Termite Stake Treatment

Termites can make short work of destroying wood.

Termite stakes contain poison that eventually kills termites that eat the bait. Stakes are placed in the ground outside a home or building at 10-foot intervals.

Significance

Termites eat wood of all kinds and are a major problem for homeowners. Termites cause millions of dollars of structural damage each year to buildings. Termite stakes are one way to prevent termites from invading a wood frame building.

Identification

Termites create raised dirt tunnels that they travel through. When the tunnels are present on buildings or in yards, owners can hire professional exterminators or buy over-the-counter products to kill the termites. According to the University of Kentucky's Entomology School, termite stakes may not provide enough control to stop an active infestation.

Effects

Termite stakes are best used before an infestation occurs. Professional exterminators apply strong chemicals around the foundation or in crawl spaces that kills termites for extended periods. When the stakes are used in addition to the chemicals, the termites that migrate into the yard may eat the bait and return to the colony where other termites can become contaminated and die as well. Most commercial termite stakes are effective for a year.

References

• University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Do-It-Yourself Termite Baits: Do They Work?