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Frequently Asked Questions
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How Good Is Termidor and Do Only Good Companies Offer A Repair Warranty ?
Q- I live in South Carolina and we just bought a
home. I am in the process of finding a company to treat the house and then setup an
annual contract with them.
My problem is I have been told 3 different stories now from these
companies. I think that I may have decided on one
that says he uses this new chemical called termidor. He said that it is a waxy
substance that sticks to them and they take it back to the colony and it kills them.
Have you heard of this chemical??? Also, do you
think that only the good companies offer a repair warranty??? This company that uses
the termidor said that he offers a 5 year warranty and that after that we would have to
reapply the chemical and then the warranty would continue. Is this pretty normal?
A- Termidor is applied like any other termite chemical, it is mixed with
water, it has no waxy properties and is applied to the soil. According to the manufacturer, Termidor (active ingredient - fipronyl) works as a
"cell degenerator" and therefore has a slow killing effect on the termites -
usually 90 days. It is passed off to the other termites through
"lipophilic" or "through the skin" contact and is translocated around
the colony network by the termites and body to body contact. No feeding is necessary as is
the case with Sentricon and Exterra. Because Termidor works in such a slow manner, we
recommend subsequent follow up inspections to insure that it is working properly.
The colony elimination properties of Termidor have not yet been proven in the United
States. In my opinion, Premise 2 is just as effective as Termidor. The bottom
line is that the pest guy is probably on commission. Don't believe
everything a salesman tells you.
Repair warranties are not worth the paper that they are written on. The word
"repair" in repair warranty means exactly that. They will repair at their
discretion any new termite damage that occurs in areas where termites have never been
found. But only if there is no conducive condition or "attraction" for the
termites such as a leaking pipe, wood in contact with the ground, etc. Areas where
termites have previously been found are automatically excluded from the repair
contract. If there is a conducive condition, then - no warranty. The repairs
are generally limited to spackle and paint - not removing or replacing walls, etc..
Most repairs that are performed by these companies cost less than $25.00 in materials.
If the repairs are extensive and the termite company refuses to repair it to your
satisfaction, then your only remedy is to sue them. The problem is that some
companies have a disclaimer in their contract that specifies that any complaint will be
arbitrated before a professional arbitrator instead of going to court before a judge and a
jury. In essence you have waived your right to sue them by signing their contract.
These contracts have held up in court and the customer ends up getting the raw end
of the deal.
Just about all pest companies offer a "service guarantee" or "retreatment
guarantee".. This means that they will return to reservice or retreat if the
termites show up. This is a standard type of warranty and in my opinion the best.
Repair warranties are a marketing tool used by larger companies that are not an
insurance policy. They are a carefully worded way to impress you to close the sale,
but usually worthless if you file a claim.
Sometimes a little research is well worth the time and effort and may save you a lot of
time and grief. Check out your pest company carefully. Then if you decide to
do it yourself, we can help.
Check out this link to find out how some pest companies treat their customers - http://www.syix.com/emu/index.htm
Wants To Purchase Sentricon or Exterra
Q - I own 5 homes in Florida... I want to purchase a baiting system (like
Sentricon
or Exterra) that baits termites and uses a a chitin inhibitor that will eventually destroy the entire colony.... I am really just
interested in killing all the bugs with a bait system, and I seem to get from the
material that the chitin inhibitors are the best... ??
A - Sentricon, Exterra and Advance are only available from a few select authorized pest companies.
Termite baiting can be established with any toxicant, including Terminate, Firstline. A problem that is being reported with Chitin Inhibitors is that they do not
affect all life forms of the Termites. The Queens, soldiers, and reproductives do not
molt, so they are not effected. Also some early Chitin Inhibitors did not contain enough
material, so they too were not effective. That is why the amount of Hexaflumuron was
quadrupled (4 times original amount) in Sentricon. To say that chitin inhibitors are the best is not a fair
statement. Thousands of pest companies successfully use Stomach Poisons
(Sulfluramid) in their termite baiting programs.
Sulflurimid kills all life forms of the termites that ingest it.
It also works a little faster than the Chitin Inhibitors. Texas A&M University
recently reported that in their tests, they got better results from Sulflurimid than from
Chitin Inhibitors. Orkin is using Firstline (Sulflurimid) here in Texas
and reportedly on a National basis. My advice is to that if you want to
spend a lot of money on something that has less than a 50 % chance of working
within 2 years, then go with Sentricon or Exterra. If you want to kill
the termites now but are not concerned about future infestations, use Premise
2 and perform spot treatments. If you want to kill the termites now and
are concerned about future infestations, then use Premise 2 along with either
the HomeChoice or the Firstline Smartdisc termite bait systems.
Considering that most bait systems only cost the pest companies about $400,
you can save a fortune if you do it yourself. And if you stick with it,
you can get the same or even better results.
Which Termite Bait System Is Better
- HomeChoice or Firstline Smartdisc ?
Q - I am on a limited income and am interested in termite baiting. After looking through your catalog, I find that you sell Homechoice and Smartdisc termite kits. I am confused as to which system is the best for me. We live in Southern Georgia and it stays wet alot. Any recommendations ?
A - The HomeChoice Termite Bait Kits and the
Smartdisc Termite
Bait Kits will both work well in southern Georgia. For that matter, they will work
well just about anywhere where the soil has a chance to dry out occasionally. We
sell them to customers all over the World.
The only difference between the two kits is in the actual
Smartdisc
stations and the HomeChoice stations themselves. The Smartdisc stations are
green
and come with a large solar ring which is designed to help heat up the soil under the
station to help attract termites. It also has special channels designed into the
solar ring to help guide the blind termites into the station where the wood detector is.
