring device at home.  Although I appreciate his honesty, this is unacceptable!   
• Armed with the knowledge you gave me, I was able to discern:  How can he order enough gas to eradicate the termites if he doesn’t measure the cubic footage?  I would not know the importance of measuring for the correct cubic footage if you had not explained the reasons why it is imperative to obtain the correct cubic footage. 
• I asked about wood repair.  He said that he could refer me to a contractor that does their wood repair.
• NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS NOT THE COMPANY I WANT TO HIRE TO DO MY FASCIA REPAIRS AND FUMIGATION! 

Termite Co B
Inspection June 15, 2010

• He went up in my attic.  He showed me a drywood termite wing upon descending from the attic.  
• This inspector measured my property.  He measured my property at 28M cubic feet. This cubic footage was shown on the estimate.
• I asked him if his company did the fumigation.  Just as you said, I was informed that they sub-contract the fumigation out to another company, but they do their own wood repair.
• I asked if he would be on premise to supervise the fumigation to make sure the fumigation company does what they are supposed to do.  He informed me that he usually is not on site, that the fumigation company has a person that supervises their job.  He stated that if he was on site he would not be able to do his job, give inspections, as well as supervise fumigations, but if I wanted or requested he would be on site
• The inspector informed me that they would not touch the patio cover to do any wood repair of damaged/rotted wood.  I want all the damaged wood to be replaced/repaired.
• NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS IS NOT THE COMPANY I WANT TO HIRE TO DO MY TERMITE DAMAGE REPAIRS AND FUMIGATION!

• I asked the inspector if they did wood repair.  He informed me that they sub contract the wood repair to another company.  He said they sub contract the fumigation to a company that works for them.  The fumigation company’s truck will have its name on it, but the tarps will display the name of this termite company.  
• The inspector arrived at 9:15 AM and left my home at approximately 9:47 AM
• I did not see the Inspector use any measuring device to measure the cubic footage of my home.  However, on the estimate it showed the cubic footage of my home as 29M cubic feet.  
• The inspector did not go up in my attic to inspect for termites.

In conclusion the three termite companies above all reported approximately the same cubic footage, all within a 1-2 cubic feet difference.  This is puzzling! (Note that Termite Terry estimated this house at 45M).

•  I feel the above inspector’s reports were incomplete.  
• The above inspection reports were not as detailed and did not denote and itemized all the damage joe recorded on his inspection report.
• The above inspectors did not disseminated as much information about termites and their eradication as Joe.
• The above inspectors did not take as much time to inspect my home for termite damage as Joe. 

All I am looking for is a company that is reputable, has integrity in the business, values me as a customer, does the job according to the guidelines and regulations set forth by the SPCB, will do the job right the first time, and will give me an accurate cubic footage measurement; resulting in an accurate and appropriate cost that correlates to the proper cubic footage.  It that too much to ask for?  

 Joe please call me. I have a few questions.  Let’s set up an appointment to start the wood repair. I need to go over the repairs again with you.  If you have time to come by my home early one morning to explain a few thing, I would greatly appreciate it.  

 Sincerely,

 Veronica Pace , Lakewood, Calif.

Termite Terry Announces New Pest Control Campaign

Termite Terry is really serious about building up his pest control department and has developed a new campaign like has never been seen before in Orange County. At first, you may think he’s gone crazy because no one in their right mind would do that much work on anyone’s house and not get paid for it. But, Terry really is serious and believes that this may be one of the best ideas that he’s ever had. He know that it will cost him a lot of time and money to implement this program, however, Terry knows that once these new clients see his technicians in action on their homes, they will become big fans of his service.

 Click here to see his latest “crazy” marketing idea!

 http://www.termiteterry.com/exterminator-orange-county-california/

June 2010 Newsletter

The Case Of The Mysterious Plaster Bagworm!

    Many Orange County homeowners have been inundated with a strange pest that they see hanging all over their walls. They are grey, flat, shaped like a watermelon seed and are about half an inch long. And, sometimes, you’ll see a small worm stick its’ head out and then the whole thing starts moving!  What are these things?

    These are called “plaster bagworms” and they are closely related to clothes moths.  They require high humidity to survive, so Orange County’s coastline is the perfect environment for them to live in.

    Plaster bagworms can be easily spotted on light colored walls. On the inside of your home, you may find them attached to the bottom side of furniture. You’ll often find them along the edges of rugs, near baseboards. It’s very common to find a lot of them in garages and under houses.

    The larvae of these pest mainly feed on spider webs. They will also eat fabrics made of natural fibers. Females lay their eggs in crevices and along the bottom of walls. A single female may lay up to two hundred eggs within a week. After that, she dies. These eggs are soft, pale blue and almost microscopic in size (0.4mm).

    After hatching from the egg, the larvae builds a grey, seed-like case. It’s made of silken fiber, sand particles, lint, rust, paint fragments and other debris. It lives in this protective home that has slit-like openings at each end. This allows it to move around inside so it can feed at either end. Once the case is constructed, the larvae will start to move around and pull the case behind.

    Once fully developed, the larvae will enter its pupal resting stage, which occurs inside the case. There, it will mature into an adult moth. The adult female moths are gray and have a wingspan of about one- half inch long. Males are slightly smaller. Note that adult moths do not eat and are short lived.

    Sanitation is key in controlling these pest. Vacuuming of cases and removing spider webs will make a big difference. Increased use of air conditioning and using fewer woolen clothes also helps.

    Routine pest control treatments will also help control these pest. You know that if there are spiders in your home, a lot of other bugs are present, as well. If there weren’t any bugs, there wouldn’t be as many spiders and of course, without spiders, plaster bagworms would go hungry (They’re all related - one problem leads to another.). Need help with pest control service? Call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll be glad to assist!

Rave Reviews!

    Joe Johnston performed the initial inspection. He was very thorough and answered all of our questions in a clear and concise way that a lay person could understand. He and his boss, Terry, are very knowledgeable about termite issues (we’ve worked with Terry previously). Today, Jose and Saul - employees of Termite Terry Pest Control arrived at the agreed time. They walked through the job with us to make sure that we understood what they were going to do. Joe Johnston arrived 30 minutes later just to ensure everything was satisfactory. Jose and Saul were courteous, made minimal mess and cleaned up everything before they left. The job took 3 hours(Joe had estimated 3-4 hours). The drilling required for subterranean termites was a bit noisy but we had been briefed on this in advance and we were anxious to have the treatment done. Very pleased with Termite Terry Pest Control both this time and on an earlier time in 2007.

-Ray & Pat Valencia, Fountain Valley.

