Termite Treatments

TERMITE CONTROL

Before considering treatment types, remember that it is the overall environmental conditions that will determine treatment effectiveness.  The less timber in ground contact and moisture sources available the less pressure the dwelling will be under the termite attack, hence making whatever treatment is chosen more effective. Additional measures that should be taken are exposing weep holes, reducing gardens against house wall exterior, fixing faulty plumbing, removal of dead trees and tree stumps, replacing untreated timber retaining walls with non conducive materials, and removing any timber in ground contact.

Liquid Termiticides have changed considerably over the last decade.  The environment has suffered due to the stability of some products.  The latest products are designed to breakdown and have less impact on the enviornment.

WARNING

DO NOT DISTURB ACTIVE TERMITES IF FOUND WITHIN YOUR HOME.

It is a natural reaction to run for the can of fly spray and kill all the termites found in the effected area.  However, this will do more harm than good.  Termite Management Professionals will need the area disturbed as little as possible.  The more termites that are present the better the chance of controlling the colony.

Follow these simple steps in the event of finding live Termites:

1. Keep the affected area as dark as possible.
2. Keep disturbance to the area to a minimum.
3. Cover any disturbance holes with masking tape or black electrical tape.
4. Call us on our 24 hour emergency hotline on 0433 420 011

CHEMICAL TREATMENTS

Post construction/vertical and horizontal liquid Termiticide treatments work on the principal of soil that is in contact with the foundation or support piers of the dwelling is chemically treated to form a barrier or zone in which impedes in ingress of termites.  This type of treatment involves direct flood treating a horizontal soil surface or drilling holes through the concrete abutting the external (and sometimes internal) walls of the house at a required distance (usually 300mm) apart and injecting a liquid Termiticide under the slab.  Any soil against the external walls is vertically treated by trenching or probing the soil to 50mm past the top of the foundations and then back filling the soil with the liquid Termiticide to create a treated zone.

If live termites are found inside the home a termite foaming treatment is sometimes carried out in an effort to translocate the active agent within the foam back to the parent colony.  This type of Termiticide foam is carefully used in small amounts directly to the termite workings.  The foam is passed through the colony by the termites grooming one another.  Once ingested its 'mode of action' is to attack the grooming action causing a fungus that occurs naturally in the soil to attack the colony resulting in death.  It is a numbers game when it comes to termite foaming treatments, unless there are a vast amount of termites to work with, the chances of success reduce drastically.  The termites that are infected will certainly die but there will not be a chain reaction back to the queen as needed for colony elimination.  Foaming treatments alone cannot be relied on to protect a dwelling.

Liquid Termiticides are divided into two groups Repelling and Non-Repelling.  The Repelling Termiticides work in that the termites will forage along the treated zone and smell or detect the chemical within the soil and be repelled from it, any termites entering into the treated zone will die quickly if in contact with the treated soil.  However, this mortality is sensed quickly by the other termites and the area is avoided.  The remaining termites continue looking for another food source.

Non-Repelling Termiticides will kill, but do allow those infected termites to live a little longer enabling them to travel back to the parent colony and transfer the effects to other termites, that in turn will allow more termites into the treated zone unaware of the chemical presence in the soil.  They then, unknowingly, pass on the effects of the Termiticide to other termites within the colony setting off a chain reaction.  The non-repellent termiticides affect the grooming and general behaviour of termites.

Chemical treatment success in general will depend on a number of factors:

1. The skill of the operator
2. The method used
3. The amount of strength of Termiticide used
4. Soil type around the foundation area
5. Building type, multi poured slabs and multi level built homes pose liquid Termiticide application problems
6. Construction flaws associated with the dwelling
7. Presence of hidden items under concrete paths or infill areas, eg builders debris that may assist termites bridging a chemical barrier
8. Environmental factors
9. The Termiticide type choses for the situation
10. The level of client co-operation in regard to changing the environmental conditions
11. Chemical barrier disturbance - unknowingly bridged or breeched by the homeowner
12. The level of 'after treatment service' by the pest managment company if things go wrong
13. The number of termites travelling through the treated areas (suppression rather than elimination of colony).
14. As per Australian Standards AS3660.2 for the Client to carry out renewal of Subterranean Termite Maintenance Inspection yearly by the due date

BAITING AND MONITORING TECHNIQUES

Baiting and monitoring techniques are regarded the future of termite control.  They can be applied to all building types both domestic and commercial.  This less disruptive technique involves no application of hundreds of litres of chemicals.  However this type of treatment does require a shift in thinking, in that it is a process of elimination that will take time.  It is a common misconception that soil treatments are instantaneous.  Chemical treatments also need time to work.

The most important factor at the end of the day is that the Baiting program will eliminate the colony, not suppress it.

The Baiting and Monitoring is carried out by placing termite stations in the ground where they will intercept termites and form a type of 'burglar alarm'. The in-ground stations are checked regularly for termite activity.  It is only when termites have been interecepted in the station, that a Non-toxic Insect Growth Regulator bait is added to the station for the termites to feed on.  As soon as termites feed on the bait they are effected by it.  They pass the bait on to other members of the colony.  The active ingredient attacks the internal gut lining of the termites and inhibits the moulting process in turn affecting the chewing mouthparts, which the termites use to destroy timber.  With their chewing mouthparts useless and an infected gut lining the worker termites perish and the rest of the colony starves to death, leading to control over the entire colony.  Remembe that is only the worker termite that damages timber.

After the bait is consumed and the colony is deemed to have suffered an irreversible blow, which they cannot recover, the colony is monitored until no termites remain, then all bait residues are removed.  The stations in the ground continue to guard your home and property.

This modern type of treatment differs from the older, traditional methods in that it will control the whole colony not just suppress it.   Monitoring and Baiting with insect growth regulators has been extensively trialled and tested in the USA, Japan and Australia with remarkable success.

D-TEC PEST SOLUTIONS TREATMENTS

When D-Tec Pest Solutions carries out a Termite Treatment, we are looking for a safe and effective termiticide to help protect your home. The Termiticides we use have a proven track record in protecting homes. Our treatments will be carried out in a neat and professional manner every time!

When considering the type of treatment required for your home your highly trained Technician will explain what the treatment involves and talk with you about our service period available.

The termiticides we use are environmentally friendly and it will be safe to be indoors while your treatment is carried out, no need to evacuate the whole family or pets!

YOU CAN protect your home or investment, contact D-Tec Pest Solutions for your free Termite Consulation and Termite Information DVD - DON'T LEAVE IT TOO LATE, YOUR INSURANCE DOESN'T COVER FOR TERMITE DAMAGE.

This Subterranean Termite sub nest was found in a wall.