Termites are among the most destructive pests on the planet. They are so destructive that when they invade, they could bring down an entire structure over time. They chew on the foundation of the house, feed on your furniture, bite up the ceiling, and munch up the wooden truss or framing of your room. Owing to the extent of damage they can bring, termites are the last thing you want to infest your property. Moreover, they tend to be really difficult to get rid of, thanks to their tiny size and numerous numbers. This makes it important to schedule a termite inspection at least once a year. If you suspect that these pesky pests might have invaded your property, here are some things you can do to tackle them.
1. Clean and Declutter
As you think of hiring a termite treatment professional, you will want to clean your home and make it free of clutter. Ronald Miller from Pest Resources says that one of the first things to do to prevent pest infestation is to have a clean environment. These pests may have a short lifespan, but they reproduce pretty quickly. They like to thrive in clutter such as used cardboard pieces, paper, old newspapers, and so forth. Ensure that the room you suspect to have been infested is free from these and other less useful objects such as old furniture. While at it, you will also want to ensure the house is free from leaks and excessive moisture.
2. Poisoned Bait
The bait is a common method of hunting down animals. Termites are tiny but their damage around the household can be massive. The good thing is, termites live in colonies, making it easy to kill them when they assemble in one place. In this case, the bait attracts the termites and spreads the poison throughout the colony.
The bait stakes are planted in the perimeter of the house. When the termites consume the bait, the rest of the termites will catch it. They are likely to last 12 months but if there are infested stakes before the grace period, replace them.
3. Liquid Termite Barrier
Despite acting on the termites seriously, it can also be used to prevent invasions. Ideally, you are supposed to sprinkle this solution on the foundation of your house but you can also sprinkle it on the wooden materials around the house.
The active ingredient of this treatment is fipronil. The good thing about this solution is that once it is sprinkled on the surfaces, the termites cannot detect it, so they will walk on it. Additionally, it has a multiplier effect. When one termite gets affected, it contracts it to the rest of the termites in the colony. It is a slow-acting agent, giving it enough time to spread to all other termites.
4. Direct Chemical Treatment
This is among the safest methods to get rid of termites. It acts on the pesky bugs instantly. Unlike the usual insecticide sprays we have in the house, this one comes in powder foam. There are hidden areas in the house where you cannot reach even with magic but this treatment comes in a can with a nozzle. The nozzle allows you to aim and shoot on those unreachable areas where the culprits could be hiding.
After spraying, the foam will evaporate with time leaving traces of it behind. The visible traces are the ones used to kill the termites upon contact. The active ingredient of this foam is fipronil, the same one in the concentrate used for liquid barrier treatments.
5. Boric Acid
This is the most recommended method of dealing with pesky pests. It is a “natural” method that has worked for most insects. This powdered remedy is readily available at your local hardware. The boric acid can be filled up in a high-quality duster and the powdered duster is rubbed on surfaces where the termites pass. Cracks and crevices are the most suspicious areas.
You can also dilute the powder in water and then sprinkle it on the surfaces. The solution will come through in areas the powder may not reach. For the acid to be effective, you have to repeat the applications several times.
6. Nematodes
This is another natural method of clearing the termites. They are mostly embraced if your termite infestation is a bit mild. They are used to prevent the termites from multiplying rather than finishing them completely. It is safer and has zero effects on humans. When termites come into contact with these nematodes, it starts corroding the termites. It releases bacteria that cause blood poisoning in the termites, and they eventually die. Once the termite is dead, it moves to the next target. The chain continues until the whole colony is down.
Termites can spell disaster in a homeowner’s life. The amount of damage they could cause if left to thrive is almost immeasurable. The above are a few ways you can deal with these pesky pests at home.
