Flying Ants or Flying Termites?

Flying ants are often confused for flying termites. It's an easy mistake to make if you are unsure of what to look for. It can also be helpful in knowing how to treat the problem since nobody wants flying, breeding bugs around the house! Both bug species grow wings in order to breed and are referred to as a "swarmer" but thankfully their anatomy differs quite a bit from each other allowing the distinction easier to identify.

For starters, ant antennae are bent as opposed to termite antennae, which is straight. An ant swarmer's body has a pinched, defined waist as opposed to the thick, straight waist of a termite swarmer. The wings of the ant are often uneven in length, white in color and stacked when spread open. A termite's wings, however, are typically even in length, yellowish in color and separated when spread open. 

If ever you find yourself in a situation where you are unsure of your type of swarmer, give us a call and we will do a complimentary evaluation for you. Make sure to keep a few swarmers or fallen wings in a small, lunch baggy so the inspector can see what your seeing to allow him to make further recommendations.

For additional questions about knowing the difference between flying ants and flying termites, feel free to give us a call at (951) 694-8100.

Celebrating 20 Years

     We are so proud to announce that Black Knight Termite & Pest Control, Inc. celebrated our very own 20th anniversary last month! We have come a long ways since we first started, particularly growing our small family owned business to a slightly bigger family owned business! 

     Black Knight originally started 20 years ago with only 2 trucks and 2 employees. Since then, we have been so blessed by our community making it possible to expand our family to having 15 trucks and 18 employees! *gasp* We have broadened our areas of expertise significantly as well. We now offer a wide variety of pest services in addition to termite and general pest control, such as gopher control, rodent control, bird control as well as thermal heat treatment!

     Earlier this year, we also acquired a new pest control route taking Black Knight to Redlands, Riverside and Menifee for accounts ranging from commercial to residential. We have seen our greatest improvement in the amount of active pest control routes that we are continuously adding to. Overall, in our 20 years of business, Black Knight has had the pleasure of serving the Riverside, San Diego as well as San Bernardino counties respectfully. 

     We are very proud of where we come from and are looking forward to thriving in the New Year. In light of our 20 year anniversary, all of our trucks are fashioning the new decal posted above. Thanks for all your love and support as we continue doing what we love. Wishing you all a prosperous year

-BK 

Termite Myths

Did someone say "termite season"? While this is a common misconception about the infamous wood-chomping insects that are notorious for costing homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs each year, we thought we would address some common myths that have been circulating around and causing a lot of confusion.

"Termite season" (unfortunately) is year round. Don't be fooled! While the Spring and Summer months have often been associated with 'termite season', this isn't always the case. Termites typically swarm on warmer days following a dry spell, which can occur regardless of season. It should also be known that there is more than one kind of termite, which can make identifying them a bit more tricky. If you are ever concerned if you may have termites, it doesn't hurt to call Black Knight or your local termite company to schedule a complimentary inspection to put your mind at ease. If your home is inspected and termites are identified, it's better to address the termites quickly before they spread and cause additional damage. We should reiterate that a termite inspection is a FREE service for homeowners, so it doesn't hurt to make it an annual routine for good housekeeping. 

For convenience sake, the most common termites within Southern California are typically Drywood termites, Subterranean termites and Dampwood termites. Dampwood termites are a little more rare given the arid, more desert-like conditions that Southern California offers, but there have been a few cases that Black Knight has encountered throughout our 20 years of business. 

Another myth that is often speculated is that fumigation (or tenting) is the only way to eradicate termites from your home. This isn't necessarily true given the many factors that determine what a termite technician would recommend for treatment. There are other termite eradication methods such as Heat Treatment or even Local Treatment. Your termite technician is trained to recommend the best option possible for you and your home, so it's important to discuss with them your options because chances are you have a couple to choose from.

Overall, California is among one of the nine states with the heaviest termite activity which means that having a reliable termite company on speed dial is important. (Or maybe just in your list of contacts.)