Termites never stop eating wood because they feed on wood to survive. However, it has been found that termites do not like the smell of cedarwood, geranium, tea tree oil, cinnamon, clove bud, and garlic oils. Termites have antennae to smell and communicate for the food source instead of a nose like human beings.
Boric acid. 'Spraying boric acid is a great way to get rid of termites, just as it is effective for killing carpenter ants,' says Rachel. 'A natural pesticide, boric acid is also a wood preservative so spraying this powder diluted in water can kill two birds with one stone.
Insects, Nematodes and Arachnids. The greatest hunters of termites are their slightly larger insect cousins, the ants. Megaponera analis is an ant species that only eats termites, which it does by raiding termite colonies for hours at a time.
Borate is a natural mineral. Its active ingredient is a salt that is harmless to humans and animals, but quite deadly to termites. Borates make it impossible for termites to absorb nutrition, so they starve to death. You can buy sodium borate in the laundry soap aisle of any supermarket.
Bifen XTA: Best Fast-acting
Bifen XTS is a fast-acting, oil-based termiticide that can kill termites in 24 hours by attacking their nervous systems.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar!
Termites never stop eating wood because they feed on wood to survive. However, it has been found that termites do not like the smell of cedarwood, geranium, tea tree oil, cinnamon, clove bud, and garlic oils. Termites have antennae to smell and communicate for the food source instead of a nose like human beings.
As flying termites are not drawn to yellow, red, and purple-colored lights, it would be useful to place some of these colored lightbulbs outside your house to chase them away. In a nutshell, the experience of termites swarming to a light source can be both negative and positive.
Termites are not dangerous and they do not affect people much. Even though they are capable of biting and stinging just like any other insect, they can do no harm to humans. Termites are not known to be a health hazard to humans because they do not transmit diseases that are harmful to people.
Orange oil can irritate the stomachs, eyes, and skin of humans, but it's absolutely devastating to termites. In fact, for creatures like cockroaches, ants, dust mites, flies, wasps, spiders, crickets, and termites, orange oil can be a deadly toxin.
The termite king lives a well-protected life underground. Its primary roles are to mate with the queen and to release pheromones. Since termite kings do not move out of the nest, they do not directly harm humans.
Boric acid is often recommended for the elimination of termites. Boric acid is a natural pesticide and usually comes in the powder form. You can sprinkle it in the area of infestation or mix it with water to spray in the area. It might be best to use goggles, masks and gloves while spraying the acid.
Install Pea Gravel around the Foundation of Your Home
This suggestion is only for homeowners serious about preventing termites. Install 8-10 inches of pea gravel next to the foundation of your home to keep your mulch from touching your home's foundation. Termites have a terrible time tunneling through pea gravel.
During mating season, winged reproductives, called alates, swarm at dusk in the spring months, usually after rainfall, to find a mate and start new colonies. Sometimes termites swarm because the colony has matured to the point where it is no longer manageable and new colonies need to form for the colony to survive.
Many of our customers have asked us if Clorox bleach can be used to kill termites. The answer is yes, Clorox, or any other brand of bleach can be used to kill termites. Termites breathe through small holes in their exoskeleton. When you spray a termite with bleach, the bleach is absorbed by the termite which kills it.
“If you suspect you have termites, don't panic,” said Fawn Pattinson, executive director of the Agricultural Resources Center Pesticide Education Project, a nonprofit consumer advocate group based in Raleigh that works to prevent human and environmental exposure to toxic pesticides.
Moth balls are an easy and effective way to keep termites away from your home. Simply place a few moth balls around the perimeter of your home, and you can rest assured knowing that these pests will stay away. Essential oils, such as cinnamon oil, clove bud oil, or tea tree oil, have been shown to repel termites.
White Vinegar Works
The majority of us, do have a bottle of white vinegar in our kitchens. So that's it, mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and half a cup of water. Your termite-killing solution is ready to kill these wood-loving pests.
Place coffee grounds around the foundation of your home in areas where insects or other pests are entering, or mix them in with mulch while doing landscaping to help keep ants and termites from infesting your mulch bed.
Baking soda is another home remedy that we've seen homeowners try. Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them.
Borax, also referred to as sodium borate, is a home remedy that can be used to kill both subterranean termites and drywood termites. This substance can be used in powder form or mixed with water to be used as a spray. When ingested, it dehydrates the termites and shuts down their nervous systems.
Have you ever wondered if Epsom salt can kill termites? The answer is yes, salt, even Epsom salt, can kill these creepy pests. Pouring saltwater with a high salt content into termite holes can be an effective remedy.