If termites are left unattended and alone on your property, they can quickly wreak havoc and destroy wooden structures that you own, making them a major hazard. They can seriously harm your property despite being tiny.
However, first thing’s first, you shouldn’t worry as there are many efficient ways to control and remove them from your house. This article will go over how to conduct an infestation inspection and identify the species inhabiting your space so you can determine which treatment and strategy would work best for that particular species.
Identifying The Infestation
You know what’s the first step to managing a pest problem? Conducting an inspection of the infestation! For an infestation inspection, look out for holes in the woodwork, mud tubes and if your furniture seems and sounds hollow. You should do a hollowness inspection by tapping the surface with a screwdriver and testing the structural integrity; if it breaks readily, you have a serious infestation problem.
Additionally, these pests’ droppings, which are typically brown pellets found close to the affected area, can be used to track the infestation. While addressing the problem, you also need to locate the nests inside the furniture.
Determining the Species
Subterranean and drywood termites are the two most common species. The difference is subterranean termites live in both soil and wood and drywood termites can only be found inside wood. Also, subterranean termites can live at any temperature, whereas drywood termites are mainly found in damp coastal areas.
Comparatively speaking, subterranean termites do far more harm to your house than drywood termites do. They create mud tubes or tunnels inside your woodwork. Subterranean termites are significantly more frequent than drywood termites, and you may need to utilize a variety of treatment techniques to eradicate them from your house.
Methods for Elimination
There are numerous strategies to keep these pests out of your house, buildings or property. Among them are:
- How to Install a Cardboard Trap
For both drywood and subterranean termites, a cardboard trap can be quite effective. However, before putting some cardboard strips next to a colony, moisten them. These pests emerge from their nest to feed on the cellulose they consume, and they are drawn to the cardboard strips.
After they have taken over the strips, move them to a secure location and burn them. If you want to get rid of many at once and quickly, you can repeat the process multiple times.
- Making Use of Helpful Nematodes
Some worms are naturally antagonistic towards pests such as underground termites. These advantageous nematodes kill them by burrowing into their nests and using their corpses as a place to breed. In less than 48 hours, they even devour the larvae and kill them.
These helpful nematodes are readily accessible for purchase in five different sorts at your neighbourhood supermarket. The worms must be used right away after purchase, however under some circumstances, you may keep them in the refrigerator to use at a later time.
- Basking your Timber Items
When timber furniture is infested rather than your house, they are easier to eradicate. To get rid of the bugs, all you have to do is leave the furniture in the sun for two or three days. They die when exposed to direct sunlight and can survive only in darkness.
- Spot Intervention
Spot treatment for drywood termites is an ideal method for eliminating infestation problems from painted or finished timber. Until you reach the whole colony, drill holes every ten inches into the pest-infested wood.
Next, fill these holes with any strong termiticide and seal the holes with putty or a wood lock. With little difficulty, the entire colony can be eliminated with this treatment technique.
- Using Essential Oils
Neem oil and orange oil are examples of essential oils that can poison them slowly and stop them from shedding skin or developing eggs. The first step is to combine ten drops of the selected essential oil with a few drops of dish soap in a small amount of water. Apply the mixture to the area of your property that has been infected, after giving it a good shake.
- Applying Boric Acid Spray
One of the best ways to kill infestations is to use boric acid, which causes dehydration and completely shuts down the insect’s nervous system. Utilizing bait stations to entice them to leave their nest is the most effective method of applying boric acid. They can then be killed by spraying acid on the bait station.
- Getting A Pro
DIY solutions might not be sufficient to eradicate them if your infestation is severe. It is therefore always preferable to work with experts who can handle problems in an efficient manner. Expert pest control operators will possess superior equipment to handle severe problems and can employ their expertise and specialized technology to permanently eliminate them.
How to Eliminate Them?
If these pests are allowed to spread, they can be a serious problem and do significant damage to your property. Control and removal, however, can be a simple operation if you know the appropriate tricks.
You may eliminate all kinds of species by using the straightforward yet efficient techniques that we’ve covered in this post. To prevent health risks, use caution when applying termiticides and other chemicals.
You can reach out to us at Protech Pest Control if you need help dealing with pest problems and if you live in Australia. We specialize in offering efficient inspections, control, and prevention solutions for all kinds of pests.
About the Author:
Muzi Tsolakis is the owner of Protech Pest Control and a specialist in termite treatment. The company offers a variety of services for pest control in Melbourne.