How do I know if I have termites or flying ants?
termites and ants swarm the same time of year in Houma, Louisiana, so confusion is common. Check the wings first: termite wings are all the same size. Then check the waist, which is thick on a termite. Save a few in a bag for the Houma provider to confirm.
Is termite treatment safe for kids and pets?
When applied according to the label, termite treatments around Houma, Louisiana homes are designed to stay in the soil and wood where termites travel. Bait stations are locked and buried. Ask your Houma provider for the product label and safety data sheet, and follow any re-entry times.
Does fumigation kill subterranean termites too?
Fumigation and subterranean treatment solve different problems for a Houma home. Gas handles drywood termites hidden in framing and furniture. Soil treatment handles colonies that tunnel in from outside. Many Houma homes with both species end up needing both.
How long do termite bait stations take to work?
Faster than most people fear, slower than a liquid barrier. Once foragers around a Houma home hit a station, the growth regulator spreads through the colony over several weeks. Combined with a spot treatment on active wood, a Houma provider can stop damage quickly while baits finish the job.
How do I choose a termite company?
Look for a state license, insurance, and a written proposal from any Houma provider that names the species, product, and warranty. Get two quotes from Houma providers and compare what each includes. Ask how the Houma technician plans to handle slabs, decks, and crawl spaces.
Can I pay for termite monitoring without a full treatment?
Sometimes, but not every company sells it. Houma is not an outlier on this point: about 42% of pest-control company locations offered inspection- or monitoring-only termite services, per Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine's 2025 termite market report, a BASF-sponsored Readex survey of roughly 145 professionals covering 2024 operations; the share describes companies, not the number of homes monitored or infested. Local conditions in Houma, Louisiana can differ from the survey population, so confirm the specifics with an on-site inspection.
Do most pest control companies treat existing homes for termites?
Yes, nearly all of those surveyed. The same question comes up in Houma: in Pest Control Technology (PCT) magazine's 2025 termite market report, a Readex Research survey of roughly 145 pest-control professionals about 2024 operations, 94% of responding locations offered post-construction treatments, a figure about what companies sell, not about household infestation rates. If you are in Houma, use this as a starting point for questions rather than a prediction for your home.