Have you noticed holes in wood within your home? Maybe you have large noticed bulbous, black, rounded insects buzzing around the eaves, window trim, fascia boards, siding, wooden shakes/shingles, or decks? If so, you most likely have carpenter bees on your property. This large species of bee do not bite but the female will sting if aggravated. The more serious problem with these bees is the damage they cause by boring holes and tunnels through the wood. Such damage to the wood affects your property’s visual appeal and can also weaken wooden structures. If you are wondering how to get rid of carpenter bees, this post explores different tactics, including sprays, repellents, and traps.
The most Effective Products for Getting rid of Termites for 2022
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Combat® Indoor and Outdoor Ant Killing Gel
The main ingredient is Hydramethylnon, an effective insecticide that will kill the queen and the entire colony of ants.. Combat® Ant Bait is effective for killing termites within and outside your house. You put the liquid around the foundation of your home to prevent them from invading. If termites come in contact with the liquid, they carry it with them back to their nest, and the rest of the colony dies. Combat® is effective as well against Ants, Beetles, Black Widow Spiders, Box-elder Bugs, Brown Recluse Spiders, Centipedes, Cluster Flies, Cockroaches, House Crickets, Millipedes, Pill Bugs, Silverfish.
Runner Up: Spectracide Terminate Termite Killing Foam2
This chemical foam is slow-acting yet effective in getting rid of termites. The foam can be applied to channels and voids that have been invaded by termites. Typically, when applied, termites are found paralyzed in approximately 8 to 10 hours. However, this product is best used to kill termites in all types of wood. As a bonus, it can kill carpenter bees.
Best for budget: BioAdvanced 700350A Termite Killer Granules
This product is easy to use and yet effective. It is also cheaper compared to liquid alternatives and maybe the best if you are worried about termite treatment cost. You work with these granules by spreading the product around wooden structures, furniture and around the foundation of your house. A 60 meter strip of your property requires approximately 4 kg of product. These granules come in a container with an applicator to make it easier to use to get rid of termites.
Best Natural: Essential oils
Two of the most effective essential oils, in this case, are neem and orange oil. They work by preventing termites from shedding their shells or laying eggs, which helps diminish their population. If you want to use essential oils to deal with termites, apply it in the areas they have infested, on wooden surfaces, and their nests.
Effective home remedies include:
- Infusing nematodes into the soil
- Using essential oils
- Using vinegar
- Using boric acid
Traps and Do It Yourself Solutions for How to Get Rid of Termites
If you do not like the idea of applying chemical solutions to address the issue of termites in the home. If this sounds like you, not all hope is gone. There are some effective do-it-yourself termite control solutions and termite traps that can be applied to ensure that termites are gone from your home. They include:
Exposing the colony to sunlight: Termites are anti-sunlight. Therefore, exposing them directly to it will kill them. If these insects have invaded your furniture or any other wooden items that you can carry outside, place them in the sunlight and instantly get rid of the colony. If you are unable to access the sunlight, then make use of UV rays from UV light to achieve the same results
Clear mulch from the surrounding areas: Mulch is made up of cellulose, which is the substance that termites consume. Having mulch around your home, therefore, will attract them. Eliminating mulch from around the home works wonders as it can eliminate an entire colony that is posing a threat.
Install a perimeter barrier: Some homes are protected by perimeter barriers when they are being built. However, some homes lack this essential feature. If you have been infested by termites and you do not have a perimeter barrier, you will benefit from installing one. It may be a labour-intensive process, but building a trench around your home creates a barrier that dissuades these menacing insects from venturing there.
Use cardboard termite traps: Building a cardboard trap is basic and easy. All you have to do is to get two pieces pf cardboard wet and place them together. Once this is done, you let the cardboard next to the infested area of the house. Termites are attracted to cellulose, their primary food. They will crawl in and fill the space between the cardboard. When this happens, you have to burn the cardboard trap. Note that this method to get rid of termites might not be the most effective because termites reproduce quickly. Therefore, you may have to employ extra measures to ensure that you get rid of all the termites in your home.
Home Remedies for Getting rid of Termites
- Infusing nematodes into the soil
Nematodes are worms that feed on pests and insects, such as termites. Termites are meant to ingest the nematodes which release bacteria that is lethal to termites once they are in the digestive system of the host. This method of termite control is effective, especially in superficial soil layers.
If you are wondering where you are going to get the worms, it may be worth knowing that they are available online and can be purchased in-store.
- Using boric acid
The use of boric acid in killing termites is common, as it is a less toxic method of killing termites. Since it comes in the form of a fine powder, you can use a duster to spray the acid manually onto termite populations or any wood, ceilings, crevices, holes and cracks that they have invaded. The acid works by attacking their digestive systems, which results in death injust a matter of days. Remember that boric acid is more effective when not exposed to rain.
Boric acid does not act fast nor last long. However, this product is cheap, easily applicable and less noxious, making it one of the effective solutions for termites in-house.
What kind of spray will help to Get Rid of Termites?
Foaming aerosols are the best kind of sprays to use for killing termites. These termite sprays are applied to any areas where you suspect a colony or where the termites have infested. Once you buy the foam, you can use it in the home or other areas such as those that handle food without worrying.
Interesting Facts about Termites
- Termites do not sleep. They build their colonies every day until they die
- They also eat without stopping
- They eat termite droppings to help build the supply of microorganisms that they need to break down cellulose.
- Soldier and worker termites are blind and never develop functional eyes.
How to Prevent Termites
- Maintain your home. You can maintain your home by ensuring downspouts and gutters are in top-notch condition and that the ground is sloping away from your house to prevent dampness.
- Get rid of any water pools that form as a result of rainfall.
- Let in the sunshine
- Clear out any debris and leaves that absorb moisture or prevent water flow
- Fix leaks immediately
- Keep piles of wood, plants and mulch away from your home
- Be on the lookout for any signs of termites and treat it immediately.
FAQ
WHERE DO TERMITES COME FROM?
Termites come from different habitats depending on the species. Dampwood and subterranean termites build their extensive colonies (termite holes) in damp soil under the ground where they live and care for the queen termite. Drywood termites, on the other hand, live in dry wood habitats.
WHAT DO TERMITES EAT?
Termites eat dead plants and trees so that they can derive cellulose. They also eat plastic, paper and drywalls. They break down the cellulose in the wood thanks to the bacteria and protozoa in their bodies.
WHAT DOES A TERMITE LOOK LIKE?
Termites are characterised bystraight antennae and soft bodies and range in colour from light brown to white. The length of their wings is the same, unlike other insects,and they have a straight waist. They measure approximately a quarter to half an inch, and the kings and queens are larger, measuring approximately an inch
DO TERMITES BITE?
While termites are destructive with wood, they do not bite humans, interestingly, soldier termites can bite humans, but would only do so when provoked. They also attack other insects but do not bite people for no reason.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE TERMITES?
If you are wondering how to tell if you have termites, we have some pointers. You will probably see the winged type trying to escape the area. They are commonly found around doors and windows. Also, if you notice bubbled or cracked paint, there is a probability that termites are feeding on the wood and are approaching the surface, making the paint bubble.
Other signs of termites include solid wood sounding hollow and the sight of mud tubes outside the home.
