What chemical kills termites? There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Combining half a cup of vinegar with the juice of two lemons creates an effective, acidic spray that is safer than boric acid but also kills termites.
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!
In some cases of smaller infestations, it's possible to get rid of termites yourself. You can try some of the below DIY methods: Applying liquid or foam termiticides to your home's exterior. Using essential oils or beneficial nematodes as an organic solution.
Expose your furniture to sunlight often
Leave your wooden furniture in sunlight for two to three days continuously as treatment for termite control. Termites can't stand the heat and, in turn, die easily. This method also helps get rid of the moisture in the furniture, thus getting rid of termites permanently.
White vinegar is another effective substance for killing termites and other insects. There are multiple ways you can use it: Straight.
Unfortunately, spraying Windex doesn't allow you to do that. The remaining termites will reproduce and continue to damage your home. If you want to eliminate termites, ammonia won't work. Use Boric Acid: Another standard DIY method of termite removal is boric acid.
Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them.
Salt is a very effective termite killer according to the team at termite Phoenix. To eliminate termites you should take some salt and spread it on the ground outside your house. Make sure that you cover the entire perimeter. Make a void in the ground outside the house and fill it with water and rock salt.
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.
Boric acid shuts down termites' nervous systems and dries them out. To treat a termite infestation, liberally coat infested areas with the powder. Alternatively, you can create a spray by mixing a teaspoon of boric acid with a cup of hot water, then spray every other day.
Borax can kill termites by interfering with a termite's digestion, which can cause its death. While it can be injected in powder form into a drywood termite colony, it is difficult to fully expose all termites in a colony to the powder.
On average, termites will start dying off within a day or two, if you are using chemical treatment. In the event of serious infestations, you may have to wait longer for the treatment to kill the entire colony, since it has to reach the queen.
Termite Colonies Are Huge!
Termites can reproduce extremely fast, this is the second reason why it's so hard to get rid of termites for the average homeowner. Some queens can lay several thousand eggs per day, which means a colony is constantly growing.
Place termite baits around your house wherever you think the infestation is located. These baits will attract the termites to effective poison. Keep the termite baits out of the way of kids and pets. Use a termiticide.