Are you plagued by termite infestations? Looking for a way to get rid of termites naturally?
Fear not, I’m here to help you treat termites and keep termites under control. Read on to find out more about termite prevention and my recommended methods for how to get rid of termites.
Identification And Life Cycle
Termites or white ants are present in almost all geographical areas around the world.
These small insects depend on plant cellulose, the main constituent of plant cells. They do not differentiate between which plants they attack. Any plant or tree that has grown and developed super fibers can become their target!
Termites feed on any wood available. Whether it is a twig lying outside or your hand crafted wooden furniture, it doesn’t make any difference to them.
Once a termite infests, the damage that they cause is permanent, and you have to replace the entire unit. Termites usually eat wood from the inside out.
Termites live in colonies like ants (hence the name ‘white ant’) and eat approximately 7.5kg of wood weekly. That’s some serious wood-eating!
At this pace, a colony can take 2 – 3 weeks to completely destroy your wooden products.
Termites breed and survive in any season. All they need to start is the equivalent of a small book then will take over the entire space in a month! For this reason it’s incredibly important to learn how to get rid of termites and then focus on termite prevention.
Types Of Termites
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites feed on dried wood and are moderate in action. They never depend on soil and prefer dried wood products.
These are the ones that attack the wooden structure and furniture in homes.
Dampwood Termites
These termites feed on wood with a high moisture content. Dampwood termites rarely attack wood in home as the wood used in homes is dry.
Formosan Termites
Formosan Termites are termites with wings and they love wood, moisture, and soil. They enter any timber that’s in contact with moist soil. The rate of destruction is a lot higher than other types of termites as they tend to live in huge colonies.
Subterranean Termites
These termites live in soil and feed on tree root structures. Subterranean termites are the most destructive species and are the main culprit responsible for destruction in the USA region.
Though there are 4 different types of termites, all are present in every sub-terrain.
There is a possibility of any of these 4 attacking your wooden furniture. The most commonly found termite is the drywood termite.
As mentioned earlier, termites are not season bound. They will be ready to destroy wooden items at any time of the year. Hence why is so important to keep an eye on them and maintain a termite prevention and termite control at home.
Identifying An Infestation
The first signs that you may have a termite infestation is the presence of winged flying termites. They are lookalikes of winged ants. You can witness these flying insects more during spring and autumn.
The other methods to identify a termite infestation are:
Bubbling And Cracking Of Paint On Wooden Surfaces
When the termites feed on wood from the inside, their activity and air cause surface paint to crack and bubble. This is an indicating of a termite infestation.
Hardwood Sounds Hollow
When termites have eaten out the inside of a wooden structure, the outer structure can often remain. When the wood is tapped it will produce a hollow sound.
Vertical Mud Tube-Like Structure
When a termite is at work they build tube-like structures on the wood to enhance their colony and breed. You can see vertical mud tubes outside of the wood. This is an obvious sign of a termite infestation.
DIY Traps: How to Get Rid of Termites Naturally
There are many ways in which you can treat termites. Some of the tried and tested methods for treating termites at home are listed below.
Orange Essential Oil
Orange oil extract can reduce the presence of termites. It contains an active ingredient call D-limonene. This active substance is proven time and again as being toxic to bugs and insects.
Using this doesn’t kill termites in one go, but it reduces their wood-feeding capacity. All you need to do is drill a small hole in the infested wood and put the oil into it.
This method will take around 4 days to 2 weeks to completely remove termites. Repeat the steps every 3 days.
Heat Treatment
Termites cannot survive extreme hot or cold temperatures. They die when the temperature is above 121 degrees and below -21 degrees.
Placing wooden furniture in a hot area will kill them. Placing a termite infested piece of furniture in the hot sun can do the trick. Also to cool an object, liquid nitrogen can be used.
A great termite treatment option for moveable wooden items rather than a house structure.
Hydrogen Borate
Also known as Boric acid. This is a pesticide which will kill termites effectively. Using paint with borate on wooden surfaces will curb your chances of the wood being affected.
You can make a spray with water and hydrogen borate powder and spray it on wooden surfaces. This is an effective way to kill termites in any wood product. But, be aware that boric acid can cause a reaction in humans and pets. You cannot use this when you are staying in a place.
Essential Oils
Oils like clove oil and cedarwood essential oil when applied to a wooden surface, can help to eradicate termites. Clove oil is proven to kill 100% of a termite infestation in 2 days!
Other oils you can use includes, vetiver, eucalyptus and cassia leaf.
Paper Station
Termites feed on any form of wood, including anything that has origins from wood, like paper, cardboard, books, etc. You can place any one of these things near the infested area as a trap.
When naturally accessible food is discovered, termites will be drawn to it. Once it is covered with termites, the trap can then be destroyed by burning it.
Vinegar
Mix 1 part vinegar with ¼ part of water and spray it on termite-infested areas twice a day for 3 days. By the 3rd day you will start to see termites dying.
Nematode Worms
Nematodes are worms that feed on termites. There are many commercially available products, and you can introduce these worms to the infested area quickly.
These worms are proven to be the best hack for getting rid of termites. All you need to do is mix this commercially available mixture with water and spray.
Nematode worms are 100% safe around humans, plants, and pets. So there’s no need to worry.
Does Bleach Kill Termites?
This is a common question I get asked so I want to take a moment to clarify whether or not bleach should be used to kill termites. The short answer is yes, bleach does kill termites, but only through direct contact. Careful consideration needs to be taken as to the damage bleach can cause to drywood and furniture if it comes in contact with the bleach. Bleach can also be toxic for pets and the environment so should be used with caution.
If sprayed directly on termites, bleach can kill them within just a few minutes if it’s a high concentration. But this doesn’t have any impact on the colony, so shouldn’t be used in situations when you have a full termite infestation.
If you wish to use bleach to kill termites, here’s how. To kill termites with bleach, dilute with water into a spray bottle. Wear protective gloves and spray bleach solution directly on termites.
If using bleach to kill termites, it can be effective if used in conjunction with other methods.
Conclusion
It’s always better to be proactive when it comes to termite prevention and treatment, rather than stumble upon a termite infestation in your home.
Be vigilant in checking your home surroundings. Check any tree branch that is in contact with soil and moisture, and clean dead plant debris and maintain proper hygiene inside the home.
I’m sure you would agree that prevention is much better than discovering a termite infestation! However if the worst should occur, using one my of my natural solutions for how to get rid of termites ought to do the trick.
For chemical based termite solutions, try these insecticides to get rid of the remaining termites.