In India standard Termite management techniques for eliminating subterranean termites involve applying/injecting toxic anti-termite chemicals to your property, it’s soil walls and floor. The Good news is that after years of research and development, now termite elimination with baiting method is available in India.
Overview of Anti termite Baiting system or Termite colony elimination system
It is about installing bait stations which contains a material which is liked by termites, like a piece of wood or other cellulosic material. It is placed around the perimeter of the building. Then it is required to be inspected frequently by a termite control operator to check if there are any termites in these bait stations. If termites are found feeding in a bait station, wood baited with the chemical is inserted. The termites will take the baited wood back to the colony for wider consumption.
On reaching their colony termites have a habit of sharing the bait containing food with queen and other member of colony. This way termiticide is picked up and spread to the queen which eventually dies and the whole colony is eliminated. The best part is that although the active ingredients in the baits are toxic pesticides, they’re effective in contained and pre-calculated milligram-sized doses as compared to the conventional method of pumping 50 to 100 litres in and around your home/property.
But the downside is that termite pest control with Baits system do not work as quickly as the fast-acting termiticide used in soil treatments. It can sometimes take several months for a baiting system to destroy a colony, which seems like a long period. But, it is an established fact that most termite damage takes place over the course of years, not months.
WHY USE BAITING SYSTEM?
Professionally installed baiting stations are the least invasive and most preferred method for getting rid of subterranean termites which effect most modern houses in Northern India including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida and NCR region. Termite Baiting method uses termite’s own food habit of feeding their colony members to deliver poison to the entire colony. Termite baiting is used in situations where a chemical soil barrier is not practical or possible. It is the ideal alternative to a chemical treatment for those who don’t like the extensive use of toxic chemicals.
Advantages to Termite Bait Systems
- It can also be used for early detection and one of it’s the best application is that stations can be used without chemicals to test for the presence of termites (i.e termite monitoring) in your area.
- Bait systems use a very limited amount of insecticide in a targeted location, which makes them a relatively eco-friendly method of termite treatment when compared to conventional termite control methods. In fact, termite baits may also be used in situations where conventional methods of termite treatment are prohibited or have gone ineffective.
- It can safely be used in areas, such as near water sources that could become contaminated. It is very helpful in certain building structures which have monumental value, where drilling and injection method is not possible.
- It is easier to install termite baits around a property than it is to inject liquid soil chemical around a house.
- Safe for children and pets – as there are no chemical applied to the soil, baiting is ideal if you have children and pets, even the termite bait is non-toxic to mammals.
- One process which makes Baiting and monitoring system advantageous over traditional methods of termite control is its capabilities in the case of invasion by neighbouring colonies. When a colony is knocked out and other colonies exist in neighbourhood areas then those termite colonies in the neighbourhood try to invade. With Baiting system in place members of the invading colony could also be eliminated by the same bait, and thus it would make sense to maintain baits in their original location.
- Anti termite Baiting system is extremely effective in outside areas like yards of big houses, open lawns of Farmhouses , Gardens, etc. and they may be used in conjunction with other methods of termite control for built up areas.
How does a termite baiting system work?
Termite baiting systems are actually termite monitoring and baiting systems. Plastic bait stations containing a special type of wood, attractive to termites are placed in the ground around the property. This Non-baited wood which is placed in each station is regularly monitored for any termite activity.
The monitoring stations are placed around every 10-15 feet apart (on average) around the periphery of the property. Over years of research under Indian climatic condition, this has shown to be the optimal distance to rule out the chances of termites entering your home without feeding on a monitoring station. Depending on the level of activity at the stations, a termite baiting expert may recommend adding more bait stations. He may even decide changing the location of station to a more suitable place.
If any termite activity is noticed then this food (wood) is replaced by a specific Bait. The termite bait is a mixture of cellulose material (similar to that found in wood, but more attractive) and a slow-acting termiticide. A “tasty” bait is a prerequisite so that termites will readily consume it, even in the presence of competing tree roots, stumps, woodpiles and building’s wooden structure. Termites cannot see or smell the baits underground. They freely wander into them during their restless foraging activities.
Termites keep on feeding this bait without being killed and are allowed to go back to their termite colony. Delayed-action triggers the transmission of the lethal agent to other termites and queen and including those that never fed on the bait.
