While termites generally prefer wood, they can also be attracted to other cellulose-based materials like cardboard. Storing cardboard boxes in basements or garages can inadvertently invite termites into your home, potentially leading to more significant structural damage.
Redwood is a softwood, but is naturally resistant for termites, which is why it makes a good building material and works well for fences and outdoor furniture. Teak is a tropical hardwood often used to make outdoor furniture, because it is very durable and high density.
A: Cut some cardboard pieces about 2 feet square. Then dig a shallow hole to place them in. Soak the cardboard with water and sprinkle it heavily with boric acid or borax and then bury it. Check it in about a week to see if there is any activity. If not, sprinkle some seltzer water on the cardboard and rebury it.
Termites dislike certain odors that act as repellents to them. Some of the common smells they hate include orange oil, neem oil, garlic, cinnamon, vinegar, mint, and citrus.
3 - Tea Tree Oil & Other Essential Oils
If you want to avoid termites at home, you can use essential oils, such as cinnamon oil, clove bud oil, or the famous tea tree oil. To use them properly, all you have to do is to fill them in a mist sprayer and spray on the damaged areas to repel termites.
Termites. While termites generally prefer wood, they can also be attracted to other cellulose-based materials like cardboard. Storing cardboard boxes in basements or garages can inadvertently invite termites into your home, potentially leading to more significant structural damage.
Vinegar, particularly white vinegar and apple cider vinegar, contains acetic acid, which can corrode the exoskeletons of termites, leading to their dehydration and eventual demise.
Thus, neem oil for termites can be the best natural termite killer and help you get rid of termites permanently from your wooden structures. If you are wondering how to do neem oil treatment for termites, simply inject it inside the wooden structures.
1) Newspaper and cardboard sheet mulches can become pest havens. Termites were found to prefer cardboard over wood chips as a food source, and rodents such as voles often nest underneath mulch sheets.
Minimize the likelihood of cracks in the concrete. Install metal mesh or sand/basalt termite barriers around the foundation. Seal around all utilities that go through the slab. Use termite-resistant construction materials.
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.
BWP (Boiling Water Proof) Plywood: This plywood is made with phenolic resins that offer excellent resistance to moisture and termites. It's a popular choice for both indoor and outdoor applications. Gurjan Plywood: Made from the Gurjan tree, this plywood has natural oils that repel termites.
However, it seems that two plants, catnip and vetiver grass, have shown promise in studies as termite repellents. According to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center (LSU AgCenter), research shows that vetiver grass contains compounds that repel Formosan subterranean termites.
Newer homes may also be susceptible to infestation and damage. Termites will infest wood of newly built homes just as readily as older homes. If considering the purchase of a newly constructed home, ask the seller whether home has received a termite pretreatment.
“We tested several insecticidal essential oils on individual western drywood termites and found that methyl salicylate, or wintergreen oil, killed them the fastest,” said Choe.
The sudden emergence of flying termites is typically associated with conducive breeding conditions, primarily dictated by the weather. These conditions include warm temperatures and high humidity, usually after rain.
One of the biggest concerns people have when it comes to termite control is whether they can get rid of termites on their own. The answer is almost always a resounding “no”. Treating termites is not a DIY project, as colonies can be hidden anywhere in or near your home and often in areas you can't access.
By Hitching a Ride on Infested Items
Species like drywood termites can spread to new locations by traveling with infested items. This includes moving infested wood or furniture from place to place. Even small objects like cardboard boxes can harbor termites if they originate from an infested area.
Other mammalian hunters of termites include echidnas, foxes, galagos, numbats, mongooses, mice, pangolins, genets, civits, bats, echidnas, moles, shrews, bibbies, and even humans. Members of aboriginal tribes in Australia are known to eat termites as are members of various tribes in Africa.
Cardboard Trap Treatment
The traps consist of specially treated cardboard that is highly attractive to termites, making it an effective tool for early detection and monitoring. Once termites discover the cardboard trap, they begin to feed on it, unknowingly marking the trap as a food source.
Marigolds are other plants that repel termites. These hardy annuals have bright orange and yellow blooms. They can repel a variety of different pests, including termites. They are easy to grow and can thrive in a variety of conditions, making them a popular choice for natural pest control.
With that said, winter is one of the best times of year for termite control. So, should you get termite treatment in the winter? In many cases, yes, winter termite treatment is ideal for homeowners and business owners.