Subterranean termites represent a subclass of termites that live very long. They form numerous colonies and move to places where there is a lot of wood and metal available, especially to homes. These insects weaken the wooden structures of the house and even the metal supports; in extreme cases they can also lead to the collapse of the building. In the United States, subterranean termites are the most destructive pests, causing more damage than fires and storms combined. It is not easy to notice their presence, but if you find them in the house, you need to quickly take steps to get rid of them.
Steps
Method 1 of 5: Chemical Treatments
Step 1. Treat the wood
The simple but effective impregnants are able to keep these insects away, making the wood more robust. A small investment like this can save you thousands of dollars on repairs in the future. Remember that over time, as wood gets older, it becomes softer and more vulnerable to termites.
Step 2. Use liquid wood chemicals
You can spray an insecticide directly on the surface of the wood to prevent underground termites from gnawing on it. Keep in mind that a localized treatment of this type only protects the structure where you have applied the substance and cannot be considered a complete solution.
Step 3. Create a chemical barrier in the soil
By treating the perimeter of the home, you can do a lot to prevent underground termites from entering the home. For this purpose, you can use a liquid insecticide that you need to spray under the foundation. In the United States, for example, this type of treatment is mandatory during the construction phase of buildings.
- It is possible to apply the substance even after construction. Holes have to be drilled in the supporting structures and then poisoned in the foundation.
- For this treatment, many products are available and, in some cases, a private citizen can buy them without any restrictions, to use them only in his own home.
- Online retailers often provide instructional videos that allow you to understand how to proceed effectively, before buying anything.
- If in doubt, you should seek professional help rather than risk causing structural damage.
Step 4. Choose between repellent or non-repellent chemicals
If you've opted for chemical insecticides, it's important to know which one to use. The two main products are repellent and non-repellent liquids. Both have advantages and disadvantages, but make sure you understand the mechanisms of action, to evaluate the solution that best suits your problem.
Step 5. Use repellent liquid
As the name suggests, this product is applied before the infestation occurs, because it discourages termites from attacking the foundation of the house; its action consists in creating a barrier that blocks insects and is effective for several years. Even if termites do not cross the barrier and avoid it, they can still move around it. It is very difficult to create perfect protection without any gaps under an already built house and termites can find spaces to access the building.
- To get the best possible result, contact a company that deals with pest control; he will be able to indicate the ideal solutions to protect your home, such as bait or liquid barrier treatments.
- If any explorer specimens find an opening in the repellent barrier, they will return to the site with many more termites.
Step 6. Use a non-repellent liquid insecticide
In this case, the products available on the market are few. They don't stop termites from attacking, but they are lethal. If insects burrow through the liquid treated material, they come into contact with it and die.
Scouting specimens can spread venom to other colony members through food and physical contact, thus amplifying the effectiveness of the treatment
Method 2 of 5: Using Traps
Step 1. Use bait traps to hit the entire colony
Since the termite populations are very numerous, the application of the barrier insecticide in the soil is able to affect only a limited part of them. Traps and baits have become an increasingly popular method to combat these infestations, representing a long-term deterrent and protection. The baits are actually slow-acting insecticides, which are eaten and brought into the nest. Subsequently, they spread across a large swath of the colony.
- Insect growth regulators are present in some products, which are very effective in destroying the entire colony or reducing its size.
- These substances have a low degree of toxicity to humans and pets, but the most effective ones are often only available to professional exterminators.
Step 2. Use traps to look for termites outside
You can install some bait-equipped models to see if there is a colony nearby. If you put pieces of untreated wood inside plastic traps and push them into the soil around the house, you can get rid of any underground termite populations found in the area. Make sure to fix the devices within 3 meters of each other.
Step 3. Check the traps for active termites
You should check the devices regularly, once a month or every few months. If you find live insects in the traps when you remove them from the ground, you should add poisonous bait before relocating them. It is hoped that specimens that were lured to the untreated wood will now bring the toxic bait to the colony, where the poison can spread.
Step 4. Use bait traps to counter an internal infestation
The traps placed in the garden, along the perimeter of the house, have no effect on the insects that have already attacked the foundation. There are some devices that can be installed above ground and are designed to work in a similar way to those that are inserted into the ground.
- You can place them in the area where you have noticed signs of termite activity, such as damaged wood or thin mud channels.
- Read carefully the instructions of whatever product you have decided to use, because some devices are fully functional without any intervention on your part, while others require localized treatment with a liquid.
Method 3 of 5: Fumigate the House
Step 1. Consider fumigating the home
If the infestation is severe and prompt action is needed, you can consider this option, which offers the advantage of treating the entire home and facility at once. Generally, it is recommended when there are multiple colonies in a single dwelling.