It is an established fact that once termite queen is killed the whole colony perishes. An entire colony can be eliminated in this manner, although total colony elimination is not always necessary to achieve structural protection.
How long does it take to control termites using Baiting technology?
Depending on the season of the year and population size of the colony, it typically takes 4-8 month to eliminate a colony but can take up to 12 months in rare cases. For some property owners, taking several months to achieve control is too long, but homeowners can remain assured since the termites feeding on the bait are not attacking their home. Moreover, by actually eliminating the colony, they are providing protection to your property for long durations.
One of the biggest challenges in baiting is getting termites to discover the baits in the first place. This time taken by termites for discovery will vary from property to property, depending on such factors as termite foraging intensity, time of year, moisture, and food availability. For example, on one infested property of our client in DLF farms in Chattarpur, Delhi, more than a dozen monitoring devices were “hit” (attacked) by termites within a fortnight of installation. Just contrary to this, another Farm-house in the same neighbourhood, no below-ground stations were attacked during a span of full six months. Similar variations in bait detection by termites have been reported elsewhere in the Delhi and Gurgaon region.
In tropical climates such as in Northern India, bait discovery usually will be greatest with the onset of spring through Post-monsoon when termite colonies are most active. Baiting after the onset of winter is generally less fruitful.
Continued Monitoring
After the colony is eliminated and termites activity are no longer found in installed bait stations, the baits are once again replaced with untreated wood pieces and monitored continuously. Even if the termite colony threatening the structure has been eliminated, termites from neighbouring colonies can reinvade the area. Re-infestation can also occur if only the original colony was partially eliminated.
Therefore structures protected with Baiting system should be continually inspected, monitored and maintained to prevent any reinvasion from new colonies or previously suppressed ones.
Independent research studies, including some performed by Forest Research Institute, India indicates that the Colony Elimination System with Baiting method is an effective termite control option. Some of these studies involved structures, that could not be controlled using conventional Anti termite treatment methods.
Termite monitoring and baiting systems are considered the smartest way to protect your home, so ask your pest control professional about these options. We only use the active chemical ingredient when termites are feeding. We make use of the two very unique Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) chemicals i.e Hexaflumuron and Chlorfluazuron. These Insect Growth Regulators (IGR) chemicals are chitin synthesis inhibitors. Termites need to shed their shell or chitin every few weeks and these chemicals invade the colony by termites not being able to suspect it and don’t allow the termites to shed their shell thereby effectively choking the termites to death in their own shell. Once the colony is destroyed, we take the active ingredient out. Thereafter, with constant monitoring we try catching new colonies before they can grow and cause damage. Our trained termite control expert can visit your site and explain whether “bait and monitoring system” or liquid treatment/ direct wood treatment, or a combination of these methods will provide a better protection to your property. If you’re in Delhi, NCR or Northern part of India, you can always give us a call at 9810087539 or visit us at www.cpcindia.in . Our team will provide you with a free quote and guide you through the process. Our baiting system not only stops the termites from feeding on a property but offers a complete colony elimination solution at a most competitive cost. We also undertake Anti microbial disinfection treatment of residential and commercial buildings against Coronavirus and other viral diseases. You can visit us at http://www.cpcindia.in/blog/coronavirus-disinfection/ for more details.
6 Comments
Sirs,
I was looking up every where for a solution to my concern till someone told me to try bayer’s Premise but luckily I came accros your site.
My question is – Which termitecide should be used in an agricultural farm where the ground while digging hits termite colonies and these termites find its way to the wooden houses in the farm as well.
Anticipating an awesome solution.
Regards
Asangla syiem.
Shillong: Meghalaya.
Nice article, we hate termites.
Very Helpful article. Made me realise how important it is to hire a profession pest control company to get the job done rather than DIY
I tried several companies but Capital Termite Control Service is working to free your homes from infested by termites. They are the best termite controller in all of New Delhi and NCR.
I live in Gujarat. Where can I buy bait stations.
I feel CPC(I) deals very well with the issue of pest infestation. They have trained professionals with advanced technique to deal with the problem. The trained professionals know Pest control is the removal of pest from the origin. When we try household remedy to control the pests, it cannot remove them from the root. That is the reason after some days they appear again. I feel Pest Control is the best solution for the infestation at my home and office.