Termites are among the most dangerous pests because they can destroy a house in only a few years. They feed themselves on wood, therefore causing a building to collapse under its own weight. Because termites can go undetected for a long period of time, it is important to know and to be able to recognize the early signs of a termite infection, in order to take all necessary measures to get rid of termites before the damage gets too advanced.
There are a few methods to get rid of termites which you can try before asking for specialized help. For instance, boric acid is one of the most effective and inexpensive way to eliminate pests such as termites and ants. Boric acid is an appealing food for termites, but its ingestion will cause their nervous system to shut down and dehydrate. The next step for a termite who ingested boric acid is death. If you suspect a termite infection, spray your wood furniture or house elements with boric acid, then wait to see if you find any carcasses nearby. For more effectiveness, you could also plant a boric acid bait station nearby the infestation site.
Beneficial nematodes are another way to keep termites away. These nematodes are worms which are natural parasites for termites. They would seek for termite larvae to burrow into them. If this happens, the host dies within 48 hours. Beneficial nematodes are available in home and garden stores or in online shops. They should be used immediately after purchase, otherwise they might die.
There are also chemical termite-control products available in stores, but they are not always as effective as advertised. Such products are good for killing termites that you can see, but they don’t penetrate the deep cracks and holes in the wood, therefore larvae and termites that are inside aren’t affected, no matter how much of the substance you spray.
If you can’t fight the pest by yourself, you should consider asking for professional help. One of the most effective methods to get rid of termites is fumigation, but it involves sending your family away while it take place, as it may be harmful for people, especially for children. Nonetheless, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask a specialist to come by and assess your situation.
There are also other chemicals which are available for professional use only, but which are way more harmful to insects than they are to humans. It is common that chemicals with highest effectiveness rates are available only for professionals, because their misuse would be too dangerous for people or for pets. However, if the products you bought from stores prove to be ineffective, you should strongly consider hiring a pest killing service, if you care about your house.
Last but not least, you should know that prevention is much easier than the destruction of termites, therefore you should take care that your house is dry at all times. Termites thrive on water, so if you don’t allow leaks and wet gutters in your house, you may be able to keep it termite-free without any other measures.
At Gold Coast Pest Control, we’ve invested a lot of resources into ensuring you receive the clearest and most reliable termite inspection available.
1 in 4 Australian homes will be infested by termites (also known as white ants). Termites can cause up to $100,000 in damage per property. Get a fully licensed pest control specialist to conduct a termite inspection at least every 12 months – before you lose $100k.
Our inspection reports are thorough, reliable and compliant with Australian Standards AS 3660.2-2000. During the inspection, our experienced termite control technician investigates the following signs for termite or white ant activity:
