There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact. Pest control specialists apply it around the perimeter of homes.
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.
White vinegar is another effective substance for killing termites and other insects. There are multiple ways you can use it: Straight.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The fact that borax can be used to get rid of termites is obvious. Boric acid does not work on contact. It is necessary to make insects ingest borates. Once eaten, borax acid comes into operation and starts killing a termite destroying its stomach and nervous system.
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.
It's true that ammonia will kill termites; however, that doesn't make ammonia a good remedy for homeowners looking to DIY termite control. The problem with using Windex or another product containing ammonia to kill termites is that you can't access the colony this way.
Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them.
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.
Termidor - (Fipronyl) is widely used for termite control and is the most popular termiticide in the USA. Termidor is the only Termiticide to show 100% effectiveness against termites and also provides termite colony elimination.
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.
If you suspect your home is infested with termites, you don't need to burn your house down, you just need the right help to remove the colony. Another thing you shouldn't be doing is using insect spray to solve your termite infestation.
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.
Fumigation
Fumigation is an intensive way to rid your home of severe termite infestations. The process involves enclosing the infested area and exposing all termites inside it to sulfuryl fluoride gas (Vikane). The fumigation process typically takes around 3 days.
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.
A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar!