The fragrance of marigolds is said to repel many lawn and garden pests, one of which is termites. Because the scent is what keeps the termites away, your best bet is to plant an especially fragrant variety of marigolds. French marigolds and African marigolds are good options.
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.
Check for leaks: Subterranean termites can't live without moisture. Keep your home dry to keep them at bay, especially your roof and air conditioner. Clean gutters and pipes: Termites love to hide in warm, dark, moist places. Clean out gutters and pipes often to prevent termites from settling in.
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.
Salt. Concentrated salt kills termites by dehydrating them and causing them to die. All you have to do is add salt and warm water in a standard quart jar and stir until well combined. The more salt there is, the better.
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.
A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar!
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.
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.
White vinegar is another effective substance for killing termites and other insects. There are multiple ways you can use it: Straight.
In general, termites are able to survive even two years while living in a house, before they eventually die on their own. However, it is impossible to get rid of termites permanently from the environment.
Spotting a problem early on will make it easier to get the proper termite extermination your home needs. When you're able to recognize some of the early signs of these invasive insects, you can end up saving your home and your wallet from serious damage.
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.
That's right – moth balls can help keep your home free of these destructive pests. Termites are attracted to wood, which is why they can cause so much damage to homes. Moth balls emit a strong odor that termites find repulsive.
Marsupials and Mammals
In the cat family, civets and genets are known for eating termites. Other smaller animals that feed on termites include bats, mongooses, and numbats. Another animal that can eat termites is anteaters. Echidnas, anteaters, and aardvarks are fond of searching for termites to feed on.
Biological control is becoming more popular as these methods do not involve any manmade chemicals. One technique is to apply beneficial nematodes to termite nests. These microscopic, threadlike animals have been used as pest control for years: they are added to water and then poured into the openings of the nests.
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.
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.
Bleach can only be used to kill the termites that you can see. If there are termites living in the walls, floor or roof of your house, you will not be able to get rid of them with bleach. Chances are, if you can see some termites, there are probably thousands that you cannot see.
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.