Choose Appropriate Chemical Treatment Types

Chemical treatments for termite control come in a variety of forms. Generally, chemical treatments for termites include soil termiticides, termite baits, and treated wood products. This section will only discuss soil and bait termiticides.

Chemical soil treatments are designed to form a protective barrier around a structure to prevent termites from contacting or penetrating the building. Soil treatments are the most common form of termite control used by the building community. Commercially, there are an assortment of soil treatments that, by various biological means, kill termites or repel them. Termiticides are generally preferred over repellents.

Termite baits are encapsulated termiticides designed to lure insects to the bait, and then—once eaten—kill the termites. The poisons are designed to act slowly so as to not repel the insect and to facilitate the consumption and transport of the poison to the nest. Other termites ingest the termiticide from the insects that feed directly on the baits through secretions emitted by the original feeders.

Application

Chemical soil treatments are generally applied to the soil around the foundation of a home to act as a shield against termites. The treatments are performed prior to pouring the slab or foundation, shortly after foundations and slabs are poured, and at periodic intervals for the life of the structure. Directions vary according to the chemical used, but these locations are of special concern for chemical application:

• Soil along foundations and crawl spaces;
• Areas of soil disturbance such as bath traps which may create areas of lower resistance to movement;
• Soil under appurtenances such as attached slabs and porches;
• Soil in inaccessible or concealed spaces; and
• Soil in proximity to slab or foundation penetrations due to plumbing, wiring, etc.

Termiticides are applied by one or more of the following methods: trenching around a foundation and flooding the trench with a sprayer; inserting a rod at periodic intervals around a foundation and injecting the chemical in the soil; and drilling holes in masonry slab or foundations and injecting the chemicals into the soil through the holes. Factors such as access to targeted areas, presence of landscaping, and the chemical employed dictate the treatment option used by the pesticide applicator. A certified pest control operator (PCO) is required for application of most termiticides.

Performance of termiticides varies considerably with climate, soil type, structure design, and homeowner practice. Locations with frequent precipitation, impermeable or very permeable soils, or great soil disruption from landscaping activities will require frequent reapplication in order to maintain termite-resistive properties.

Termite baits are applied to the ground at intervals around the home as prescribed by the product label. Some bait systems employ only a cellulose bait that requires frequent monitoring. Once termite activity is detected, a poison is inserted into the bait housing. Other bait systems contain both termite lure and poison in one formulation. The key to satisfactory performance in a bait system still is proper monitoring and placement. Do-it-yourself termite bait kits are available to the general public, but the temptation is to purchase too few and monitor the baits infrequently, thus severely hampering their effectiveness. This requires much diligence on the part of the homeowner. Many pest control operators offer bait systems which better assure proper bait placement and monitoring.

Reapplication and Inspection Services

Chemical termiticides have a limited life because of leaching or chemical degradation. In addition, homeowner activities such as disruptive landscaping tend to limit the effectiveness of chemical treatments. Therefore, many homeowners opt to employ a termite service offered by pest control operations (PCO).

Typically, a contract with a PCO involves an initial treatment of the structure with a chemical termiticide or bait system, followed by an annual inspection of the structure with periodic retreatment performed when required. PCO warranties may offer free retreatment if infestation is detected along with some coverage of repair costs, depending on the specific plan. The benefits of an inspection and treatment service include periodic inspection of a home by knowledgeable technicians and quick remedial action when infestation is detected. A client can be better assured of a competent applicator if the PCO is a member of the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). NPMA promulgates the standards that constitute proper treatment of buildings.