The problem of termites in house demands a complex approach to the effective elimination of pests. Only combining treatments with various types of impact on termites, you can be satisfied with the goal – to get rid of termites in home.
Contents:
Signs of Termites in House
There are clues to know for sure whether they are termites that destroy your house. Moreover, awareness of termites’ living nearby will also help you to tell if they are subterranean or drywood. Each type forces to use different methods leading to their elimination:
- Swarmers and shed wings outside or, at the worst case, inside the building. Every year usually in spring-summer young termite species crawl out their shelter to start a “nuptial flight”, find a mate and start a new nest somewhere they will manage to burrow. The crawling places can be: cracks and holes in the foundation, decayed stumps and wet lumber. Termite swarmers always drop their wings after the landing.
- Mud tubes. This is a specific clue only for subterranean termites. They look like muddy stripes. Termites construct them to reach wood, which lies rather high above the land surface. Without the tubes, termites would suffer from bad atmospheric conditions, such as sun rays and heat. These pipes protect termites form predators as well.
- If you notice sand-like piles near the walls, it will be a sign of drywood termites in house. This type lives only in the wood, creating galleries inside. All feces are kicked out through holes in the walls or even in the ceiling. These excrements resemble common sand or sawdust but much larger.
- Bubbled painting means that the material under the surface is empty or eaten-out. This clue may also belong to carpenter ants or other wood-drilling insects. But in combination with the signs mentioned above, this must be only termites.
If you notice sand-like piles near the walls, it will be a sign of drywood termites in house.
Termite Ttreatment
Repellents
They are the cheapest and quickest against termites in home. The mechanism is based on chemicals, which kill termites immediately after their crossing the barrier. Those termiticides work well as they could stop termite infestation. Repellents are presented as foams, liquids or gases.
Very important: Chemicals, which are used in repellents, are considered as highly toxic and are harmful to the applied soil.
To achieve the goal, homeowners have to create a barrier around their dwelling. Often it is impossible to soak the soil evenly and without gaps. Any tiny cracks in such a defense become entry points for termites.
One of the best repellents is Bayer manufactured Advanced Termite Killer.
One of the best repellents.
Non-Repellents
Their mechanism is based on the termites’ ability to feed each other or eat dead corps of their siblings. The main target isn’t an individual termite, but the whole colony. Repellents kill only workers, which always forage for food. Non-repellents may have attractive smell or taste for termites, encouraging the pests to swallow the poison. Non-repellents have a prolonged action, which means that sick termites die only in 3-5 days after consuming the bait. Within this period they lead their usual day and what the most significant, infest soldiers, larvae and of course a queen.
In the case of repellents, non-last-killing treatments are by fact poison, which should be applied to the places of termites’ activity. Very often, homeowners need to drill holes in the concrete to provide perfect effective barrier circle. All these measures can be oppressed for many people with the problem.
The best non-repellent product on Amazon is Dominion 2L with Imidacloprid.
The best non-repellent product on Amazon is Dominion 2L with Imidacloprid.
Baiting Stations
Baiting systems consist of a capsule with termites’ favorite wood. Manufacturers also pack non-poisoned pieces of wood to attract termites and reduce their suspicious behavior. After you notice that safe bait is in use by the pests, you can easily replace it with a new one, containing a killing substance. Termites will continue eating the bait without knowing that they are infested and spreading the mortal food through feeding of other members of the colony.
Baiting stations are placed into the soil in the places of high termite activity. The chemicals do not penetrate into the soil. The method is considered as the safest one.
The best baiting station is Advance Termites Monitoring Stations.
Baiting systems consist of a capsule with termites’ favorite wood.
Boric Acid
Borax is a natural method to get rid of many pests (ants, cockroaches, and termites). The main ingredient is boron, which affects termites’ nervous system, causing dehydration and death. Granules stick to pests’ limbs while they cross the barrier and is taken into the colony where boron continues infesting other species. Boric acid can be used in different forms – powders, gels or granules. But the effect is the same – pests die approximately in a week after consuming the substance. It can be combined with other chemicals to improve termites’ elimination.
Boric products are the least toxic to humans, including children.
Very important: However being safe, it is recommended to avoid its consumption by home pets and small children. This abrasive product causes irritation when to appear on skin or eyes. When swallowed, it can cause problems with inner organs’ work. Gloves, safe clothes are highly recommended with the boric application.
On Amazon, you will find a lot of boric solutions. One of the best ones is Bora-Care – Natural Borate Termites Control.
Borax is a natural method to get rid of many pests.
Nematodes
They are little parasites that can’t live without another organism. In our case, they will pierce into termites’ body and lead them to death. These tiny worms cause no harm to humans, animals or plants. This is their strongest advantage, as all artificial chemicals, which are in use against termites are dangerous for the environment. Nematodes are very aggressive only to pests.
Once placed into the soil, they find termites within 24 hours.
Being living creatures, nematodes demand proper care and storing in the appropriate conditions.
The best product with nematodes on Amazon is 25 million Live Beneficial Nematodes.
