Replies

1. 
   jim_walker | Jun 09, 1999 08:24am | #1

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   What chemicals are reasonably safe and effective for the homeowner to apply to prevent termites?

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   Guest_ | Jun 09, 1999 12:41pm | #2

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   Raid

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   so_cal_craig | Jun 10, 1999 03:22am | #3

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   Jim,
   You might consider the new product on the market, I think one brand name is Terminate, you place small plastic vials in the ground around your house,they contain an attractant/poison that the worker termites eat and bring to the colony to hopefully wipe it out. Its sort of a pre-emptive strike. I put them in the ground a couple of months ago.....haven't checked their progress yet.
   For small infestations, have you tried Term-Out? That seems to work pretty well. Not sure how nasty the chemicals are, however.
   Hope it helps...............

4. 
   Guest_ | Jun 11, 1999 04:16am | #4

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   Around here the pros use Dursban for soil poisoning. Not sure if it is available to DIYers.

   http://www.dowagro.com/pestweb/pco/Products/products.htm

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   Guest_ | Jun 11, 1999 04:36am | #6

   *Had the Orkin guy out because we found some termites when doing some landscaping. He found a few, but none near the house and no signs of entry or damage to structure. He suggested we did not need an expensive treatment and could get the little tubes you described at HD. As he explained it the homeowner version contains bait and a hormonal pesticide which prevents any termites which ingest it from molting their skins and progressing to the next instar, they die. But this is not the sort of pesticide which is brought back to the nest for the rest of the gang to share. There is some reduction in colony size but not enough to stop them if they really want to invade. So it's really best as a monitoring tool.The major companies are doing lots of TV ads now for similar systems which do have a 'take home' pesticide, but the service contract deal is that they periodically inspect each unit, scan in a bar code inside the lid and compare activity visit to visit and over time. If they are taking the bait, you can then escalate to soil or structural chemical treatment.I'd guess it's also important not to bury wood debris near the house, or pile firewood against it, or extend structural or trim wood to or even near grade.

5. 
   jim_walker | Jun 11, 1999 04:36am | #5

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