    I wanted to thank you for the recent termite tenting of our home on the peninsula in Newport Beach. The initial visit, follow-up and the review of things prior to tenting were all done in a timely and professional manner. You did exactly what you said you would and left our house in the same manner that we gave it to you. Your team is courteous and dependable and Joe was very informative on this whole process. Although the termite fumigation process is not easy for homeowners as they have to leave their homes for a few days, your team gave us the confidence and support needed to minimize the stress related to this process. We are happy to now have a drywood termite free home and appreciate the excellent job you did for us. We will not hesitate to recommend you to our family, friends and neighbors.

-Paul Lopez, Newport Beach

“Terminac” Comes To Orange County!

    Termite Terry was invited to do a presentation for the group at “Le Tip of West Orange County“. And, in keeping with his style of always wanting to surprise his audience, he went as the character, “Terminac”.  This is a take-off from Johnny Carson’s “Carnac The Magnificent” character where “Carnac” would hold up an envelope and then divine the answer to the question inside.

    Most people who do presentations for this group are pretty serious and business like. So, you can imagine how the audience couldn’t believe their eyes when Terry came out wearing his “Terminac” costume of a black cape and gold turbine.  Terry’s pest control technician, David Salaman, helped out with the presentation (Just like Ed McMahon used to do!) by handing over each of the twelve envelopes. And, just like the old Johnny Carson skits, “Terminac” would hold the envelopes up to his forehead and divine the answers. His questions and answers were a mix of local humor, combined with jokes about bugs and termites. The audience laughed a lot and their response was terrific.

    “Termite” Terry says that pest control is a serious business, but there’s no reason why you can’t have some fun with it, too!

    If you are looking to grow and promote your business, Termite Terry highly recommends that you contact the group at Le Tip of West Orange County. For more info go to www.letipwoc.com.

Confessions Of A Termite Man . . .
Written by “Termite” Terry

     You know something folks, it’s really frustrating to have to compete against these bogus and phony fumigation bids that so many other termite companies are presenting to homeowners. (Those of you that have had us fumigate your homes and have dealt with other termite companies, can really appreciate this.).

    We just fumigated a home in Irvine, but getting this job was not easy because the other two bids were so ridiculously low. We carefully measured the home, did our calculations and determined it’s volume at 103,000 cubic feet. (Please remember that this number is extremely critical because it will determine how much Vikane gas will be administered during the fumigation.)

    We explained to the homeowner how we came up with our numbers and gave her our bid to do the job. But then, she told us that our price was way too high. I asked her about the other two bids and she showed us that both of them were about $700.00 less than ours. I couldn’t believe my own eyes when I saw this!! (I’d lose money if I did a house of this size for that price!)

    Fortunately, this homeowner was pretty bright and she understood how important it was to find out what the other two companies had measured her house at. What she learned was shocking;

 Both of the other companies
gave her quotes based on a measurement of about
70,000 cubic feet!!!   

    Now, I must admit that we usually round our numbers up a bit. We do that because we always want to err on the side of safety and we want to make sure that we have more than enough gas to completely eliminate all of the drywood termites. This means our price may be a few bucks higher, but on the average home, that number is not significant. Most homeowners are glad to infest a little bit more in gas to insure success. (Do we make more profit by using more gas? NO, we just have to pay more to our gas supplier.)

    She did dispute a few measurements of the second story eave areas on her house because of all the odd shapes. But, after we added it all up again, we stood with our original measurement at 103,000 cubic feet. That’s when I asked her,

 “How Could Anyone
Measure This Home And
Come Up With A Number Of
70,000 cubic feet?”

    None of us knew the answer to that question. No matter how you play with the numbers, there’s no way that anyone could come up with a number of 70,000 cubic feet. (I’ve been out of school for a while - Is there some kind of “new math” that they’re teaching out there?) I then asked her, “Knowing what you know now, how could you even imagine letting one of those other companies fumigate your home? You know their fumigations would fail and you know that they were both perfectly willing to rip you off, right?” She agreed and hired us to do the job.

    Ladies and gentlemen, this goes on every single day - I am not exaggerating this problem! Most bids that I see are 10 to 40 percent under measured!! You’ve got to nail these guys down when they give you a bid and find out how much gas you’re getting or you may wind up losing all your money. First and foremost;

 You’ve got to figure out if these guys are
“playing charades” with your home and money or
are they really serious about getting rid of your termites?   

    If you or any of your friends or family need a fumigation done on their home or business, call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form for a quote.  And please, join us when we measure your home. Once you’ve seen this, first hand, we’re quite confident that you won’t even want any of those other guys anywhere near your home or business!

Remembering D-Day!

    June 1944 was a major turning point in Europe during World War 2. By this time, the greatest number of men and the greatest mount of material ever, had been assembled in the British Isles. They were ready to launch the largest amphibious invasion of all time.

    Despite unfavorable weather reports, General Eisenhower made the decision to go ahead with the attack. The assault was conducted in two phases.

    The first phase was the air assault. Shortly after midnight on June 6^th, 24,000 American, British, Canadian and Free French airborne troops were dropped some distance behind the beaches. Their goal was to seize key objectives, such as bridges, road crossings and terrain features. They were also to help ease the egress of the amphibious forces off the beach.

    At 6:30am, the amphibious assault was launched with over 175,000 troops. Another 195,700 Allied naval and merchant navy personnel were involved in the operation, also.  The invasion fleet consisted of 6,939 vessels, drawn from eight different navies. The landings took place in five locations along a 50 mile stretch of the Normandy coast.

    The Allies were able to overcome light opposition when they landed at Gold, Juno, Sword and Utah beach. However, the U.S. 1^st division confronted the best of the German coast division at Omaha beach and suffered more than 2,000 casualties before they were able to get their troops inland.

    By early September, France was all but liberated, along with Belgium and the Netherlands. The cost of liberation was high. More than 200,000 Allies were dead, wounded or missing. The Germans lost 300,000 plus and French civilian losses were more than 12,000.

    Ladies and gentlemen, that was a tough war and let’s never forget the unbelievable sacrifices they made to give us the freedom that we enjoy today!

The Giant Oil Spill And Your Pest Control Service

    We’ve all watched in horror since the oil rig exploded off Louisiana’s coast. This disastrous oil spill is a big blow to our nation’s economy and is going to have a severe impact on the environment. Of all the problems we face today, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. Over the next months, our officials will investigate the cause of this disaster and we all hope that new solutions and safe guards will come out of it.

