It is estimated that on annual basis, over $2 billion is used in the U.S. on pest control, most of it being termite infestations. They mainly feed on wood, but also cause destruction to books, filtration systems, pool liners, and papers. Worst case scenario, termites can eat up living trees and shrubs. The damage they cause is actually a menace when it comes to selling your house, the resale value automatically drops due to significant infestation in the wood structures. The queen of a certain termite species can lay up to 40,000 eggs per day, calculate this figure after a week or even a month and you’ll see the damage magnitude this pest can cause.
Normally, termite infestation occurs rampantly between the months of march to may. This is the period winged termites also know as “swarmers” come out inside homes due to warm temperatures and rainfall and it is not until they drop down and shed off their wings when the actual infestation occurs.
There are several indications that can alert possible termites infestation. One of the common sign is the presence of winged termites roaming around during rainfall. A clear indication that warrants an immediate termite control measure. Another way that you can know if your home is infested, it’s the formation of earthen mud tubes all over your foundation walls, sill plates, floor joints, support piers among other parts of the house. These mud tubes are the shelter where these termites reside.
Now, the challenging part of termite control is establishing where to begin because if you detected the spread of termite tubes a little late, then they must have stretched far than your think or see. However, you can consult termite infestation control experts who’ll advise you on the appropriate action. Whether you’ll be the one conducting the treatment or you’ll hire professions to do it, it must be done properly and effectively to avoid resurgence of the termites.
Ridding a home of termites is a tricky job that requires adequate skills and knowledge, first construction knowledge is necessary to establish the possible areas where termites are likely to hide, and the tools that are involved in this exercise are pretty complex and technical. So, what the termite control options that you have?
Typically, there are two main pest control solutions, the liquid method of treatment and the use of baits.
1.Liquid treatment
This mode of termite control has been around for decades now, and it’s mostly used to provide a long-term chemical solution to pest control. The liquid is applied on soil area around a house and creates a barrier between the termites and the house structures preventing them from entering the building. This method has been effective to rid of termites in the soil and those already in the building since they can’t get back into the soil surface.
Initially, liquid termiticides used to repel the pest rather than killing them, but over time, improvements have been made on these products to offer instant results.
2.Baiting
This is the alternative termite control method for liquid treatment. This method features a host of several components such as paper, cardboard, or any palatable food. These components are combined with poisonous liquids lethal to termites, so whenever termites feed on the baits, they end up dead. Although treatment is very complex in that you must be able to establish the exact location where termites are, and that’s where you place your bait.
These simple household pest control methods will eventually rid off termites and other pests from your house.