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stroying insects like termites, carpenter
ants, and carpenter bees can quickly
become maintenance and repair night-
mares for property managers already
under pressure to work under a budget.
But there is also good news. Property
managers do not have to passively
wait until summer for the pests to arrive.
Thorough pest control planning in the
spring can minimize , pest infestations
and often, outright avoided. Regular
inspections and preventative treatments
can make all the difference. A pest
control professional can help determine
if there are conditions on the property
that are attracting insects or are making
it easy for pests to gain access inside
buildings. Of course, despite one’s best
efforts, infestations do happen that are
PEST CONTROL...
from page 24.
best resolved in their early stages while
itis still localized and has not spread
throughout the complex.
There is a long list of summertime
pests that cause problems for property
managers. However, a few deserve
extra attention. These “special” pests
are more than mere annoyances.
Some cause significant property dam-
age while others are a serious health
hazard.
The property damaging pests that
all property managers should worry
about are termites, carpenter bees, and
carpenter ants. Here’s a quick rundown
of these weapons of wood destruction:
Termites
Let’s start with the worst first. Termites
are enemy number one when it comes
to property damage. They are often
called the silent destroyers, and for
good reason. Since they are subter-
ranean insects, they are rarely seen
and move straight from the ground
into the wood. Also, because they eat
building materials from the inside out,
damage can go unnoticed for years.
Needless to say, property managers
and maintenance staff should be on
high alert for signs of termite activity. The
two most visible signs are swarming ter-
mites and mud tubes. Termites common-
ly swarm in early spring as the weather
starts to warm, often after a heavy rain.
A resident or staff may report seeing
“Female carpenter
bees hollow out holes
and bore out tunnels
after making the
entranceway.”
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