   “What does this giant oil spill have to do with pest control service?” you ask. I’m glad you asked, because I believe that it has everything to do with it. Responsibility for our environment does not belong just to the oil companies. Every one of us has to be responsible and do our part to protect the great lands that we’ve been blessed with. And, your pest control service is a great place to start.

    Many home and business owners call us when they have problems with bugs and most of them tell us, “Spray everything down and just make them all go away.” Many of these owners are shocked when we tell them to correct other conditions first, before we apply any pest control products. (Most of them expect us to spray it, take the money and run.)

    Pesticides are not the only answer to keeping a home or business pest free. True pest management starts by asking yourself, “Why are the pest here?” Next, you ask, “What can we do to make these areas less attractive to them?” After you’ve answered those questions, you only apply a pest control product if it is necessary.

    That is why we strongly recommend you have us do our “57 Point Pest Audit” on your home or business. These audits are comprehensive and you’ll learn many ways how you can keep your home or business pest free - Using the least amount of pesticides possible. And, best of all, audits are complimentary. This is a great way to do your part to protect the environment. To schedule an audit, call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form.

May 2010 Newsletter

Study Shows That Drywood Termite Detection Devices Fail Miserably!
The Structural Pest Control Board of California commissioned a study of devices used to locate drywood termite infestations in inaccessible areas and the Final Report was recently submitted to the Board.   Dr. Vernard Lewis, of U.C. Berkeley, was the Principal Investigator.

Drywood termites and the damage they cause have a significant economic impact in California. Cost for treatments and repairs are estimated to exceed $300 million annually. Most treatments for control of drywood termites are done by localized applications, not whole house fumigations.

Visual inspections are what everyone has to rely on and we can only report what we can see. The greatest challenge we face are those drywood termite infestations located in inaccessible areas where we can’t see or inspect. And, without removing wall coverings, there’s no way to ever know if there is a problem in those areas.  Dr. Lewis says that in his personal experience while doing inspections in Southern California apartments, he found that when he opened up walls to do inspections, roughly one out of every ten boards was infested with drywood termites. That is a scary thought!

In his study,  Dr. Lewis evaluated various devices that could be used to locate drywood termites behind walls and in inaccessible areas. They included optical borescopes, dogs, electronic odor detectors, acoustic emission devices, microwaves, infrared and X-ray.

Termite Terry attended a presentation put on by Dr. Lewis where he demonstrated the results from his study.  Dr. Lewis showed that acoustic emission devices, microwaves, infrared and X-ray worked fairly well when those devices were used to test infested wood members that were sitting on a work bench. The X-ray device worked the best. But, once those members were mounted on a wall and then covered with drywall, paneling or stucco, all of the devices failed miserably to detect much of anything.

Today, you’ll hear and see various termite companies touting the use of “borescopes” in their advertisements. These adds will tell you that their technicians can use one of these tools and find drywood termites inside of your walls. Dr. Lewis evaluated these devices and they were found to have serious shortcomings. The first serious concern about using a borescope in a home is that a hole the size of a quarter will have to be drilled through the wall in everyplace that needs to be inspected. Can you imagine coming home from work and finding thousands of “quarter sized” holes drilled in all of your walls and ceilings?  His test showed that when using this device, it is difficult to tell what you’re looking at. Imagine trying to look through a “fish-eye” lens at a pile of dirt, sawdust and other debris and trying to find tiny termite droppings. That’s really hard to do! Most homes built today are insulated and have fire blocks installed between wall studs. These items greatly restrict vision and make the use of borescopes even more impractical.

Dr. Lewis summed it up by saying,  “At this time we cannot recommend a single detection device that can reliably, with a high degree of certainty, demonstrate that termites are active in walls, especially for high locations (vaulted ceilings) and when wall coverings are in place. No, there is not a single “silver bullet”. The best option for drywood termite, or any other wood destroying insect inspection is a trained operator with 20 years of field experience and permission to open walls for further inspection.” He went on to say that fumigations are by far and away the most effective way to eliminate drywood termites because they are all encompassing.

Have a problem with drywood termites and need an inspection? Call our office at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an inspection at your convenience.

Rave Reviews

I am writing to recommend the services of Termite Terry Pest Control.

Discovering evidence of drywood termite infestations in our house was disturbing. The perils of interviewing and weeding through the list of available pest control companies in Orange County was shocking.

Having interviewed several local companies, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased over the attention to detail provided by the owner, Terry Singleton. Not only did he spend additional time explaining the different options, but he was the only one of three companies to find more than one area of infestation. The other companies pointed out the obvious pellet pile in our formal living room and were recommending orange oil treatment - something we already knew we did not want. Also, according to these other companies - our detached garage supposedly had no termite activity, yet Terry and his staff were the only ones able to point out the active damage. That’s what sold us - his attention to detail.

My wife and I can confidently recommend his company and I would happily re-employ Termite Terry if ever needed for additional pest control services. He and his team achieved the results he promised and delivered on all expectations.

-Bruce Stevenson, real estate investor, Anaheim

Termite Terry is very professional. He has provided us with semi-monthly pest control service for one year now. His staff is personable and they call the night before scheduled service. They are very thorough in their inspections and make helpful recommendations regarding over-grown plants or bushes so their products can be more effective. They are very trustworthy and with their service, we have no problems with pest in our house.

-Val Schepens, Mike Auto Service, Huntington Beach. (714) 375-3145

Balcony Railing Collapse Caused By Dryrot!

Building inspectors found evidence of dryrot at an apartment complex where three people fell from a second story balcony after the railing gave way. The Fire Protection District Battalion Chief said the victims were two women and a young girl, about 8 or 9 years old.

The three fell about 15 feet to the ground. One woman appeared to have suffered head, neck and back injuries and was air lifted to a medical center. The other woman and the girl were taken to hospitals by ambulance.

The city code enforcement officer instructed the owner to have a contractor perform a thorough inspection of the building. The city has since determined that two stairwells in the apartment complex are unsafe and the owner was instructed to relocate the residents. The apartment building is about 30 years old and is generally in good condition.

“Termite” Terry would like to remind all property owners to take stories like this seriously because the potential liability can be staggering. Can you imagine how much money these three victims will collect from lawsuit settlements? Will the property owners have to file bankruptcy or will they wind up loosing everything they’ve ever worked for? Who knows? That’s up to the courts to decide.

Do you have commercial or rental properties? When is the last time you ordered a termite inspection? If it has been more than two years, you should call our office now at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and schedule an appointment.

Termite Myths Busted!

