If you have termite activity within the property there are many forms of treatments available including Termidor, Exterra and Sentricon just to name a few.
The 3 Main methods for controlling and eliminating termites are as follows
- Chemical barriers
- Dusts/ Foams
- Baits
Baiting
We recommend and use the EXTERRA© Termite Baiting system to be used in and around a building as part of an integrated termite control and monitoring program as it allows for a constant surveillance to be kept on the property with bait inspections occurring every three weeks when activity is present and every 8 weeks there after..
Exterra has been used in many well known sites in Australia including the Taronga Zoo, Dream world and Movie world just to name a few.
How baiting sytems work ,Baiting systems concentrate termites into a bait station and then feed the termite a bait – a palatable food containing an active ingredient .
The termites collect the bait, return it the colony, and so spread the active ingredient throughout the colony. If enough active ingredient is ingested, then it is possible to eliminate the colony.
There are commercial baiting systems that have the bait included – these are available only from licensed professional pest controllers.
A baiting system such as Exterra offers a full baiting program and also includes monitoring of all bait stations for a year ,when activity is located within a bait the stations are monitored every three weeks and then when activity eases they revert back to eight weekly checks.
There are do-it-yourself baiting systems (such as the CSIRO bait box), used in entice termites into the bait box but treatment must be carried out by a licensed professional pest controller.
Bait systems can be applied as stand alone treatments, or as part of a combined approach. Bait systems can form part of the inspection of a house, acting as a continuous monitoring system.
Chemical barriers
Chemical barriers are a chemically based treatment because they rely on a chemical to resist termite attack.
The chemicals are usually insecticides.
These barriers can be placed under concrete slabs, foundations and around houses but do have specific limitations as barriers can be breached or broken i.e by leaking pipes,digging dogs or rodents.
Chemical barriers can be installed in new and existing structures, but can only be installed by licensed pest controllers.
There are two types of chemical barriers in-soil and in-plastics.
In-soil chemical barriers are formed when the chemical is applied to the soil under or around the foundations of a building either prior to post construction.
In-plastic chemical barriers are plastic sheets containing a chemical – these are typically installed like physical barriers.prior to construction.
Some chemical barriers installed may contain chemicals with the active ingredients including Bifenthrin, Chlorpyrifos, Deltamethrin, Fipron just to name a few.
It is dependant upon the property as to the treatment options if the site is sloping or poorly drained, the soil is clay or sandy, the barrier is unable to be applied adequately
During the termite inspection sometimes a nest can be located ,Whether or not the nest can be found, the termites must be prevented from continuing their attack on the house.
Therefore remedial treatments generally use chemicals in one form or another.
These barriers are also able to be broken by numerous factors i.e. digging and earth movement, as the case in the Queensland floods where the treated soil was washed away leaving the properties unprotected
Dusts / Foams
Dusts or foams can be applied as stand alone treatments, or as part of a combined approach when dusts are used as a stand alone treatment they offer no warranty or ongoing protection to the property.
Dustsand or foams can only be used by licensed professional pest controllers.
The dust/ foam is applied to a (containing a chemical active ingredient) into the wood or area infested by termites (often called the ‘termite workings’).
The dust settles onto the termites, which then carry the dust back to the nest.
The termites clean themselves of the dust and ingest the active ingredient. Grooming is a social activity so the active ingredient is spread throughout the colony.Termites also eat the dead and dying termites within the nest and workings.
If enough active ingredient is ingested, then it is possible to eliminate the colony
It is essential to leave termites undisturbed so if you find termites within your home do not attempt any treatment of the termites you will impact your treatment options.
Remember that termites can be controlled.
How Exterra Works
The first step in the Exterra Management program is a thorough inspection of your home by an Exterra Authorised and licensed termite manager. Your Exterra Termite Manager will determine the nature of the threat to your property and recommend cultural changes you should make as well as determining optimal placement of the Exterra Termite Monitoring Stations
Exterra Stations are placed around your property. These stations are checked regularly. If termites are in your home, above-ground stations are installed. Above-ground stations allow your termite problem to be dealt with immediately, right at the point of termite attack.
The patented Focus Termite Attractant is added to your Stations at this time. This creates the unique Termite Interception Zone around your home and ensures the termites are attracted into the Exterra Stations and do not pass between them and enter your home. This is unique to Exterra. This can mean a significant decrease in the time to colony elimination.
Termites are intercepted by Exterra Stations.
Termites are easily detected in the Exterra Stations. The unique (patented) design of the Exterra Station allows for termites to be seen without disturbing them. This is very important. And the termites are not disturbed during bait application either.
The Exterra Station is baited with Requiem Termite Bait
Requiem Termite Bait is added without disturbing the termites. This is vital to achieve quick and consistent results. Requiem Termite Bait is highly palatable to termites and they readily consume it in preference to timber. In fact Australian studies show that once termites start feeding on Requiem, they stop feeding on timbers in your home! Requiem Termite Bait is also very low toxicity to you, your pets and the environment
The Termite Colony is eliminated by the Requiem Termite Bait
The termites feed on the Requiem Termite Bait and take it back to the colony where it is fed slowly throughout the entire termite colony. Since the termites die gradually, they do not associate the colony’s demise with the Requiem Termite Bait. This ensures that the entire colony is eliminated
The Termite Colony is eliminated….
Fresh interceptors are placed in the Exterra Stations and ‘Peace of Mind’ monitoring continues. Your property always remains susceptible to future attack from new termite colonies or other established termite colonies in your area. To relieve this constant threat the Exterra System works on an ongoing process of monitoring, baiting and eliminating. This makes its use ideal as an ongoing early warning system. And with Focus Termite Attractant there to ensure the termites find the Stations before your home – you have total security.
DuPont Altriset
- Eliminates termites from structures in less than three (3) months
- Stops termites feeding within hours
- Provides residual protection for a number of years
- Non Repellent chemistry
- Affects insect muscles
- Unscheduled poison with very low toxicity
Altriset is a non repellent termiticide that halts termite feeding within hours ,while delayed mortality allows increased insecticide transfer to provide complete termite elimination ,critical to long term structural protection .
This is reassuring to home owners as no further strutural damage to occur and the source of the problem is removed. Even better the physical/chemical properties of Altriset enable it to remain in the soil for an extended period, providing years of continous protection.
Calteryz is the active ingredient in DuPont Altriset termiticide, is a synthetic compund that affects the ryandodine receptors in the muscle fibre.
After only 2 hours of tunnelling through traeted soil Coptotermes stop feeding, with high levels of mortality 3 days after exposure.
Even though the termites continue to move around no further damage will occur.