Termites are fairly small and unlikely to harmhumans. Of course, it is possible that you will suffer from allergic reactions but this is a rarity. Unfortunately, they do like to eat wood and an average colony of termites can destroy one foot of 2×4 in as little as 5 months. That may not seem like a huge amount but it’s enough to destabilize your home.
In short, if you discover you have a termite problem you need to take action as soon as possible. At this point, it’s important to note that the professionals are the best option. They have the equipment and the experience you need to deal with a termite infestation. Most importantly, they will be able to locate the nest and ensure it is destroyed. That’s essential if you at to prevent them from coming back.
However, if you want to tackle the termite invasion yourself you can use termite bait traps. You’ll be wondering if these work. The good news is that they can be very successful.
The Termite Colony
Termites actually establish colonies in the same way as bees and many other insects. They have a queen that is protected at all costs. Many of the termites exist to create the structure, those are the ones that eat your wood. There are a few that are in charge of finding food and bringing it back to the nest. Their supplies feed everyone, starting with the queen. This is why the bait traps can work.
How the Bait Trap Works
A bait trap is placed near where you have seen termites. You’ll need to put something cellulose-based in the trap, this will ensure it attracts the termites. It’s best to leave it in place for 2-3 days. The termites will find it and decide that it is a safe place to obtain food.
You can then swap the tasty cellulose-based food for the poison riddled bait. Because the termites trust this food spot they will return and take the bait. At this point, the fact they work as a colony goes against them. The bait is taken back to the colony, killing the food foraging termites and most of the colony within a matter of hours. Any that don’t eat the bait will subsequently die of starvation.
This is when you may wish you had professional help. When the bait stops being touched and you don’t see termites you can assume that the problem has been dealt with. However, unless you can locate the nest and verify this, it is possible they have simply relocated and started a new problem for you.
Getting the professionals in at this stage is a good idea, to confirm all the termites have gone. You can then focus on stopping them from coming in again by concreting around the edge of your home and sealing all gaps and cracks. It’s also worth checking to ensure you don’t have any leaks that create damp under your floors, effectively attracting termites and other pests;
