The termites They are one of the most feared pests since their action can be devastating, not only in furniture and wooden objects, but even in large structures in the home such as beams. It is important to act if we detect signs of these insects in our house, since they act very quickly. The anti-pest professionals They will be the best able to end the plague but in this OneHowTo article you will find more information about how to eliminate termites.
Steps to follow:
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First of all, it should be noted that termite pests can become very problematic and their very devastating effects. This is due to the fact that they feed on cellulose and, therefore, can finish off any surface or wooden object and its derivatives, such as wooden beams and other structural elements of a house.
Termites can enter through wooden floors, around the foundation of a house, or any other openings in plumbing or electrical lines. It’s quite logical: like termites thrive in humid environments, you need to remove moisture from your house. All wet soil should be avoided. Landscaping is a way to prevent water from pooling around the foundation of your house using all kinds of systems. A good idea is to repair faucets and pipes immediately, especially those outside the house that are often a breeding ground for termites.
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Termites can be of two types:
- Subterranean termites– They live in damp earth, so they are not seen with the naked eye and they attack destructively on wooden structures. They are considered the most damaging because they dig tunnels under the damp earth, which are not always visible, causing damage to the wood under the house, and you don’t even realize it.
- Wood termites: these are visible and leave marks in the form of sawdust, holes in the wood, traces, a swarm around the openings in infested wood, especially after rain, etc.
Image: bloghogar.com
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For this fact, we recommend that at the first symptoms or evidence of termites, you contact specialists in home pest control. They will be the ones who know best and can kill these pesky insects, before it’s too late.
While there is debate about the effectiveness of chemicals compared to natural treatments, successfully removing termites depends on the type of termite, whether the soil around the home is moist, the type of building, and the nature of the termites. insulating materials used in the home.
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Even so, there are some methods that we can use ourselves to try to kill termites. It is the case of boric acid, a drugstore bandage antiseptic that is also used for ant and other insect pests. You can see our article on how to kill insects with boric acid.
The sodium borate (Borax) is a less refined form of boric acid. This type of treatment is effective because it attacks the bacterial protozoa found in the stomach of the termite. Protozoa are responsible for making food, giving termite energy. When termites ingest sodium borate they are unable to digest food, so they literally starve to death, killing the entire colony over time.
Sodium borate is sold under many different names, such as Timbor or Borax. Simply mix 500 grams of sodium borate in 5 liters of water and then spray with a handheld sprayer or apply with a brush to all accessible wooden surfaces in the house, such as joists and studs. It is important that the wood is saturated with liquid in order to protect against further termite damage.
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There are also pesticides and other chemicals with which you can try to eliminate termites from your home. Professionals specialized in termite control recommend two basic treatments: liquid termite treatment or pesticides, they can be sprayed around the foundation of a house. This method eradicates or kills the termites that come in contact with the chemical. Obviously this type of application must be done by a registered professional, since they are usually toxic and require a completely rational use and many times the houses must be quarantined.
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Likewise, there is also the possibility of use pesticide baits so that the termites take them to their nests and thus all the insects die. This is a slower method and may not be foolproof if the pest is already widespread.
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The truth is that the best method to eliminate termites is the prevention. We must ensure that they do not enter our houses, covering cracks and other corners where they can slip; As well as it will also be important to check the furniture in our home, especially the oldest ones, to make sure that they are in perfect condition.
Vetiver oil can be particularly effective. Vetiver oil is only good if you don’t have termites yet or want to avoid new infestations, that is, to prevent.
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The furniture are one of the favorite places of termites, so it is important that you protect them with a series of specific treatments that will help you control your home. It is important that you clean the furniture with an anti-termite liquid, especially in the cavities that the object may have; It is also advisable to varnish the furniture to prevent termites from sneaking into it. In this article we give you more tips on how to protect furniture from termites.