We’ve all heard that old cliché, “The more you learn, the more you find out how little you actually know.” Dr. Brian Forschler is a world renowned researcher from the University of Georgia and during a recent presentation, he revealed some very surprising study results that really busted some myths about subterranean termites. It appears that certain educators and members of the scientific community are not at all pleased to hear what he has to say.

“They thought they knew it all and now they will
now have to admit that they were wrong!”

Here are just a few of the very interesting discoveries that Dr. Forschler has revealed:

• Killing the subterranean termite queen will not kill the entire termite colony. We now know that there are many “secondary reproductive” termites that can easily take over the queen’s job and keep the colony growing.
• There is no one nest. And, we have now learned that members of the termite colony move around. In other words, you’ll see members of the family in one spot today and in six months, they’ll be on the other side of the house working with another termite colony!
• There are multiple termite colonies in the same lot. In his study, he discovered 15 colonies of subterranean termites in the same ¾ acre lot! That is really important to know and even more reason that you should do complete perimeter termite treatments instead of treating only one spot. Eliminating one termite colony may make you feel good for a minute. But, when you consider that there may be another dozen or more colonies chomping away at other areas of your home, you realize you have still got a lot of work left to do.
• Termites spend 18% of their time grooming themselves. 80% of their time is spend doing nothing. Grooming is very important to know about because products, like the Termidor we use, can easily be transferred from one termite to another in this manner.
• When these termites dig their tunnels, they put the dirt in their mouth and we now know that this is how they receive their lethal dose of termiticide.
• Termites spend 50% of their time tunneling with food in their mouth. This is proof that termiticides are transferred from one termite to another in this manner.
• When you perform a termite treatment, it does not necessarily mean that you will kill the colony. In his test using poison baits, he found that the termites simply moved to another location. And, when he removed the poison bait, they came right back to the same spot. It’s as if termites can send signals to one another that a location is bad or that it’s o.k. to return!

Yes, the new information learned from this research may have caused some egos to have become bruised. But, if this new knowledge is applied and used in the correct manner, the potential for improvements in termite control and treatments is “mind boggling”.

Dr. Forschler also discussed his studies on “Integrated Pest Management” and the control of subterranean termites. In these studies, his goal is to develop procedures and techniques to control these pest using the least amount of termiticides and have the lowest impact on the environment. Currently, he and his staff are treating and monitoring buildings on the University of Georgia campus. Results of his studies, thus far, are very encouraging.

Do you have subterranean termite problems?  Or, maybe you know someone that has had problems with these pest for years and can never find anyone that can solve their problem? Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an inspection at your convenience.

The History Of Mother’s Day

In the United States, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday In May. There were several attempts to establish a Mother’s Day during the 1880s and 1890s but those efforts were not successful beyond the local level. Anna Jarvis, of Grafton, West Virginia, created the holiday in 1908 as a day to honor your own mother. Along with the help of John Wanamaker, a wealthy Philadelphia merchant, she kept promoting the idea until President Woodrow Wilson made it an official holiday in 1914.

About nine years later, the holiday had become very commercialized and many, including Ms. Jarvis, were upset about that. Ms. Jarvis became a major opponent of what the holiday had become and wound up spending her entire inheritance and the rest of her life opposing the holiday she helped create.

She was derided for this, considered to be a lunatic and was committed to an asylum in 1944. The Floral Exchange, a flower industry group that enjoyed the sales results from her holiday, wound up paying her bills. She died in 1948.

Today, Mother’s Day continues to be a very successful commercial occasion:

• The National Restaurant Association says that Mother’s Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out.
• Americans will spend $2.6 billion on flowers.
• $1.53 billion will be spent for pampering gifts, such as spa treatments.
• $68 million dollars worth of greeting cards will be sold.
• 7.8% of the U.S. jewelry industry’s annual revenue will come from Mother’s Day gifts.

While we know that Ms. Jarvis wouldn’t appreciate seeing all of this commercial success, we all know a lot of mothers that still love to receive our signs of appreciation on Mother’s Day.

Happy Mother’s Day!!

I’m Puzzled! Why Isn’t Everyone Excited
About Our Money Back Guarantee?

At Termite Terry Pest Control, we’re going on four years now since we started offering a Money Back Guarantee on our termite treatments. Our basic guarantee is as follows; If we do a full subterranean termite treatment or a fumigation for drywood termites on your home and we make a mistake and don’t get rid of all of your termites, we’ll retreat your home at no charge and we’ll refund all your money!

If you’ll think about it, that is an unbelievable guarantee! Imagine if you bought a new computer and it broke down. Yes, the manufacturer will fix it while it’s under warranty, but do you think they’ll give all your money back, too? NO WAY! People ask me all the time, “Terry, how can you afford to offer a guarantee like that? Aren’t you afraid of going broke?”  And, my answer is NO!  Since we started offering this guarantee, we’ve never had anyone even come close to asking for a refund.

For subterranean termites, we only use Termidor. This product has a phenomenal success rate and failures are extremely rare. But, you do have to follow their instructions.

We only use Vikane for drywood termite fumigations. This product has been proven for decades. If you measure a house correctly, use good tarps, seal it up tight and put in the right amount of gas - No termites are going to be left alive!

I challenge you to ask any other termite company for a money back guarantee and they will all tell you that they can’t do that. Why not? Don’t they believe in what they sell? Or, are they using cheaper products, taking short cuts and doing sloppy work?

With our Money Back Guarantee, we take all the risk and you’ve got nothing to lose. The worst thing that could happen to you is that you get a FREE termite treatment! That’s why I’m puzzled, “Why anyone take a chance by calling someone else? To me, it’s a no brainer! Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an inspection at your convenience.

“Terminac” Comes To Orange County!

Termite Terry was invited to do a presentation for the group at “Le Tip of West Orange County”. And, in keeping with his style of always wanting to surprise his audience, he went as the character, “Terminac”.  This is a take-off from Johnny Carson’s “Carnac The Magnificent” character where “Carnac” would hold up an envelope and then divine the answer to the question inside.

Most people that do presentations for this group are pretty serious and business like. So, you can imagine how the audience couldn’t believe their eyes when Terry came out wearing his “Terminac” costume of a black cape and gold turbine.  Terry’s pest control technician, David Salaman, helped out with the presentation (Just like Ed McMahon used to do!) by handing over each of the twelve envelopes. And, just like the old Johnny Carson skits, “Terminac” would hold the envelopes up to his forehead and divine the answers. His questions and answers were a mix of local humor, combined with jokes about bugs and termites.  The audience laughed a lot and their response was terrific.

 ”Termite” Terry says that pest control is a serious business, but there’s no reason why you can’t have some fun with it, too!