To determine if you have termites in your home, check areas such as the basement, window sills, moldings, and beams, especially if they are below ground level
Step 2. Contact a pest control company
Fumigation is not a procedure you can do on your own. The house must be covered with a giant awning, while machinery sprays toxic gases into it that spread everywhere. The substances are believed to penetrate every opening and crevice, simultaneously killing all termites present.
The specialist must carefully plan the operation based on the infestation that afflicts the home
Step 3. Prepare for fumigation
If you have decided to proceed with this method, the employees of the pest control company will need to have access to the house for three or five days. You need to take precautions before they arrive, such as storing all food in sealed containers or taking it away. The specialists will take care of the rest and explain how to prepare. You will not be able to return home until the treatment is completed, so you must plan accordingly.
- There are two types of poisons that are used in termite fumigation: the first is a toxic substance by ingestion, while the other is a hormone that prevents re-growth of the insect's exoskeleton after moulting. The poisons are doubly effective, as the termites will eat the remaining members of the colony, poisoning themselves.
- Even after covering the house and fumigating it, the infestation could reoccur. Unfortunately, this procedure does not eliminate termite eggs from the home.
Method 4 of 5: Protect the House from Future Infestations
Step 1. Avoid water accumulating near the foundation
A good way to avoid other problems with these insects is to make sure that there is no standing water near the base of the house, as humid environments are the ideal habitat for subterranean termites. You can remove water by using an efficient system of drains and by using devices, such as the downspout of the gutters and the splash guards.
This rule also applies to mulch or wet plant matter that can attract termites
Step 2. Identify and repair structural damage to the house
Some building problems are a serious risk factor, which increases the chances of a termite infestation. By solving them, you are able to reduce the chances of insects making their appearance even in the long run. Since termites tend to dig an access path in areas where the wood touches the ground, you need to make sure there is a gap of at least 30 cm between the ground and the base of the house.
This rule must be respected for porches or terraces, areas where the wood should not be in direct contact with the earth
Step 3. Ventilate the hidden spaces of the house
The warm and humid environment of the dark corners of the house, such as the attic, the basement and the crawl spaces, can exert an irresistible force of attraction towards the subterranean termites. Typically, these insects invade cellars or basements. You can make these areas less hospitable by making sure they are well ventilated to avoid stagnation of heat and humidity.
Method 5 of 5: Finding out if the House is Infested with Subterranean Termites
Step 1. Read up on these insects
Termites can be divided into three large groups: those underground, those that feed on moist wood and those that feed on dry wood. Each group has different characteristics and it is better to know how to recognize them, in order to decide the most suitable treatment. Subterranean termites feed on the cellulose present in wood. The areas where the structures made with this material come into contact with the earth represent the main access points.
Step 2. Recognize subterranean termites
Although they are often hidden under the house and you cannot see actual insects, their appearance is worth knowing, in case you find a specimen and want to identify it. There are three castes in the colonies, each of which is made up of slightly different insects.
- The members of the reproductive caste, also called winged specimens, are black or dark brown in color, are about 13 mm long and have two pairs of wings of equal length.
- The worker termites have no wings, are about 6 mm long and have a cream color.
- Soldiers are not equipped with wings, but they do have large jaws. They carry out a defense function of the colony and are easily distinguished by the mandibles, the cream colored trunk and the brown head.
Step 3. Examine the telltale signs of timber structures
The best way to tell if there is an infestation is probably to look for signs and clues that there is an underground termite colony. One indicator is the layered appearance of the wood. These insects only consume the soft part of the material, leaving the harder ones, thus giving the wood a layered appearance.
- Dark spots or swellings in the parquet may suggest the presence of these pests.
- The wood may not appear damaged, but if you tap it you should hear a "hollow" sound. This means that the outer portion is intact, but the softer underside has been worn out.
Step 4. Look for the remains of the wings
The specimens you are most likely to see are those of the breeding caste, or winged ones. The insects you mistake for flying ants are actually termites. The only difference is that termites are smaller and have four similarly sized wings, while ants have one larger and one smaller pair of wings.
- After mating, the winged ones lose their wings, which build up and take on the appearance of fish scales.
- If you find these residues on the windowsill, the house could be haunted.
Step 5. Look for muddy pipe-like paths
These are exploratory paths that go from the ground to the infested wood, are brown in color, appear to be made of mud and are the width of a pencil. Insects use them for their travel. Sometimes they are very noticeable, but they can also be hidden under skirting boards, parquet boards or in hard to see places.
Advice
Prevention is the best way to control termites. Make sure they don't have access to water sources, as that's what these insects need most
Warnings
- There are documented incidents where the fumigation caused the owners to die once they returned home. For safety reasons, bait techniques are generally the best and involve fewer harmful chemicals in the home.
- When using insecticides, it is your responsibility to ensure that neighboring properties, crops and livestock are not contaminated.
