Termites are the insects which are able to destroy any wooden structures in a short time, because their main food is cellulose – the main material of the cells of trees and other plants.
Invisible way of life and the special manner of absorption of the wood when the front surface of wooden structures stays completely intact lead to the fact that termites can live in the house unnoticed.
Sometimes from the time of the invasion of termites before their discovery it can take at least five years.
During this time the load-bearing wooden constructions can be thoroughly damaged by the termites. How to get rid of termites that have already entered the house?
Hide content
- Is it possible to kill termites using home remedies?
- Insecticides
- Chemical methods
- Natural methods
- What treatments are the most effective?
- How to find and kill termites using home remedies?
- Useful articles
- Conclusion
If termites enter into your house it takes a hard work to kill them. Fortunately, there is a plenty of methods and termite treatments which can help us to get rid of these insects.
In this article we are going to find out what home remedies can save our house from destroying power of the termites.
Is it possible to kill termites using home remedies?
If there is a small amount of termites in the house these methods will be helpful to reduce the number of the insects.
Insecticides
Insecticides are the good way to get rid of termites.
They effectively kill termites as they can be entered into the holes and cracks of walls and other wooden constructions.
You can spray and treat the places with termites using the following insecticides:
- Sulfuryl fluoride;
- Fipronil;
- Imidacloprid;
- Bifenthrin and others.
Be careful! Insecticides are non-toxic, but they are carcinogens and can cause very serious health problems of other pets and animals in the places of their application.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?
Chemical methods
Some chemical treatments are also approved for use and may be available through at local hardware stores, or through a professional pest eliminator. The most popular method of chemical solution to get rid of termites is using baits.
The bait is set out around the territory of the termites, they feed of it and the colony eventually dies off. There are other common chemical treatments which are also recommended for using:
- Talstar Pro 3/4 Gal Multi Use Insecticide / Termiticide;
- Spectracide Terminate Termite Detection and Killing Stakes;
- Termidor foam.
It is important to use any chemical solutions according to the instruction. Also chemicals can get into the water system, and treatments become ineffective.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.
Natural methods
There are some natural treatments that can help to reduce the amount of termites.
In a hot day you should bring your furniture or other removable items on the street in the midday sun. It is desirable that the heat stays for 2-3 days. The feature of this method is that the light and heat kill parasites.
Nematodes – small worms-parasites. These worms are not only harmful in the garden, but also they are parasitic in the body of the termites. Two days are enough for a nematode to kill a termite. These worms can be bought online or in garden stores.
Also the cardboard trap is an effective method. Two cardboards must be wetted, when they stick together leave the trap where termites reside. The fact is that termites eat cellulose, wood and cardboard. In the prepared trap for them there are all conditions: it is dark, wet, and delicious too.
They will linger between the sheets of cardboard, and in the morning they can be caught, after it the traps should be immediately burned. Drawback of this method is that it is possible to reduce the number of families of termites, but it is impossible to kill all termites.
Orange oil is an extract of orange peels. It is a popular home remedy that can destroy termites. You should drill holes in the infested wood and inject the orange oil into holes. Then termites will be killed in three days.
Warning! Consumption of this orange oil is harmful to your health!Electrocution is also a simple method to destroy termites. You can buy electric devices in markets.
Be careful! You should make sure that you are not exposing yourself because it can cause dangerous effects on your body.
Aloe vera gel is a home remedy that will help to get rid of termites. Take the plant, crush and store it in a container with water. Then take one part of aloe vera and five parts of water. You should mix it and inject using a sprayer.
Advice! Natural methods become more effective when they are combined.What treatments are the most effective?
All methods can be effective but their efficiency depends on some factors.
For example, if you detect the colony of termites when they just begin to “acquaint” with your house you need not use chemicals or insecticides.
You can use some natural methods for removing termites.
If your house has been infested by older colony of termites then the best way to eliminate them is using chemical methods and insecticides.
It is better if this procedure will be done by pest control specialists. Some people try to use chemical themselves but they are usually ineffective because termites live inside the wood away from the place of spraying. The size of your house has a significant role too.
Also the period taken to kill all termites depends on some circumstances. Chemicals and insicticides can kill termites less than a few hours while organic methods demand more time to remove them. Many treatments have a long protection from re-infestation, but you should systematically monitor wooden constructions and walls of your house.How to find and kill termites using home remedies?
There is a plan how to find and kill termites using home remedies. Probably it has not 100% efficiency, but many people can follow it.
Search the signs of pest outbreak. The activity of the termites can cause numerous cavities inside the wooden structures, and it is completely unnoticed outside for several years. Beams, walls and even wooden furniture – all these will eventually be eaten by termites and will come into complete disrepair.
That is why you need to monitor walls and ceiling of your house at least once a year. For this you should tap on the walls and ceilings in different places. The “empty” sound will hardly be confused with any other sound.
It will show that cavity made by termites is hidden inside the visible integrity of the wood. Sometimes without tapping you can clearly see the holes and passages gnawed by termites in the walls, furniture, ceilings, etc.
Under furniture you can also see the “milled” wood dust lying in piles.
Also you can manage to locate a nest of insects inside of wooden structures, and it can be considered a big success, because after destroying the nest, it will be easier to deal with remaining single termites.
Identify the type of termites. There are two main types of termites which infest houses: subterranean and drywall termites. Subterranean termites live in soil, drywall ones – in wood. Subterranean termites prefer areas with a warm climate, drywall termites are spread everywhere.
Learn more about drywood termites: signs of their activity; best methods of treatment: spot treatment and DIY methods; how to get rid of them in furniture?
And also about subterranean termites: signs of their activity; best methods of treatment and DIY methods. Eastern subterranean termites and their tunnels and tubes with photo.
Try to get rid of termites by yourself. You can use a cardboard trap which helps to reduce the amount of pest. Then beneficial nematodes can be used. You can buy them in local stores and in online shops. The next step is using light and heat.
Termites love darkness and hate light and heat as they kill them. You can take the furniture to warm up in the sun for 2-3 days. The same alternative solution is freezing. Take infested materials into the fridge for 2-3 days. If these methods seem to be ineffective, use another home remedies.
If you have not managed to get rid of termites you should call pest control specialists.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.
Conclusion
Termites are very dangerous insects that can destroy houses and wooden construction in 3-5 years. That is why it is important to remove them by all possible methods. There are many methods for termite control and treatment but their efficiency depends on some factors.
Before deciding which treatment will be better for your house you should identify the type of termites and their amount. If you use various ways to kill termites and listen to specialists you will deal with these insects and be a winner in this “war”.
