Termites can sometimes be inevitable as these creatures are naturally attracted to damage our homes’ wooden foundations and aspects. While termite prevention is vital to fight against these insects, what control methods should be in place when they have already got in?
This article will list the different termite control methods currently effective in minimizing their effects and presence in our homes. We will investigate each control method and see how they specifically work against termite infestations.
Fumigation
Fumigating and heating the whole house is a common way to eliminate termites. This method involves sealing the entire building and letting poisonous gas into the space.
The gas spreads through the building and reaches even the termite colonies that are hard to find. Fumigation is an effective way to eliminate termites and other pests, ensuring they are all gone.
Heat Treatment
Aside from fumigation, people can also use heating methods like thermal remediation. Heat treatment eliminates termites without using chemicals by raising the temperature inside the building to a level that kills them.
Baiting
Baiting is another popular way to get rid of termites. For baiting, termite bait stations are strategically placed around the property.
These bait stations have something in them that attracts termites and is mixed with a poison that works slowly. Termites find the bait stations and eat the poison, returning it to their colonies without knowing it.
The poison kills all of the termites in the colony because it spreads through the termite population.
Baiting works exceptionally well in places where fumigation or heating might not be possible, like in homes with people who are sensitive to chemicals or in buildings that are hard to get to.
It offers a targeted and environmentally friendly way to get rid of termites, using as few pesticides as possible while still getting rid of termite colonies.
Dusting
Dusting is one way to get rid of termites that works well. It involves putting special dust mixtures in areas where termites are a problem.
Most of the time, the dust has insecticides that are harmful to termites if they touch or eat it. This method is excellent for treating places that are hard to get to, like wall voids, crawlspaces, and attics.
As termites crawl through treated areas, the dust particles stick to their bodies. This makes it possible for the toxic chemicals to spread through the termite colony.
This makes getting rid of the termites easier and keeps them from returning. Dusting is a popular way to clean homes and businesses because it works well and lasts long.
Creating Chemical Barriers Around The Building
Another common way to keep termites away is to put chemical barriers around the building. It involves putting chemical solutions around the outside of a building to make a barrier that keeps termites away or kills them when they touch it.
These chemical barriers can be put on the soil, foundation, or even in the building’s structure to stop termites from getting in. Termites come across the treated area looking for food or trying to get into a building.
The chemicals either kill them or keep them from getting in. This method is often used when a building is being built.
Still, it can also be used as a preventative measure or to eliminate an existing infestation in an existing building. This lowers the risk of damage to the structure and the need for expensive repairs.
Chemical Hand Sprayed Perimeter Soil Treatments
One common way to get rid of termites is to spray chemicals on the soil around the perimeter by hand. Specialized termiticides are put around the perimeter of a building’s foundation.
This creates a chemical barrier that keeps termites from getting into the building. Most of the time, the liquid termiticides used in this method are carefully mixed and diluted according to specific instructions.
For chemical hand spraying to work, it takes termite professionals to find and treat areas where termites are likely to live. The soil is carefully sprayed with the termiticide solution, focusing on critical areas like the foundation, exterior walls, and entry points.
This treatment method creates a chemical barrier that keeps termites away and kills any that touch the treated soil.
Chemicals sprayed by hand on the soil around the perimeter keep termites away for a long time. This is because termiticides often have long-lasting effects that keep termites away for a long time.
The area must be regularly checked and refilled to keep the chemical barrier working. Also, it is essential to ensure that people and pets are safe by following the correct application instructions and giving the termiticides enough time to dry and dissipate before returning to the treated areas.
Chemical Reticulation Perimeter Soil Treatments
For this method, a remarkable underground pipe system is put in place around the outside of a building. This makes it easier to spread termiticides in a controlled and even way.
The reticulation system is made up of pipes with holes that are strategically placed below the soil’s surface. This makes it possible for the termiticide solution to be delivered in a precise way.
The process starts with installing the reticulation system, which can be done when the building is being built or later. Once the system is set up, the termiticide solution is pumped into the pipes, and the chemical is spread evenly through the holes around the perimeter.
This makes a continuous barrier that keeps termites out of the treated area and kills them if they try to get in.
Chemical reticulation is a better way to treat the soil around the perimeter than spraying it by hand. Termiticides are spread out in a planned and even way to ensure they cover everything and leave no gaps in the chemical barrier.
Also, the reticulation system makes it easy to check for termites and reapply termiticides as needed. This proactive approach makes it less likely that termites will get into the building and gives it long-term protection.
Termite Monitoring And Baiting Stations
Monitoring and baiting stations for termites have become valuable weapons in the fight against these destructive pests. These stations act as early warning systems that let homeowners and pest control experts find termites before they do a lot of damage.
