Baiting has received much publicity in the last couple of years. We use baits for subterranean termites on occasion. Baiting is not necessarily effective in all situations. Sometimes we will use a combination of conventional treatments with baits and sometimes we advise against baiting altogether. We must evaluate the situation to give the customer the best possible and most effective method of treatment for their situation.

The concept of baiting is to place monitor stations (non-treated cellulose) around the perimeter of the house. We come back in about one month to check for infestations and to determine where the concentration of infestations are located. We then replace monitor stakes with treated bait stations. The idea is that the termites take the treated bait back to their colony and infest the colony. Some baits claim colony elimination. This can take many months to several years if at all. Some times we will combine baiting with localized treatments. Baits are effective for long term colony reduction.

A termite baiting program can be integrated with a range of methods including drilling susceptible trees and eradication of any termite nest located therein. In addition, a localized or perimeter soil treatment using Termidor or Premise is also recommended.
Northwest termite uses both above ground and below ground bait stations. The product we find most versatile is Exterra.

Northwest Termite and Pest Control will always send our customers a copy of the label of any chemicals we use. If you are pregnant, have small children or are just concerned about the products being used we recommend you consult your doctor.

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For a Whole-Structure Fumigation, you will need to do the following:

Vacate the structure for 3 to 6 days
Remove all food, plants, medicine (any thing for human consumption).
Clear at least a 12-inch path around the perimeter of the structure, including brush, trees and attached fences.
When a fumigation is ordered, you will receive full instructions and sign a list of waivers.

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Electro-gun for termite control

Northwest Termite technicians are specialists in the use of the Electro-gun and Microwave system. These less invasive options are effective with drywood termites and beetles and provide another option instead of using poison gas. For more information, please read Vernard Lewis' homepage.

(From IPM Practitioner, February, 1998) This article, written by a California PCO, describes his experiences with least-toxic termite control over the past 15 years in Northern California.

Drywood termites, Incisitermes minor, are an important economic pest in California. They are responsible for millions of dollars worth of damage to homes and business annually. Drywood termites are at best difficult to detect. Their colonies exist deep inside wood, and except during periods when they swarm, or during renovation work to infested areas, they are rarely seen. The best determination of an infestation is finding their hexagonal-shaped fecal pellets, which are about the size of coarse salt (Potter 1997a).

Drywood termite inspections require a highly experienced inspector often with the use of specialized tools. One company uses specially trained dogs to detect infestations. Treatment options include categories of "whole house" or localized "spot treatments." Approximately 72% of drywood treatments are localized (Potter 1997b). There is very little empirical data on the efficacy of varying types of treatments, except for fumigation.

Villa Termiti, a 20 ft by 20 ft (6.1 m by 6.1 m) wood frame structure with stucco exterior and non-functioning plumbing and electrical wires was built at the University of California to test a variety of drywood termite treatments – heat, freezing, microwaves, Electrogun, and fumigation. Natural and artificially infested boards were built into the structure. All methods averaged at least 90% termite mortality (Lewis and Haverty 1996). [For a detailed summary, see Quarles 1996].

Northwest Termite, Inc. is an integrated pest management company. We do our best to use less toxic and still the most effective methods available. However, we have to be pragmatic. There are no true alternatives to fumigation for treating a "whole structure" effectively and economically. Some may argue that heat fumigation is a "whole structure" treatment. Though highly efficacious as a localized treatment, heat has many complications in both preparation and treatment for a whole house. There are cases where we would recommend a fumigation as the best possible treatment. This happens about 10% of the time.

Inspection and Treatment

We at Northwest Termite begin our treatment process with a thorough inspection to determine the extent of the infestation. For treatment, we have invested in a large microwave system and an Electrogun. These methods, combined with drill and injection, are both effective and relatively non-intrusive.

Once we have an idea of the infestation, we can begin our treatment with the Electrogun as a diagnostic tool. This can give us a better understanding of the extent of the infestation. The Electrogun works on the principle of "high voltage penetration." Wood, being a natural dielectric, will create resistance until a void or termite gallery is encountered. There is then a surge of current through this path of least resistance. Under optimum conditions, where the "drill and pin" technique is used, the Electrogun has proved to be 98% effective against drywood termites (see Quarles 1996; Lewis and Haverty 1996). Though sheet rock walls can be "scanned" with moderate efficacy, the Electrogun works best on exposed wood, as in an attic, eaves or subarea.

The microwave process seems to work best over covered walls, excluding thin paneling. The microwave process has been used in the forest products industry for years, but only recently has it been applied to drywood termite treatment. The process works by spinning water molecules, causing heat to be produced by friction. Anything containing water can be heated with microwaves. In treating for termites, wood may only have a moisture content of 4%, whereas termites can contain over 70% water. Consequently, termites die by boiling to death. Microwaves have limitations as well. Minor damage can occur to structures if the operator is inexperienced. Also, it lacks sufficient portability for treating eaves and subareas. Both Electrogun and Microwave should only be used by experienced, trained technicians. As with any tool, its effectiveness is directly related to the experience of the operator. The technicians at Northwest undergo continuous training. We follow all physical treatments with drill and injection of wood with either borates or the live fungus Metarhizium anisopliae (Bioblast) If we find live termites in the wood, we inject BioBlast into the galleries. The fungus will remain active up to 30 days. This method is highly effective, but short-lived (Quarles, 1997). On most wood, we inject borates to give long-term residual protection. We always apply topical applications of borate to exposed wood in infested areas for long-term prevention.

Many infestations can be avoided with proper protections. Many of these protections should be part of home maintenance, which includes keeping your home well-sealed and in a water-tight condition. Exposed beams should be protected from the elements. Drywood termites will typically infest the most exposed areas of your home, especially where incipient decay may be present. The idea is to keep your home a place that is not "inviting" to termites. Topical applications of borate offer long-term prevention against many wood-destroying organisms if applied to enclosed areas on unfinished surfaces. Northwest Termite has a pretreatment program for people building their homes. We treat all exposed wood with borates during the framing process of the home.

I would like to conclude by stating that we are always 100% effective, however we are not. Sometimes on difficult jobs we may have to re-treat an infested area several times. Integrated Pest Management requires more work and experience on the part of the technician and inspector. It also allows homeowners to take a more proactive approach to protecting their homes.

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If you are building a new home, borates can be used as a pretreatment to wood. We treat the raw wood after framing and roofing are up, but before insulation and drywall are installed. If your home is already built, the product works effectively as a preventative to infestations by treating any exposed wood, or wood used for any future additions you may make to your home. Many times your best solution for existing infestations is treating problem areas remedially by either spray, foam, injection or dust.

Read about Borates at these Company websites:

Nisus Corporation

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