 If you are looking to grow and promote your business, Termite Terry highly recommends that you contact the group at Le Tip of West Orange County. For more info go to www.letipwoc.com                                                                                

Confessions Of A Termite Man . . .

You know something folks, I’m getting tired of competing against these bogus and phony fumigation bids that so many other termite companies are presenting to homeowners in Orange County!

 We just fumigated a home in Irvine, but getting this job was not easy because the other two bids were so ridiculously low. We carefully measured the home, did our calculations and determined it’s volume at 103,000 cubic feet. (Please remember that this number is extremely critical because it will determine how much Vikane gas will be administered during the fumigation.)

 We explained to the homeowner of how we came up with our numbers and then gave her our bid to do the job. But then, she told us that our price was way too high. I asked her about the other two bids and she showed us that both of them were about $700.00 less than ours. I couldn’t believe my own eyes when I saw this!! (I’d lose money if I did a house this size for that price!)

 Fortunately, this homeowner was pretty bright and she understood how important it was to find out what the other two companies had measured her house at. What she learned was really shocking;

 Both of the other companies gave her quotes based on a measurement of
about 70,000 cubic feet!!!

 At this point, this homeowner was really confused and didn’t know who to believe. She expressed her concern to me and that is when I suggested that we go back and re-measure her home, together. I handed her a clipboard with a graph of her home and we re-measured the whole thing.

 Now, I must admit that we usually round our numbers up a bit. We do that because we always want to err on the side of safety and we want to make sure that we have more than enough gas to completely eliminate all of the drywood termites. That means that our price may be a few bucks higher, but on the average home, that number is not significant. Most homeowners are glad to infest a little bit more in gas to insure success. (Do we make more profit by using more gas? NO, we just have to pay more to our gas supplier.)

 She did dispute a few measurements of the second story eave areas on her house because of all the odd shapes. But, after we added it all up again, we stood with our original measurement at 103,000 cubic feet. That’s when I asked her,

 “How Could Anyone Measure This Home And Come Up With A Number
Of 70,000 cubic feet?”

 None of us knew the answer to that question. No matter how you play with the numbers, there’s no way that anyone could come up with a number of 70,000 cubic feet. (I’ve been out of school for a while - Is there some kind of “new math” that they’re teaching out there?)

 I then asked her, “Knowing what you know now, how could you even imagine letting one of those other companies fumigate your home? You know their fumigations would fail and you know that they were both perfectly willing to rip you off, right?” She agreed and hired us to do the job.

 Ladies and gentlemen, this goes on every single day - I am not exaggerating this problem! Most bids that I see are 25 to 50 percent under measured!! You’ve got to nail these guys down when they give you a bid and find out how much gas you’re getting or you may wind up losing all your money. First and foremost;

 You’ve got to figure out if these guys are “playing charades” with your home and money or are they really serious about getting rid of your termites?

 Don’t get me wrong, there are some real honest termite guys out there. But, I’m usually surprised when I see an honest bid. The other real important fact to consider is that during my interviews of termite inspectors with many years of experience, I’ve found very few that can even do the basic math required to measure a house!!

 If you need a fumigation done on your home or business, call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form for a quote. And please, join us when we measure your home. Once you’ve seen this, first hand, we’re quite confident that you won’t even want any of those other guys anywhere near your home!

 Thanks!

 Termite Terry

April 2010 Newsletter

ATTENTION HOMEOWNERS!
Are You Thinking About Getting A New Roof Or Having Your Home Painted?

    It’s springtime and many homeowners in Orange County are doing home improvements. Unfortunately, many of these homeowners are not going to do their improvements in the proper sequence and are going to wind up losing thousands of dollars. That’s why we say:

This May Be The Most Important Report You Read This Year!

    Let’s say you’re going to have your old roof replaced. Here are just a couple of the pitfalls a homeowner may face if things are not done in the proper order:

1. In our experience, 9 out of 10 homes that we inspect with new roofs have had these new roofs installed over old rotten and termite infested wood. This means that if the owner wants to replace the damaged wood at a later date, portions of their brand new roof may have to be removed. This will result in substantially greater cost and may void the warranty on their new roof.
2. Many homeowners fail to address their home’s termite problems or painting before installing a new roof. And,  many of these owners are going to be very upset when they find out that termite crews and painters are going to have to walk on their new roof and may cause damage. The damages are probably going to be minor if the roof is made of composition shingles. But, if it’s a tile roof, the damages could be significant.  If you’re going to have your home painted, here is a point that you really need to consider;

Most Of The Painters In Our Area Seem To Be In A Big Hurry To Finish The Job So They Can Get Paid Quickly. It’s Sad, But Most Painters We’ve Seen Paint Over Everything - Including The Old Rotten And Termite Damaged Wood.

    That means that in a very short time, the paint will start flaking off in these damaged areas and your new paint job will be ruined. It also means that if you do decide to repair these wood damages at a later date, much of your new paint job will be thrown in the trash and all of the repaired areas will have to be re-painted. House painting is expensive. Why then, would you want to pay to have it done twice?

How You Can Save Thousands Of Dollars When Doing Home Improvements And Prevent A Lot Of Headaches:

    Call Termite Terry at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and have your home inspected before you start any work. Areas that need repairs will be noted and if termite treatments are needed, you’ll learn of the different options you have available.

    Schedule your work in sequence so that you don’t wind up doing the same work twice. If you’re not sure about the order, call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll be glad to assist. 

Here is a typical schedule we suggest for homes that are being re-roofed:

1. Call Termite Terry and order a termite inspection so that you’ll know what is needed before you start the project.
2. Have your roofer remove the existing roof and have our carpenters replace all damaged wood as needed.
3. If a fumigation or termite treatment is needed, do it now.
4.  Have all the wood trim and exterior painted as needed.
5. Last, have your roofer install the new roof.

By doing things in this sequence, no one will need to go back on the roof again and your home will be set to go for another decade!

For homes that are being painted, we suggest the following schedule:

1.  Call Termite Terry and order a termite inspection so that you’ll know what is needed before you start the project.
2. Have our carpenters replace all damaged wood as needed.
3. If a fumigation or termite treatment is needed, do it now.
4. Now, it’s time to paint.
5. f roof repairs are needed, always have a roofer do this as your last project. You don’t want anyone walking on the roof after this!

    Every situation is different, but this schedule works pretty well for most homeowners and you’ll save yourself a bunch of headaches and money, too!

    Are you getting ready to start your home improvement project? Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an inspection at your convenience!

Rave Reviews!

    The service and personal attention I received from D.J. was exceptional. I had a rat problem and called several companies.

