Protect your home with a termite monitoring and baiting system
Termite monitoring and baiting systems are both a termite detection system and termite treatment system. Termite monitoring systems are used to detect termite activity around buildings and in other areas of the property where termite activity is suspected. Termite baits are used to eliminate termite activity once it has been found, whether outside or inside the building.
Using termite baits to eliminate termites inside buildings
If your home is being attacked by termites, the first step in any treatment is to eliminate active termites from INSIDE the building.
By installing bait at locations inside the home where termites are currently feeding, it maximises the chances of termites finding the attractive termite bait. They feed on this bait, taking it back to the nest where it is fed to other colony members, killing the colony. Colony elimination may take anywhere between 4 weeks and several months depending on the species present, size of the nest and time of year (level of activity).
Termites have been feeding on this bait station placed on an internal wall
Other methods for controlling active termites
Other products can be used to eliminate active termites from inside the building including termite dusts and termite foams. Although, when applied correctly, these products can effectively eliminate termites from the building, these products cannot guarantee that the colony will be eliminated, meaning they could return at a later date to attack the home again. All things being equal colony elimination is the best policy as it significantly reduces termite pressure on a property thus reducing the chances of a termite attack in the future.
Using termite baits to eliminate termites outside buildings
Once active termites have been eliminated from inside the building, a termite management system needs to be installed to prevent future termite attacks. The use of a termite monitoring system around the perimeter of a property provides a system for providing long-term protection from termites.
Traditional termite monitoring systems consist of plastic bait stations installed in the ground every 2-3m around the building and in other potential termite hot spots on the property. These monitoring stations contain wood attractive to termites. They don’t attract new termites into the area, but if there are foraging termites already present, they will find these monitoring stations before they get to your house.
Regular inspections of these monitoring stations (every 6 weeks – 3 months) will ensure that any termite activity is detected. When termites are spotted, termite bait is added to the monitoring station. The termites then start feeding on the bait, which they take back to the nest, dooming the colony.
Bait stations containing wood are placed around the perimeter of the property
Sentricon AlwaysActive
Sentricon AlwaysActive provides the latest development in termite monitoring and baiting systems. With Sentricon AlwaysActive termiticide rods (anattractive termite food source plus slow acting insecticide) are placed in the ground rather than wood monitoring stations. These termiticide rods are the termite bait and are “AlwaysActive” starting to control termites as soon as they start feeding.
Although Sentricon AlwaysActive tends to be more expensive than traditional baiting systems, property owners have the confidence that the system is working continuously to protect the property, even between inspections.
Termite baits or chemical soil treatments?
Broadly speaking there are two types of termite management systems that are used to protect existing buildings from termites
• Liquid soil treatments - liquid insecticide is pumped into the ground around the property creating a treated zone which either repels or kills the termites. Annual termite inspection are required to check the integrity of the system and maintain the warranty.
• Termite monitoring and baiting systems - plastic bait stations containing wood are placed in the ground around the property. Any termites in the area will start feeding on the wood in these monitoring stations. The pest manager picks up this activity during regular inspections. On detecting this activity, the pest manager adds termite bait, which the termites take back to the nest, killing the colony. In addition to the regular bait station inspections, an annual termite inspection for the whole property is required.
Termite baiting systems have three key advantages over liquid soil treatments
• Liquid soil treatments are not suitable for every property due to the construction type or soil properties
• Baiting systems are the safer, environmentally friendly way to eliminate termites as there is no need to pump large amounts of insecticide into the soil
• Baiting systems actually eliminate termite colonies attacking your home, thus reducing the termite pressure and reducing the chances of a termite attack in the future.
Gold Coast Pest Services will discuss with you the various options for controlling and prevent termite infestations at your property, taking into account the specific situation at your property and any preferences you might have. We don’t push just one type of treatment but make the best recommendations for your property; sometimes there may only be one solution, sometimes there may be more than one option.
Learn more about which is the best termite treatment.
How do termite baits work?
Termite baits are the smart way to control termites and eliminate the colony. Termite baits consistence of a cellulose food matrix (which the termites prefer in preference to wood) and a special slow acting insecticide.
The insecticide used in termite baits is an insect growth regulator, which kills termites when they moult and prevents eggs developing. These insecticides have no effect on mammals, which is why they have a great safety profile.
The reason you want the bait insecticide to be slow acting is that you want the termites to take the bait back to the nest and spread it around the colony. These insect growth regulators aren’t detected by the termites and so the bait is passed around the colony and effects the termites without them knowing.
As the termites only moult every few weeks to several months, it can take 4 weeks to several months to kill the whole colony. The speed of action depends on the species, the size of the colony and the time of year (moulting slows down in winter).
At the end of the treatment you have the confidence of knowing the colony has been eliminated and your home is protected.
