Termites can be pests, or can be helpful. Many of us never think of the beneficial services they perform, but when they’re not chewing on your home, they are actually vital to some ecosystems. When they are chewing on our homes, there is one thing running through our minds and that is How To Get Rid Of Termites.
Termites are social insects, living in organized colonies with each individual performing a specific function. The queen is the leader of the colony, laying eggs and taking care of them. Depending on the species, queens can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day.
She also lays more queens and kings who grow wings and fly away to start their own colonies. Kings and queens are the only ones with wings. The workers and soldiers have no wings and are sterile. Workers collect food, build tunnels, and grow fungus gardens for food. Soldiers are for protection.
When in the wild, termites can be beneficial by eating rotten wood and other plant material, breaking it down, and helping with the decomposition process. When close to human habitations, termites can be devastating. Once they infest a house, they will eat anything from wood, to cloth, to paper. By the time you notice a termite infestation, there may be enough damage that you will need to have serious repairs done at a serious cost. To avoid this problem, every homeowner should have a regular inspection and know how to kill termites, as well as how to prevent them.
Your pest control company will generally kill termites in one of two ways. The first is by using liquid pesticides called termiticide, such as Orange Oil, Premise and Termidor. By spraying this liquid around your home and into areas where termites are most likely to infest, a barrier or shield is created, keeping the pests out. If you already have termites, any that come into contact with the spray will be instantly killed. For a long time this was the only method of termite protection but with the invention of termite baits, it is no longer the preferred method of termite treatment.
Professional Exterminators who really know how to eradicate termites now use bait stations as treatments. These are little plastic stakes that are filled with wood pieces and stuck into the ground around your home. There are no toxic chemicals for children and animals to come into contact with, and since the stakes are stuck into the ground, they generally have no idea that the stakes are even there. Your extermination company will check these baits frequently. If they do find termites in them, small amounts of a chemical are added. The termites eat them, and carry them to others, eventually killing off the colony very effectively.
If you’re just building your house, there are options for preventing any infestation in the first place. Borate is applied to the wood used to build the house, just like a coat of paint, used in foam or dust form, or injected into the wood itself. When termites eat the borate, the protozoa in their digestive tracts die and the termite is unable to digest wood, starving to death.
If you choose not to use a professional exterminator to rid your home of termites, there are a variety of products available. Be sure to read instructions very carefully and follow them exactly. You can also buy termite elimination kits that will give you everything you need to build the baits. Most people should call an exterminator to ensure proper elimination, but if you prefer to do it yourself, there are options if you are careful.
Trying to figure out the best way to get rid of termites whether on your own or using a professional service can be the most important decision you make for your home. Be sure to check often and thoroughly for these little pests. The sooner you detect them the sooner you can get rid of them and that will save you a lot on home repairs.
A Bad Termite Infestation
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