Termites are considered as one of the most destructive of any pest infestation a household can suffer. For a long time, they have surreptitiously attacked wooden structures and the fact that the owners only notice it when it is too late; the damage is always very expensive. As such, every household owner must always be keen to ensure their house or other structures are not infested by the menace, lest they start incurring bills they had not planned for. At a time when the economy is breathing down everyone’s neck, extra structural costs is the last thing one needs to hear more so, considering the high costs of building. If at all your house is already infested, there are termite treatment options available and there is no need to get frantic.
The first thing you need to do as a household owner is to identify whether you really have a termite infestation. The first warning is presence of “swarmers”, which are winged termites especially during the month of March. These are from the colony and they come to the surface hoping to start their own nests. However, most of them die. Presence of the thin mud tubes can also be seen near their nest towards the infested areas. In addition, you can try knocking on wooden surfaces you suspect are infested because they will sound hollow. If you are sure there is a problem, then it is time to start the termite treatment.
The main method used for termite treatment is liquid treatment. The soil applied liquid termiticides provide a barrier between the house and the termites’ nest. The chemicals are injected deep into the soil all around the house and when the termites come into contact with them they can either die or spread the poison in the colony. The liquid treatment options are in two categories; the repellants whose role is to make the termites turn back and the non-repellants, which are aimed at killing the termites promptly. The termites that might be in the house during the treatment will die off due to the lack of soil and wood.
The other popular option is the subterranean baiting treatment. These baits are designed to bait and terminate the colonies by killing the termites gradually. Initially, bait stations are placed around the house deep in the ground and are checked constantly. Inside the bait are bits of untreated wood and when termite action is noticed, the wooden baits are then changed with toxic baits and placed within the same poisons. The termites can either die instantly or take the poison back to the colony eventually eliminating it completely. In addition to the normal baits, other chemicals in form of dusts such as Arsenic trioxide, and Fipronil can be placed in areas infested by the termites and when they are carried back, they kill the nest mates gradually exterminating the whole colony. There are other methods of termite treatment but due to the complex nature of fighting termites as compared to other pests, it is better to get a pest exterminator because they have the expertise and tools.
Tags: colony, pest infestation, termite, termite infestation, termite treatment