Those tiny little termites you may have spotted in your basement or around the standing water in your bathroom could be doing quite a number on your household. In fact, these terrible pests cause billions of dollars in damage on structures all over the country each year. Although they mostly crave wood, these creatures will eat anything containing cellulose and can therefore do a number on books, papers, trees, plants, insulation and filtration systems. If you have been thinking about purchasing termite bait or are unsure about which are the best kinds of termite and pest control, read on.

You may be tempted to save money and treat this problem on your own, but calling in a professional is by far the safest way to get rid of these fearsome pests. You may think pest control workers do not know anything you do not, but you may be very wrong, ridding a home of termites actually requires some professional know-how, and homeowners are not often equipped with this sort of knowledge. It may come as a surprise to learn, for instance, that some knowledge about the field of construction is required simply to identify the area in which the termites have built their nest. They are clever hiders and because they like to dwell inside of wooden structures, they may be very difficult to find for the untrained eye. Professional equipment also comes in handy when it comes to killing termites things like pumps, tanks and drills are required to render the large amount of pesticide necessary to kill an infestation. And when it comes to using pesticides, knowledge is required in order to use them safely and effectively.

Unless the infestation is limited to the woodpile or mailbox both being located very far from your home, it is always best to call a professional to have the property carefully examined. A professional will be able to determine the extent of the damage done, and how best to go about treating the termite problem. Generally two types of treatments are used: liquid pesticides and bait treatments.

Liquid termiticides are generally dispersed on the ground outside, around and below the structure of the home. An exterminator uses a specialized tool to help the pesticide seep into the soil around, below and inside the home’s foundations, where termites could be hiding out. There are two types of termiticides, repellants and non-repellents and both work to form a chemical wall that will block the termites’ passage between the soil and the building. Termites stranded in the building will die when they are unable to reach the soil.

Baiting these bugs means that the pests are lured to an area below the ground using baits made of plastic cylinders. These are filled with cellulose-heavy substances favored by termites, as well as a poison that will kill the creatures as they take their fill of the bait. The poison is slow to act, however, so that they may return to the nest to spread the poison food.

Author Bio: Chuck R. Stewart is a writer who frequently writes on the topic of termite and pest control issues. He often writes on the topic of termite bait and the value of using it.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: termite and pest control,termite bait