    D.J. came out and did a thorough inspection. He was able to show me exactly where their entry was and he blocked it off.

    Good news? The rat was caught the first night so I called D.J. and asked if he would dispose of it first thing in the morning. As promised, he came by early and removed the rat without even waking me.

    He followed up by coming by each week to check the traps. D.J. then repaired the hole in my attic and called it a successful mission.

    I would highly recommend D.J., as his integrity, expertise and professionalism exceeded my expectations.

-Tracy Buck,, Costa Mesa.

    I wanted to write this letter to tell you how pleased I am of your service. You and I have had the opportunity to work on several projects over the past 5 years and you have always shown a high level of professionalism.

    Our latest tenting project was on an older rental property.  You were very thorough and gave me a more favorable report than I was expecting. That kind of honesty goes a long way.

    The tenting went as smooth as silk. Everything was well coordinated with our tenants. All questions were thoroughly addressed and the scheduling was exactly as planned.  Your attention to detail meant a great deal to the tenants as well as myself. As an added bonus, no roofing tiles were broken. Very impressive!

    Thanks again for all your help. I would highly recommend your work to anyone!

-Sidney Wu,  Property landlord, Irvine.

 Hotel Mattresses Infested With Bed Bugs

    Over the past few years, we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of stories about bed bugs and a lot of those stories have been about problems with hotel mattresses. Places with high occupancy, such as hotels, are where bed bugs thrive. This epidemic has gotten so bad that a registry has been created to list highly infested hotels.

What Are Bed Bugs?

    Bed bugs are small, reddish/brown insects and the adults are about 1/16″ long with a flattened/oval shaped body. They are parasites and prefer living off the blood of humans. In the absence of humans, they will also feed on a variety of birds, guinea pigs, poultry and rodents. Homes infested with bed bugs can often be recognized by their distinctive “buggy” smell, an odor that has been described as “obnoxious sweetness”. Infestations can also be detected by blood stains on walls or linens and by spots of excrement.

    Hotels are a hotspot for bed bugs because of high occupancy and a large number of travelers coming from all areas of the world. What makes it so difficult for hotel managers is that they can have a completely bed bug free room today, but if one person rents a room and brings bed bugs in with their luggage, that room can become infested with bed bugs that very day. And, if you stay in that infested room, chances are you’ll take bed bugs home with you as a parting gift.

TripAdvisor.com’s List Of The 2010 Top Ten Dirtiest Hotels

1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco Ca.
2. Days Inn Eureka, Eureka Missouri
3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Va.
4. Super 8 Virginia Beach, Virginia Beach Va.
5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg Pa.
6. New York Inn, New York City, NY
7. Parisian Hotel, Miami, Fl.
8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach Ca.
9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs Ca.
10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Fl.

Bed Bugs Are By Far And Away, The Toughest Pest To Get Rid Of!

    If you have a problem with bed bugs - Don’t procrastinate. Call us today for a complimentary pest audit at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form.

Club Soda To Kill Fire Ants?

    “Entomologist are being bugged again by erroneous pest control advice that’s been popping up all over cyberspace like ants at a picnic. This information has been floating around the internet since 2007, but seemed to regain momentum starting in December of last year”, said Wizzie Brown, a Texas AgriLife Extension Service entomologist in Austin.

    When you see this message on the web, you’ll see that they are touting this as “an environmentally friendly cure for fire ants“. They suggest that you poor two cups of club soda directly in the center of the fire ant mound. By doing this, they tell us that it will displace oxygen and suffocate the ants. They say the entire colony and queen will be killed within 48 hours. They also state that club soda will leave no toxic residue, won’t contaminate ground water and won’t indiscriminately kill other insects or harm pets.

    “What they don’t say is that the treatment is ineffective, unless you happen to drown a few fire ants in the process”, said Brown.

    Brown ran a field test in 2009 on the effectiveness of club soda as a fire ant mound treatment and found that it didn’t work. She said, “Observations and statistics from the trial showed no evidence of any type of control as a result. Pouring club soda onto a fire ant mound did not lead to the ants dying a horrendous death; it did, however, produce lots of impressive bubbling action.”

    A report of the field trial will appear in a future edition of the Urban IPM Handbook, published annually on the Texas Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project Web site, http://fireant.tamu.edu.

    “As researchers, we can’t recommend, endorse or encourage practices which replicated field trials show to be ineffective”, she said. “Fire ant baits are still among the most effective methods of fire ant control. Besides, in larger areas, treating individual mounds is never as effective or useful as widespread broadcast treatment.”

    If you have a problem with fire ants and are looking for solutions that really work, call us for a complimentary pest audit at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form.

April Is National Jazz Appreciation Month

    The National Museum of American History has designated April as National Jazz Appreciation Month. April was chosen because jazz greats such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Gerry Mulligan and Tito Puente all celebrate their birthdays during this month.

    Jazz originated at the beginning of the 20^th century in African American communities of the Southern U.S.. In 1808, almost half a million Africans had been brought to the U.S. to work as slaves. Most of them came from West Africa and they brought a lot of their tribal musical traditions with them. By the early 19^th century, many black musicians learned to play European instruments, especially the violin, which they used to parody European dance music in their own cakewalk dances. European-American minstrel show performers in blackface started copying that type of music and made it popular around the world.

    After slavery was abolished, the freed African-Americans were able to start finding work in entertainment playing for dances, minstrel shows and in vaudeville. Black pianist found opportunities to play in bars, clubs and brothels. This is when ragtime music developed.

    Many consider jazz a product of the melting pot in New Orleans. By the beginning of the 20^th century, that city was awash in blues music, ragtime and native brass band fanfares.

    Jazz has spawned many subgenres over the years, from Dixieland in the early 1910’s, big band swing in the 1930’s and 1940’s, bebop from the mid 1940’s, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian from the 1950’s and 1960’s, jazz fusion from the 1970’s and acid jazz in the 1980’s. 

    People play jazz all around the world today, but no matter how you slice it, jazz is a truly American style of music that has played an important role in our heritage.

Don’t Get Soaked When You Buy A Home!

    Not long ago, a couple bought a home here in Orange County. They were so happy to finally get the home of their dreams, but today, those dreams have turned into a giant nightmare. “Why did this dream become a nightmare?” you ask. Take a look at this:

1. An termite inspection was performed on this home in January that had a long list of items that needed correction. Note: The buyer never saw a copy of this report.
2. In March, that same inspector issued a BRAND NEW termite inspection report that said that the home was in perfect shape and that nothing needed to be corrected.
3. The new owner buys this home in March, moves in and discovers almost nothing had been done. And, he discovers a huge list of problems that were never mentioned in any report. That’s when he decided to call us.

