Having termites in or around the house may become a serious problem because damages that termites create may bring thousand dollars losses.
In order to avoid huge money expenses, termites must be detected in time. This will help to protect the house and save your property, time and money.
If you are planning to find termites when they are just coming to your house and solve the problem while the infestation is not really active, you can use termite bait systems.
Fortunately, there is great variety of different termite bait systems in the market. So, lets find out what is the best termite bait system?
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- What is termite bait system?
- Sentricon termite bait system
- FirstLine termite bait system
- Exterra system
- Advance system
- Spectracide Terminate
- Useful articles
- Final decision
What is termite bait system?
Termite bait system is a special system which aim is to detect termites when they are coming to your house. Of course, there is a wide range of different termite bait systems in the market and the majority of them are supposed to be installed only by professionals.
Only some of the bait systems can be installed by house owners.
Basically the standard termite bait system consists of three parts which can be also described as three different stages, these are:
- monitoring;
- bait delivery;
- continued monitoring.
Monitoring process is the first stage and is really important because it actually helps to identify termite presence. The point is that termite bait system has special cylinder stakes which may be of different size, depending on the producer and the type of the system.
These stakes are located in the soil around the perimeter of the house not closer than 12 to 18 inches from the foundation. This distance helps to reach the soil which is untreated because there is possibility that there might be termiticides in the soil from the previous treatment.
Stakes are also located at the distance 10 to 20 foot between each other. It is also important to place stakes in the areas where termites are more likely to appear. These special stakes usually contain untreated wood. Sometimes this wood can contain some special chemicals which can attract termites, but the producers prefer regular wood.
The stakes are supposed to be monitored regularly (monthly, bimonthly, etc.). Also, there is a special cover which makes it easier to take the stake out and check it. As soon as termites are noticed, the next stage comes.
Bait delivery stage means replacing the monitoring stake with a bait one. When termites are found, you have to fight them. That is why different chemicals are used. Depending on the producer of the bait system different termiticides can be used. Usually non-repellents are chosen.
Furthermore, it is important for the poison to be slow-acting. Termites get attracted with the poisoned wood; they eat it and spread to the rest of the colony. In addition, when they move through their mud tubes, they leave special secretion which provokes the rest of termites for further attack of the station.
If termites eat the whole bait, it is supposed to be replaced with a new stake. The stakes are to be replaced until you get rid of the whole colony.
Advice! In order to make bait delivery stage more effective, place additional baits around the stake.When you finish fighting the colonies, you can place untreated monitoring stakes again. You should realize that you will have to check these stakes regularly because there is no guarantee that termites are not coming back (another colony might have placed their nest near your house).
Furthermore, if you have not eliminated the whole colony (but only a part of it), the colony will come back very soon and the area will need retreatment again.
Here you can learn more information about termite bait systems: Advance, Green, CSIRO, Nemesis, Exterra, Firstline, Terminate. Also find out how to make baits by yourself and how to refill them?
Sentricon termite bait system
Sentricon is believed to be the most tested termite bait system in the modern market.
Furthermore, today Sentricon is selected as one of the most effective termite bait systems. The system was created by Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN).
Sentricon is able to perform all three basic stages: monitoring, bait delivery and continued monitoring. At the bait delivery stage the stake contains special slow-acting chemical which is called noviflumuron.
This ingredient destroys termite growth process what makes them unable to grow further and termites die.
This type of bait system is supposed to be installed only by professional pest control companies. The reason is that pest controllers have the equipment which is needed and are educated enough. Furthermore, Sentricon cannot be sold to the regular stores and only special companies are allowed to have this type of bait system.
The experience shows that the majority of pest control companies do not use any extra treatment if Sentricon is installed.FirstLine termite bait system
FirstLine is a product which was developed by FMC Corporation (Philadelphia, PA). The way FirstLine acts is really similar to Sentricon.
The difference is that FirstLine, of course, has different appearance and has another active ingredient which name is sulfluramid. This chemical acts a little faster and its aim is to destroy termite ability to change food into energy.
FirstLine is not recommended as a bait system of a high efficiency. Furthermore, as far as FirstLine provides only partial treatment, professional pest control companies usually advice some other anti-termite remedies such as liquid treatment, for example.
Here you can learn more information about effective termite control remedies: Bora-Care, Boric acid, Borate, Fipronil, Chlorpyrifos, Chlordane, Borax, Timbor, Termidor, Terminator, Phantom, Lorsban, Biflex, Terro. You can choose different forms, such as – foam, liquid, powder.
Exterra system
Exterra termite bait system is manufactured by Ensystex, Inc. (Fayetteville, NC) and is in the list of the most effective termite bait systems.
This bait system works as any other bait system and has diflubenzuron as an active ingredient.
This chemical is of the same group as noviflumuron and acts in a similar way (it makes termites unable to grow).
One of the advantages of this bait system is that the stakes need to be monitored once in 45-90 days (other bait systems need more frequent checking).
Furthermore, Exterra does not need any additional treatment remedies – it can be used as a single treatment against termites.
Advance system
Today Advance termite bait system is becoming more and more popular. The reason is that its active ingredient is diflubenzuron (like in Exterra). All the stakes are similar to other bait systems and are to be installed by professionals.
Advance termite bait system is not supposed to be used as a single remedy; it needs some additional non-repellent liquid treatment.Spectracide Terminate
Spectracide Terminate performs the minor part of bait systems which can be installed by house owners and can be found in regular stores. Its stakes have smaller size and can be installed everywhere around the house. Its active ingredient is sulfluramid (like in FirstLine).
Unfortunately, Spectracide Terminate is not recommended as a single bait system against termites. Furthermore, it is known that this bait system will not help if termite infestation is massive. Though the price for the stake is relatively small (under $100), it might be better to think of a professional termite bait system.
Useful articles
If you interested in more information of termites we recommend you to read the following articles:
- All types of termites. Are they harmful to humans? Can they bite you? And what is the difference between drywood and subterranean ones?
- What does swarmers of different species look like: drywood, subterranean, formosan?
- Signs of infestation outside and in the house: in walls or furniture.
- How to treat them at home and in the yard: in wood or in fence. How long this process lasts and what is pre-construction and soil treatment?
- What does termite holes look like? What is droppings and is it toxic to humans? Do termites make noises?
- Posible termite damage, how does it look like? Examples of damage in walls and wood floors.
- All about flying termites: how do they look like, swarming season and what to do if there are swarmers in your house?
- How do they do nests and mounds? How to find it in your garden or inside the house?
- Termite life cycle – from egg to larvae. And social hierarchy: workers, soldiers, queen.
- Did you know that termites can infest living trees, for example a palm or a pine tree. They also like to live in stumps.
- You can prevent the infestation by using barriers, such as: HomeGuard, Physical systems, Safeguard, Stainless steel mesh, Kordon.
- If you want to get rid of termites naturally, learn more about such methods as: heat or cold treatment, orange oil, using nematodes.
Final decision
Termite bait systems will be especially effective if your house hasn’t been infested and there are no termites inside.
Another problem is the price for the systems, because simple ones are cheap but ineffective, professional ones will need at least 1000 dollars.
In addition, you have to remember that professional termite bait systems need to be installed by professionals and sometimes the additional treatment may be required as well.
In order to fight termites in a right way, it might be better to call a professional pest control service and ask for their advice.