How to Carry out Pest Control Methods for Ground Termites

Learn how to carry out termite inspections for ground termites, also known as subterranean termites, then use these methods for termite treatments, protection, and prevention.

Instructions

1. Learn to identify ground termites by their habits and what the signs of termites are. Ground termites or subterranean termites are the most common type in the US. and can cause major damage to a house that has not had the proper termite treatments. These insect pests live in the soil, feeding on rotten wood. They build mud tubes to travel through to get to food sources above ground such as in a house. These mud tubes are often the first sign of termites, showing that termites are present and damage is being done. There are other types of termites that do not use mud tubes and that do not nest in the ground.
   Termite inspections of a house are needed on a regular basis to check for signs of termites. Look for the mud tubes along the foundation, under the crawl space, behind vinyl siding, and along basement walls. If tubes are seen, especially on upper story interior walls there are definitely termites present and they have probably been there for some time. Don't remove the termite tubes until after treating for the insect pests, so they can be checked for activity afterwards to see if the termite treatment worked.

2. Contact professional termite exterminators for the best termite extermination results. There are three main ways to treat for subterranean termites and it is best to get licensed exterminators to do the job. They know which chemicals are the best to use, how to safely use them, and they can guarantee their work for a year or more. The three main termite treatments are, soil treatments, surface sprays, and injectable foams and sprays.

3. Treat the soil around and under the house with a termite pesticide. Since ground termites enter through the soil, termite treatments used on the surrounding soil to act as a poison barrier, are the most common method of control. Not only will this prevent future infestations but any subterranean termites already active in the house will also die if they cannot go back into the ground to nest. This method involves digging a trench that is some 4 to 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide around the foundation and any entering pipes or conduits. The soil, down to the foundation base or footing, is saturated with a termiticide or termite poison. The removed soil is simply piled next to the trench to refill it later and this soil is drenched with the pesticide also. If there is a crawl space then the trenching is also necessary under the house along the inside of the foundation wall as well. Be sure the treatment is complete, because any gaps in the soil saturation will give the termites a place to enter. There are many products on the market for soil treatment such as DemonTC/CyperTC, Prevail, Tribute, Dragnet FT, Permethrin Pro, Prelude, Dominon 2L, Premise and Phantom. The last three products are some of the newest and are considered some of the safest. Because these are non repellent, the termites do not recognize them as deadly and will go right through them, picking them up and carrying them back to the nest to kill the whole colony. The other repellent type products act as a barrier to the pests but do not kill the whole colony, so with them the termites will still be there to search for a hole in the defenses on a continuing basis.

4. Treat the wood structure of the house for termite control. Surface sprays used to treat the wood are a secondary barrier for ground termites. Use something that is going to penetrate the wood and give a long lasting residual effect. Some products used for this include: Borid, Invader HPX, Tempo 2, Suspend, Bora-Care, Timbor, Flee, Borrada D and Saga WP. The Boron based products have long been known as excellent pest control products that will protect wood for the life of the structure. These products are mixed up and sprayed on to untreated wood to kill any insects that are present and to keep them from attacking that wood in the future. By spraying any wood around the base of a house with a Boron based product it has been shown that ground termites will not build tubes across this treated wood. Again this is a secondary method of defense with soil treatment being the most important for ground termites.
   Injectable sprays and foams are used in cases where the soil cannot be easily treated such as under foundation slabs, within hollow block supports, under flooring where the crawl space is not accessible, and behind masonry walls. Holes are drilled through the concrete or other surface materials using special tools. These are spaced about a foot apart and the foam or spray is injected under pressure to fill or saturate the void. The holes are then stopped up and repaired. This is not a DIY job but is best carried out by trained termite exterminators. There are also soil treatments that are injected using a spray rod to penetrate the soil and spraying the chemical under pressure around the foundation of the house. This type of termite treatment is spotty at best and should not be considered as a replacement for trenching.

5. Use termite bait systems to wipe out colonys. One other method of termite prevention is the use of termite bait stations around the perimeter of the house. Some available products of this type are: Advance, Firstline, Hex Pro, Sentricon, and Exterra. These termite control systems use in-the-ground bait holding units that are kept stocked with a food supply, to attract any foraging termites in the area. These baits are checked periodically for insect activity and if termites are present then the bait is changed out with a poisoned bait. The foragers will feed on the termite poison and take it back to the colony where all the termites including the queen will be killed. These bait systems can be easily set up, but have to be checked regularly to keep them supplied with the poison chemical baits when necessary. By practicing good termite control methods, money will be saved in the long run by not having to repair termite damage later. Below under resources are links to other articles about pest control. Please rate this article and any others you check out, thank you. All contents copyrighted by Aupoet.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch for signs of termites such as swarming and the presence of shed wings and droppings.

• Check for termites in other possible food areas on the property such as wood piles, old stumps, and other buildings.

• Moisture is a big draw for termites, check for any sources such as roof leaks, leaky faucets, and bad drainage.

• Read and understand all labels on any chemical products used.

• Wear protective gear and clothing when necessary.

• If hiring professionals be sure they are licensed.