# sub-terranian termites and my pest control guy **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356 "2003-06-03T13:33:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![biker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@biker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/21 "2003-06-07T04:34:11Z")
you are a laugh…0.24 and 1/4 of an inch, hahahah… termites do enter homes seeking water and many, many termite sites will tell you that. i seriously doubt you have ever seen a termite, but you are “absolute” in your beliefs so i bow to the master… ---
**Author:** ![biker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@biker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/22 "2003-06-07T04:38:34Z")
> **[Arizona Pest Control | Tucson Pest & Termite Control Since 1947](https://www.azpest.com/)** > > Voted #1 in Tucson. Family Owned & Veteran Operated. AZ Pest Control & Termite Control, Bee Removal, Pack Rat Control, & More. Since 1947. \*Termite information from the University of Arizona College of Agriculture Coop Extension Two categories of termites that can do significant to damage to wooden structures are commonly found in Arizona: subterranean termites and dry-wood termites. Termites are smaller than the size of a piece of rice. there you go blake…argue with them, hahaha ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/23 "2003-06-07T09:32:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Termites are smaller than the size of a piece of rice. Yes, some _drywood_ termite _nymphs_ can be marginally smaller (.23inches for a termite nymph cv .25 inches for a grain of rice. This is what I said in my original reply to your assertion concerning size. This is in now way supportive of your statement that termites look like tiny grains of rice. In fat _very_ tiny grains of rice. But as I said, I’ve provided references for adult sizes. I’ve provided refernces for rice size. I’ve pointed out the numerous other errors in your beliefs about termites. I prefer not to engage in a pissing contest. Instead I’ll leave the facts speak for themselves. ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/24 "2003-06-07T14:00:18Z")
So, just to clarify… Blake, if you were in my shoes, what would you suggest? Chemical barriers and/or baiting to keep them out? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/25 "2003-06-07T15:45:45Z")
So, how about a cooked grain of rice size? (ducking for cover…) ---
**Author:** ![biker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@biker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/26 "2003-06-07T16:40:58Z")
white rice or stir-fried, hahaha ---
**Author:** ![J\_String](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce73a5/32.png) [@J\_String](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/J_String)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/27 "2003-06-07T17:11:25Z")
[homer]mmm… long-grain termites[/homer] 😉 ---
**Author:** ![biker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ce7236/32.png) [@biker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biker)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2003, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/28 "2003-06-07T17:16:06Z")
naw…uncle ben’s ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356/29 "2003-06-08T00:58:06Z")
> [@](#): > > what would you suggest? Chemical barriers and/or baiting to keep them out? Neither actually. If it’s legal in your area I’d get an experienced operator to use arsenic trioxide dust. Kills the colony in amatter of weeks. However if that’s not an option (and it may not be). If you suspect they are in your home now the I’d go with the poison barrier. It’s summer now, wich means the baits probably won’t even be laid until Autumn, and won’t take effect until next summer at the earliest. They can do a lot of damage in 12 months. However the barrier is temporary, and unless you feel like shelling out every 3-5 years for a re-treat you’ll probbaly need the baits anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sub-terranian-termites-and-my-pest-control-guy/179356.md?page=1)