    In our termite inspection, we found that the other company had failed to inspect the areas under the home’s a raised foundation. Those areas were found to be flooded, had no ventilation, there were huge subterranean termite problems, soil grading problems, foundation problems, etc.. A licensed contractor was called in to evaluate and estimate what it would cost to correct the soil grading, foundation and ventilation problems. His estimate was close to $80,000.00!! The other company said that the wood deck was in perfect shape, but we found over $15,000 worth of damage still present. On the exterior, we found another $3,800 worth of damage. An expensive lawyer has been hired and they’re probably going to court. But, how long will that take and how much more will it cost??

    Ladies and gentlemen, this does not have to happen to you and can easily be prevented by calling us before you buy a house. Don’t get soaked! Call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule a termite inspection at your convenience!

March 2010 Newsletter

  Dryrot - The Silent Wood Killer

   With the wet winter we’ve just gone through, a lot of homeowners are going to be surprised when they learn of how much dryrot damage has occurred to their homes over the past few months.

    Dryrot is caused by wood-destroying (decay) fungi. Decay fungi are plants that live on dead trees and lumber products. These are rather sophisticated plants that can grow very rapidly in the right conditions. On wood that has been infected by decay fungi, it’s common to see small white/light grey fruiting bodies growing out of the wood that look something like a “fan shaped sheet” or a “toad stool”. These fruiting bodies produce many microscopic spores that are similar in function to seeds from higher plants. These spores are readily dispersed by wind or air currents. When one of these tiny spores lands on a piece of wood in favorable conditions, it will germinate and grow rapidly. In order to flourish, decay fungi needs air, moisture and wood. Moisture is the most critical factor.

    Cellulose and lignin, which makes up the cell walls of wood serves as the food source. Once the decay fungi attacks a piece of wood and starts digesting it, the wood shrivels up fast and becomes spongy.

How Do You Repair Dryrot Damage?

    The first thing you should always do is to try and control the moisture source. For example, if you’ve got a leaking roof, leaking plumbing or have lawn sprinklers that are constantly keeping the wood wet - solve the moisture problem, FIRST! Many homeowners make the mistake of hiring someone to remove and replace their dryrot damaged wood, but, they don’t solve the moisture problem. So, in no time at all, they find that decay fungi will spread (like a cancer) to the new wood they just replaced and it will be destroyed very quickly.

    Once the moisture problems have been solved, it is now time to cut out the infected wood members and replace them with new material as needed. It is very important to remove all of the infected wood, otherwise, the fungi will continue to grow and destroy your repairs. Treatments with a fungicide are especially critical to help stop the spread of this wood cancer.

7 Things You Can Do To
Help Prevent Dryrot

1.  Control Moisture. If you find a plumbing leak, roof leak, sprinklers spraying against the house or any other situation where the wood is getting wet - Fix it A.S.A.P.

2.  Don’t let wood members touch the ground. Regrade the soil or install concrete pads to keep the wood up and off the ground.

3.  Don’t mount wood directly onto concrete unless you are using treated lumber. This is especially important for items like patio or porch post. If you mount a wood post directly on top of  a concrete patio, everytime it rains or you turn on the sprinklers, your patio will get wet and the wood will “wick up” the moisture. When that happens on a regular basis, dryrot will occur quickly. Installing a metal or plastic spacer between the bottom of the post and the concrete slab will solve this problem.

4.  Pay extra attention to the grading of the soil around your home. Make sure the water drains away from your home’s foundation when it rains.

5.  Use decay resistant wood. Treated lumber, redwood or cedar are more resistant to fungi and last much longer.

6.  Repair or replace termite damaged wood. All of those cavities and holes caused by termites are easy places for moisture to get in and start dryrot.

7.  Seal exterior wood with caulk and paint to help keep out moisture.

    If there’s only one thing you get out of this article, please remember that if wood stays dry, it is impossible for dryrot to occur.

    Have a problem with dryrot damage wood on your home and need help fixing it? Call (949) 631-7348 or click on order form and we’ll schedule an appointment at your convenience.

   Rave Review!

    I am writing this long-overdue letter to let you know that we think Termite Terry did an incredible job fumigating our home for termites last month. Joe Johnston, our sales rep, was very knowledgeable about the entire process. He went to great efforts to ensure that all of our questions were answered and to verify we were happy with every aspect of the job.

    While there are other “local” fumigators who regularly service our area, we chose Termite Terry because of the numerous recommendations, outstanding guarantee and fantastic interface with Joe. Some of the other fumigators even offered a slightly lower price, but based upon how long they inspected/measured our house, I am not confident the others correctly measured the volume of our structure (which determines how much Vikane gas would be required and thus determines the cost). I was very impressed by the attention to detail during the tenting process. I was even more impressed when they returned EVERYTHING back to the original position when they were done (bedding gravel, garden dirt, plants . . .).

    Since this was our first fumigation (and we are skeptical engineers) I checked with the Better Business Bureau and found out that Termite Terry was A+ rated. Termite Terry is also licensed, bonded, insured and in business since 1992 which provided assurance that continued business is important to them.

    While it is always an uncomfortable situation handing over a door key and letting other people in you home unsupervised, we had a high degree of confidence that we would not have any surprises. Tile breakage was considerably less than I expected and Joe provided contact information for a roofer who would fix all of the tiles for a low rate which he negotiated.

    Overall we are happy that we contracted with Termite Terry and would highly recommend their fumigation service to others.

 -Bruce Benedict, engineer, Rancho Palos Verdes.

Pesticide Usage
Declines In California

    For the third year in a row, pesticide usage has declined in California, according to the Department of Pesticide Regulation Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam.

    Approximately 162 million pounds of reported pesticides were applied statewide. That represents a decrease of nearly 10 million pounds or 6 percent from 2007.

    In production agriculture, pesticide usage dropped by 9.6 million pounds. Structural pest control, landscape maintenance and other categories also used less.

    “California experienced another dry winter and spring in 2008, which helps explain why fungicides showed the greatest decrease in use by both pounds and acres treated,” says Ms. Warmerdam. “Herbicide use also fell by pounds and acres treated, indicating fewer weeds.”

    Fewer pounds of insecticides were used, however, the number of acres treated increased slightly. DPR scientist says that more growers are shifting from broad based insecticides to newer products that target specific pest and are less toxic to people and the environment.

    Ms. Warmerdam reminded us that pesticide usage varies from year to year because of factors, such as weather, pest problems, economics and the types of crops planted.