The idea behind these stations is simple but clever: containers filled with bait that termites can’t resist are placed strategically. These baiting stations are built outside a property or where termites are known to be a problem.
Once they are set up, the monitoring and baiting stations are checked often to see if there are any signs of termites. If termites are found, the bait inside the stations is changed to an insecticide that kills slowly.
Attracted to the bait, the termites eat it and take it back to their colony. Eventually, this kills all of the termites in the area.
This method is very effective at getting rid of termites at their source, protecting homes and buildings for a long time.
Spot Treatments
Spot treatments are a targeted way to get rid of termites. They focus on specific spots where termites have been seen or are thought to be.
Instead of treating the whole building, termiticides can be used in a more targeted and effective way with spot treatments. This method is handy when termites are only in a few places, such as when the damage to the wood is localized or when termite paths can be found.
Spot treatments are usually done by applying liquid termiticides or foams directly to the areas where the bugs are. These termiticides are specially made to kill termites touching or eating them.
They are put in cracks, crevices, and other places where termites can enter. This creates a barrier that keeps termites from getting into treated areas. Spot treatments can be more effective if they are used with monitoring and baiting stations.
One of the benefits of spot treatments is that they can deal with termite problems in a more targeted and cost-effective way. Instead of treating the whole building, only the areas of concern are dealt with.
This reduces the amount of termiticides used and the possible environmental damage. Spot treatments can be an excellent choice for homeowners or building owners who want to deal with termite problems quickly and keep the overall cost of treatment down.
Natural Methods
Recently, there has been a growing interest in natural ways to eliminate termites that use as few harsh chemicals as possible and focus on good environmental options.
Nematodes are tiny worms that eat termites in the wild. This is one way to get rid of termites. These beneficial organisms can be put into areas with many termites, where they actively look for and attack termites, reducing their numbers.
Homeowners can also take preventive steps to make their homes less appealing to termites.
These methods include ensuring good drainage around the foundation, fixing any leaks or problems with moisture right away, and getting rid of any decaying wood or cellulose that termites might eat.
Using these natural methods, people can create an environment where termites are less likely to live.
Termidor – SC
Natural methods can sometimes work, but when there are a lot of termites, you need something more robust. Termidor-SC is a professional-grade termiticide known for how well it kills termites.
It has the active ingredient fipronil, which is poisonous to termites and disrupts their nervous systems, killing them.
When Termidor-SC is put around the outside of a building, it makes a continuous chemical barrier that termites walk into while looking for food. The termites then take the termiticide back to their colonies, where it spreads through social interactions.
It’s important to remember that Termidor-SC should only be used by trained professionals who know how termites act and have the right skills and knowledge.
Physical Barriers
Physical barriers have been shown to be a good first line of defense among the many methods used. Termites can’t get into a building if there are physical barriers like metal screens and fine mesh in places where they could get in.
These barriers make it hard for insects to enter buildings and protect against possible infestations. Physical barriers are a popular choice for long-term termite control because they are solid and last a long time.
Biological Control
Biological control methods are a way to control termite populations without hurting the environment. This method involves bringing in natural predators or parasites that go after termites.
Biological control uses the power of nature’s own checks and balances to stop termites from reproducing and cut down on their number.
For example, it is known that some nematodes and fungi can infect and kill termites, which slows down their population growth.
Using biological methods to get rid of pests reduces the need for chemical pesticides and keeps the delicate ecological balance in the area.
Wood Treatments
The treatment of wood is another important part of the fight against termites. Because termites can damage wooden structures, it is crucial to take steps to protect this valuable resource.
Termites don’t like or can’t eat treated wood because it has been treated with special chemicals. Depending on the level of protection needed, these treatments can include surface coatings, impregnation, or pressure treatments.
By protecting wood against termite attacks, buildings, and other wooden items can last longer and stay strong. This gives homeowners and business owners peace of mind.
Soil Drainage
Soil drainage techniques are one way to eliminate termites that work well. Termites like to live in damp places because they need water.
By fixing soil drainage problems around buildings and structures, it is possible to make the area uninhabitable for termites, which lowers the chance that they will move in.
Several steps can be taken to use soil drainage to eliminate termites. First, finding places where water pools or doesn’t drain well is essential.
These could be places close to the foundation, leaking pipes, or gutters that don’t work well. By fixing these problems and ensuring good drainage, you can eliminate the extra water and make the area less good for termites to live in.
(IPM) Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a complete and one of the eco-friendly ways to get rid of termites. IPM focuses on long-term pest prevention and control by considering the many factors that lead to termite infestations instead of just using chemicals.
IPM is a way to eliminate termites that uses a combination of different methods. This method stresses how necessary thorough inspections are to determine the size and type of a termite problem.
Targeted control measures can be implemented by learning about the different kinds of termites and how they act.
