Termites can not only be a pain, but can also become a financial burden. They tear apart your house and lead to thousands of dollars of damage repair if you don’t find a way to take care of your termite problem quickly and properly. Let’s see what we can do in helping you solve the question of how to get rid of termites.

Termites: A Short Introduction

What are termites? Termites are social insects that commonly feed on wooden structures such as houses or furniture. They are pests and are a constant threat to our home. A common misconception about termites is that they are white ants. But unlike ants which normally have hard bodies and dark in color, termites have soft bodies and are light in color.

Termites live in colonies and follow a certain caste made up of a reproductive pair, workers, and soldiers. Worker termites are task to build the nest and provide food. They also groom the large egg-laying queen termite and other members of the colony. Soldier termites are the ones who provide protection for the colony. The reproductive pairs, made up of a queen and a king, maintain the population of the colony by ensuring that the eggs are constantly supplied.

What are the signs that termites have invaded my home? To start with, a termite infested house will have dirt or mud sticking out of the cracks of floor boards, floor joints, or beams. This mud may also accumulate in the corners or on wooden walls. Another sign that indicates that termite invasion has started is when the wooden parts of the house grow hollow. The wood will easily break apart.

Termite Control

There are a lot of ways to solve termite problems. But I do believe that precluding these problems is always better than actually treating or controlling the pest. Planning to avoid this pest infestation in your beloved home is superior than exterminating them when they start to become a nuisance. And as they say, “Prevention is better than cure.”

How to Get Rid of Termites Naturally:

1. Termites don’t like light. They won’t strive well if they are exposed to direct light, whether artificial or natural. So make sure that your home gets enough light and it should not be dim so that the termite problem can be prevented. Hence expose dark places in your household.
2. Termites enjoy damp areas. Termites don’t survive in hot weather or high temperatures. Let sunlight come in to avoid dampness. Eliminate damp areas in your home. One way of eliminating dampness is by repairing leaking faucets, broken pipes, and broken air conditioning units. Another way to eliminate dampness is by redirecting
   water from the foundation.
3. As mentioned in the introduction, the queen is an important part of the colony. It is responsible for producing eggs that keep the population growing. From these eggs come the worker and soldier termites, another major part of the work force of the colony. Destroy their habitat like mounds of earth or molehill in your yard where the queen is residing. Capture the queen and the tribe of termites will diminish.
4. Remove their source of food. Termites feed on wood. Keeping wood in your house away from contact with the soil is an excellent way of preventing the termites from reaching their food. You should also get rid of stumps or other wooden debris near your house. Lastly, always keep lumber or firewood away from the foundation.
5. This last tip is a no brainer. Maintain cleanliness in your surroundings. You should the keep the vents clear and  open. Also, keep the gutters and down-spouts clean.

Termite Treatment:

If this section is your area of interest, you are likely already trying to figure out how to get rid of termites through some form of termite killer. A quick overview of this is as follows:

1. Only commercially prepared and registered termiticides should be used. Directions must be followed carefully.
2. If the termite pest is recurring, a licensed pest-control agent should be consulted.
3. People who are not sure of their problem can consult their local pesticide authority.

Some of the commercial termite killer products I recommend include the following:

You should take note that extensive treatment beyond what you can get from the above products should only be done by professional exterminators. They are trained and have extensive experience in this kind of things. Chemicals are used that may potentially harm untrained persons. Precautionary measures should be done when powerful chemicals are used. Some pesticides and termiticides needs proper attention from trained professionals in order for the more be handled, conducted, and applied effectively.

Types of Termites

There are four types of termites I would like to bring to your attention to help you more effectively answer the question of how to get rid of termites. These termites are the Dampwood termites, the Subterranean (Ground) termites, the Formosan termites, and the Drywood Termites. The more you know about these insects, the easier it will be for you to prevent and kill termites.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites –as the name implies, are found in woods that are damp or decaying. Dampwood termites are bigger than the Subterranean termites. The winged termites measures one inch long including their wings. The soldier  can be as big as 3/4”. They have a large head with pinchers on the front. There are no workers. The young dampwood termite does the work in the colony. Dampwood termites do not have contact with the soil. These termites generally don’t infest your house, so they likely won’t be of top priority for you.

Subterranian / Ground Termites

Subterranean (Ground) termites – live in the soil and make tunnels because without tunnels, they die when expose to  light. These termites can consume 15 pounds of wood per day and can be the biggest scares for home owners. They  build large colonies underground with tunnels and chambers made of mud and saliva. These colonies are active for 3 to 5 years after which reproductive winged termites like flying ants appear. They feed on fibrous materials like books,  wooden picture frames, woollen carpets and other wooden parts of your homes.

Formosan Termites

Formosan Termites – With scientific name Coptotermus Formosanus, the Formosan termites are native of East Asia and arrived in the United States via importation of wood cargo used in railroad stakes. Lucky us! Formosan termites colonies are much bigger compared to other species and the most destructive since they can inflict damage to homes, boats, live trees and other wooden properties. If you see one of these termites, look out! They won’t damage you, but they will tear apart your home!

Drywood Termites

Drywood Termites – These kinds of termites build their chamber in cellulose-based materials such as lumber and wooden parts. When a drywood termite colony is mature, swarms of winged male and female reproductive insects are produced. These reproductive termites fly out of their colony to create new colonies after mating. Drywood termites are less common than subterranean, yet the damage they cause is great. Drywood termite infestations are identifiable by piles of small feces pellets. These fecal pellets are often noticed in places like windowsills.

How to Get Rid of Termites Videos

Below are some videos I found that may help those who want to learn more about the topic of how to get rid of termites and also for those who learn more through visual media. Enjoy.

Termite Control: How to Get Rid of Termites

Insect Pest Control: Five Ways on How to Get Rid of Termites

Contact us if you have any other ideas on how to get rid of termites.