    The most used pesticide in 2008 was sulfur. Sulfur is a natural fungicide favored by both conventional and organic farmers.  It is used primarily to control powdery mildew on grapes and tomatoes.

    Termite Terry would like to remind everyone that he is always looking for new ways to reduce the amount of pesticides used at his customer’s homes and businesses.  As technology improves and new products are developed, his technicians are able to deliver better results and do not have to apply nearly as much material.

    For instance, back in the 1990’s, it was common for a pest control technician to perform a routine service and apply maybe 20 or 30 gallons of a product mixed with water that would contain perhaps one pound of active ingredient.

    Today, we are able to perform a similar service and only need to apply two-tenths of an ounce of active ingredient. These new treatments are now much more effective, last longer and they are far less toxic! And, the impact on our environment is significantly decreased.

    Thinking of starting up a regular pest control service at your home or business? Termite Terry highly recommends that you call and ask for a complimentary 57 Point Pest Audit. By having a Pest Audit performed first, his technicians are often able to find more ways to find even more ways to reduce the amount of insecticides needed. A lot of pest problems can be eliminated or reduced naturally. And, that is the kind of “change” that you really want, isn’t it? To schedule a complimentary 57 Point Pest Audit, call us at (949) 631-7348 or click on order form.

Blue Painted Eaves
Equal Fewer Stings?

    Every year, numerous incidents of wasp stings are reported to healthcare professionals, making them a medically important group of insects. Although the stings are usually nothing more than a painful experience, for a few individuals the consequences can be serious, resulting in a severe reaction or even death.

    Wasp often nest near occupied structures and it is common to see their nest in eave areas.  They prefer areas near sites of food such as outdoor cooking areas or trash cans. Their colonies peak in size during the late summer and autumn.  To reduce the population and control these pest, we currently rely on a combination of nest removal and treating the areas with an insecticide. However, a new “non chemical” technique of painting eaves with light blue paint is being tested and the early results are positive.

    Kimberly Schofield of Texas A & M’s AgriLife Research and Extension Center began testing this new technique in 2008 at the Girl Scout Camp in Palestine Texas. The camp had been doing annual treatments on all structures during the early spring to help control their problem with wasp. However, the Girl Scout Board wanted to try a non chemical method. So, the eaves of three shelters were painted light blue in May 2008. The theory was that if the eaves were painted light blue, it would mimic the sky and confuse the wasp into thinking the eaves are sky and they wouldn’t nest there. The eaves were then inspected in June, July and September and there were no new wasp nest on the painted eaves.

    Testing continued in March of 2009 on eight selected cabins. Four of these were painted light blue and the other four were left unpainted. One month later, painted cabins showed significantly fewer wasp nest than the unpainted ones. Months two and three also showed fewer wasp nest on the blue painted surfaces.

    Unfortunately, during the month of June, numerous wasp stings were reported and the camp staff was forced to have all of the units treated with insecticides. Due to the treatments, the wasp population was very low in months 4,5,6 and 7, so no significant differences were noted between painted and unpainted eaves. Had the insecticide treatments not be performed, perhaps we could have had a more conclusive evaluation of the test. Another test is scheduled for this year. This year, they will evaluate latex versus oil based paints to see if the oil in paint is a wasp repellant. Data from all three years of testing will then be compiled. Their ultimate goal is to provide a new environmentally friendly technique to reduce wasp populations.

    Have a problem with wasp at your home or business?  Did you know that wasp nest removal and treatments are included at NO EXTRA CHARGE with “Termite” Terry’s routine pest control services? If you need help with wasp or any other pest, call our office at (949) 631-7348or click on order form .

Celebrating March As
“National American Red Cross Month”

    The American Red Cross was founded in Washington D.C. on May 21, 1881 by Clara Barton and a circle of her acquaintances. Barton was in Europe following the Civil War and first heard of the Swiss-inspired Red Cross Movement. She returned to the U.S. and started campaigning for an American Red Cross society and for ratification of the Geneva Convention that protects the war-injured. The U.S. ratified the Geneva Convention in 1882.

    During her 23 years as head, the Red Cross conducted its first domestic and overseas disaster relief, gave aid to the military during the Spanish-American War and campaigned successfully for the inclusion of peace time relief work.

    The Red Cross received its first congressional charter in 1900 and a second in 1905. That charter is still in effect today and sets forth purposes of the organization.

    When World War 1 broke out, the Red Cross experienced phenomenal growth. Membership grew from 17,000 to more than 20 million adult and 11 million Junior Red Cross members. They staffed hospitals and ambulance companies and recruited 20,000 nurses to serve the military.

    The Red Cross provided extensive services during World War 2. More than 104,000 nurses were called to provide service to the military and 27 million packages were prepared for American and Allied prisoners of war. More than 300,000 tons of supplies were shipped overseas. The Red Cross also initiated a national blood program and collected 13.3 million pints of blood for use by the armed forces.

    After the war, they introduced a civilian blood program and they now supply nearly 50% of blood in the U.S.

    The Red Cross is an independent - volunteer - led organization and is financially supported by public donations and cost-reimbursements.

Going For The Jugular
Chasing Subterranean Termites Is Not Acceptable. . . They Must Be Eliminated!

    For years I’ve been talking to home owners about my “Going For The Jugular” strategy for eliminating subterranean termites.

    Actually, I learned this strategy the hard way. We did a subterranean termite treatment on a home in the city of Orange back in the early 1990’s and everything was done by the book. There was one spot where a subterranean termite mud tunnel was growing right up the exterior wall (Termites use these tunnels to get in and out of a home). We drilled a hole in the concrete walkway, right next to this mud tunnel. I inserted the injection rod and I let those termites have it - I gave them a big blast of our best stuff!

    But, just a week or two later, the homeowner called and said, “They’re back in exactly the same spot!” Her words really upset me. I went back to look at her house and the termites were marching along in the same spot as if nothing had ever been done.

    When treating subterranean termites, you’re mostly working blind because you can’t see what’s happening under a concrete slap, patio or walkway. There must have been a rock or a something under the walkway that blocked my stuff from reaching the termites. I drilled another hole and gave them one more dose. But, that’s when I came up with a “brilliant idea”. . . I opened up that mud tunnel where they were coming out of the ground, used a syringe and put my stuff right down their throat. This strategy, coupled with the use of Termidor, has been extremely successful and that’s why we’re the only company in Orange County that offers a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

    You should always follow instructions and do everything you’re supposed to. But, If You “Always Go For The Jugular”, You Know You’ll Never Miss!