It’s crucial to respond promptly if you find termites in your home. There are obvious indicators that they are taking control, such as hollow wood and mud tubes. Be watchful because termites can inflict extensive damage before their presence is noticed. The pest control firm estimates homeowners spend $5 billion annually on termite prevention, treatment, and repairs.
A professional termite pest control service is your best bet for eliminating termites. A well-trained technician has advantages over even the most astute homeowner due to expertise, training, and access to professional-grade tools and supplies.
Types of Termites
In the United States, you will most likely encounter subterranean termites or dry wood termites. Various types may require different approaches to therapy, so it’s crucial to know which one you’re up against. To get rid of dry wood termites, you can either spot treat or hire a fumigation service instead of the poisonous barriers you can build for subterranean termites.
Subterranean termites:
Subterranean termites will infest the wood used in your home’s framework, the soil and any compost you may have piled up. To get around your house, they construct mud tubes out of the wood and dirt you have lying around. As a rule, the damage caused by these termites is greater than that caused by dry wood termites due to their saw-toothed teeth. If given enough time, subterranean termites can cause a structure’s full collapse. Subterranean termites cause most termite damage in the United States, says Orkin. Underground termites are widespread in the United States. A typical subterranean termite is around 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch long and has a slender profile. Their “caste” determines the shade of their skin. Workers and soldiers have a light cream tone, while the soldiers’ heads are brown. The primary and secondary reproductive parts of a plant are dark in colour, with the former coming in shades of black or brown and the latter a creamy white. Termite colonies under the ground can grow very large, numbering from 100,000 to 1,000,000+ members.
Drywood termites:
Drywood termites, in contrast to their underground counterparts, can survive solely on wood. They are rarely seen away from the warm shores of the ocean and do not construct mud tubes for transportation. The size and colour of dry wood termites can vary from 1/8 to 1/2 inch. The wings of dry wood termites range from a pale yellow-tan to a pale brown. White, like subterranean termites, the termites that cause the most damage to wooden structures are more common. Colonies of dry wood termites can grow to as many as 2,500 individuals.
Get Rid Of Termites
Applying termite-killing goods to the outside of your property, using direct chemicals within your home, setting up termite baits, and spraying boric acid into your floors and walls are all effective methods of getting rid of termites.
Several solutions are available, from conventional chemical pesticides to natural remedies, if you’re determined to take on a termite infestation on your own.
Getting Rid of Subterranean Termites
Termiticide Barriers:
Some states allow the sale of professional-grade termite-killing solutions such as liquid Taurus SC and Termidor SC; however, these products are unavailable in all states. These conventional termite treatments are put up as a barrier outside your home. Because they can’t smell it, termites don’t avoid the termiticide. When termites consume termiticide-treated wood, they perish. Termiticide is effective because it replicates rapidly and spreads to kill off pests. One infected termite will unwittingly spread the poison to its fellow insects, wiping out the entire colony.
Direct Chemicals:
Unlike termiticides, direct chemicals can be utilised without leaving the comfort of your own home. This method is ideal for finding a termite and needing to get rid of it quickly. Termidor Foam can be sprayed directly into holes and crannies that serve as termite hiding spots. The odourless foam will expand, dissipate, and leave behind a poisonous residue that will kill any termites that come into contact with it. Using this strategy, you may expect it to work for at least a month.
Termite Baits:
There is scientific evidence that termite baits work. Installed along the exterior of your home’s base, these lures will lead foraging termites straight to the poison they contain. Termites are killed as they attempt to moult because the slow-acting toxin disrupts their normal growth. Because of the toxicity’s delayed effect, afflicted termites will transport the insecticide back to the colony, where it will be spread to additional termites.
Beneficial Nematodes:
Nematodes that are good for your garden can be purchased from many sources. Many horticultural pests, such as termites, have these tiny, segmented roundworms as natural parasites. For example, beneficial nematodes can kill termites by entering their nests and releasing symbiotic gut bacteria that poison the termite’s blood. When dealing with nematode infestations, it is best to use a combination of potting soil, cold water, and nematodes.
Getting Rid of Drywood Termites
Spot Treatment:
Nematodes that are good for your garden can be purchased from many sources. Many horticultural pests, such as termites, have these tiny, segmented roundworms as natural parasites. For example, beneficial nematodes can kill termites by entering their nests and releasing symbiotic gut bacteria that poison the termite’s blood. When dealing with nematode infestations, it is best to use a combination of potting soil, cold water, and nematodes.
Essential Oils:
Termites can be killed gradually with orange and neem oil by preventing them from moulting and reproducing. Two glasses of water, a few drops of dish soap, and roughly 10 drops of your preferred oil will do the trick. It can be sprayed on infected wood and other materials after being shaken.
Getting Rid of Subterranean and Drywood Termites
Boric Acid:
Killing termites with boric acid has been used successfully for many years. Boric acid is the principal active ingredient in many commercially available termite pesticides. The termite’s nervous system is disabled and dies from dehydration after exposure to boric acid. The acid can be sprayed evenly into the floor, wall, and ceiling spaces.
Diatomaceous earth:
Diatomaceous earth is composed of silica exoskeletons of fossilised marine creatures. If you suspect termites, sprinkle the powder about the area and watch for them to cross over it. Using this strategy, the termites’ exoskeleton is pierced, and they die from a lack of fluids.
Cardboard trap:
Wet two pieces of cardboard and stack them on top of each other to create a sort of DIY bait once you’ve located the source of your termite infestation. Termites will be drawn to the cellulose in the cardboard but will get trapped in the space between the sheets. Following that, you can go outdoors and burn the cardboard. Since termites may quickly reproduce, this is not a particularly effective strategy because it is unlikely to catch them all. In addition, regular upkeep is essential; if a large number of decaying termite bodies accumulate, it will discourage new termites from entering via the cardboard entrance.
Conclusion
Call a Toronto pest control service if you think you have found evidence of either type of termite. These pests can quickly eat away at your home’s structure if they get a foothold. Although the do-it-yourself approaches might yield temporary results, they can’t compare to the quality of work accomplished by professionals using high-quality tools and materials and their extensive knowledge and experience.
Most pest control services employ a variety of methods, which they will tailor to your home. A professional pest control service in Toronto will be able to locate access sites, detect colonies, and formulate a treatment strategy. Read on to learn more about the various approaches taken by the best pest control organisations to eliminate termites.