I guess it's kind of like herding cattle. :-) It also has a see thru
clear lid that easily removes for inspection. It is a very large station and our
second most popular.
The HomeChoice station (our most popular) is green and comes with a moisture seal inside
to help keep the wood detector moist. It also comes with a numbeRing to help number
the stations and to help warn people to stay away. The numbeRing is easily
removable. You don't have to use it. The HomeChoice station also is easier to
install than the Smartdisc and has a locking lid. Perfect for areas where children
or pets play (or even nosy neighbors). This station works very well in sandy or wet
soils and also works well in dry soils. I like it the best.
Both kits are available with or without toxicant (Terminate), and parts for
the stations are available, replacement wood detectors, etc. We have sold thousands
of kits and have never had one complaint. These kits work as advertised. Best of all,
you can do Termite Baiting just like the pros - and save thousands of dollars in the
process. Just what you were trying to do - right ? :-)
Can I Use Terminate Without A Detector Station ?
Q - We want to do our own treatment and were advised to use Terminate by the sales rep at
Home Depot. Could you help us with some advise on the application. Can it be used without
a detector station ? We have a mobile home and are trying to save money.
HELP!!!
A - We do not recommend to use Terminate by itself - period. What the Sales Rep
failed to tell you is that if you do use Terminate by itself, you end up killing the scout
termites - which you do not want to kill. The worst part is that you have to replace
the Terminate stations every 30 days - whether they get eaten or not. The problem is that
the Terminate stations contain a matrix that consists of cardboard and Sulfurimid.
The cardboard only lasts about 30 days in the soil. After 30 -45
days the cardboard rots away and
the Terminate stations are no good. So you have to continually replace them.
Many people are lead to believe that 1 box of Terminate installed in the ground will take the
place of a $2000.00 professionally installed bait system. It does not work that way.
Most termite baiting programs will last at least 2 years. So if you use Terminate
by itself, plan on replacing every station every month (24 times) during the 2 years,
killing the scout termites and overall having little effect on the colony. By the
way - that amounts to about $1174.00 worth of Terminate.
You would be much better off to use Terminate only where it is needed - such as in areas
of intense termite activity - such as in combination with a Termite Detector
Station. That way your cost is substantially reduced. Why not invest in real
Do-It-Yourself Termite Bait System ? We offer either the HomeChoice Termite Bait Kit
($249.95) or the Firstline Smartdisc Termite Bait Kit ($239.95). By using a professional quality
termite detector station along with a strategic plan, you can get rid of your termites.
This way, your use of Terminate is substantially reduced to 1 or 2 boxes in most
situations. That makes a lot better sense and is a lot easier on the pocketbook.
Check out HomeChoice at www.epestsupply.com/homechoice.htm.
Check out Firstline Smartdisc at
www.epestsupply.com/smartdisk.htm
How Much Does A Do-It-Yourself Termite Bait Kit Cost ?
Q - Several pest control people have visited our house, inspected under the home (which
happens to be 58 years old), and we have been told the bait is the best to treat our home
mainly due to the house being on ground creating difficulty crawling under the house at
one end of the house. My question to you is..... if I purchase one of the bait kits
for termites and set them out around the 1800 sq ft house and discover that the termites
are eating one or several of the bait traps, how much do refills cost? How long does the
bait kits treat the termites? Please share your advise with me. I would greatly appreciate
your time and assistance as I try to determine whether it is better to invest in one of
the do-it-yourself kits or pay one of the area pest control companies to treat our home at
a much greater expense.
A - The refills for Toxicant bait (Terminate) sell for $59.95 for a 20 pack. Depending on the size of the termite colony, you may need additional Terminate. The average termite colony is only 250,000 to 500,000 termites and a Terminate cartridge kills 10,000 - 30,000 termites. We have several termite bait kits that all cost under $300.00.
If you have areas where the house is sitting on the ground, then those areas need to be dug out. In other words, remove any earth to wood contact. Use a shovel and dig it out or have someone do it for you. You could also use a termite chemical such as Premise 2 to treat the soil around areas where the house touches the ground. Removing the soil and eliminating any earth wood contact is a much better way.
If your house touches the ground, then your house is the bait. There is nothing in any brand of termite bait station that attracts termites. If these companies you spoke with did not tell you any of this, then you are the loser, after they have your money. :-)
Termite bait systems should never be used by themselves as a sole means of termite protection. The only time I would recommend this is when you do not have a termite problem and want to detect them early. Use chemicals or mechanical means to stop the termite infestation, then go after the colony with a baiting system. You can do this yourself and save money. And when you consider that these companies do not guarantee to eliminate the termite colony, and if you cancel the contract they remove your stations, our systems are deal and something that you own just like any other household appliance.
What Are The Health Risks Associated With Cockroaches ?
Q -I have a problem with Cockroaches, they are everywhere! My landlord refuses to spray,
(even though she told me at one time it is her responsibility to spray every 6 months!)
finally she brought a guy here with a little spray gun to spray. I was not home so
she could not do it. My question is this - Would it make any sense to spray my unit
only? There are 2 other units in this building and 4 in the connecting building
(hers as well) and we all have them,,by the millions!!!
Do you have to spray ALL units in order for it to be done effectively? Would they
not just leave this unit for awhile and then come back from the other units? Are
they a Health Hazard?
A - The health risks associated with German cockroaches (more than likely
your species) can range from gastroenteritis including nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting
diarrhea, etc, cause by their fecal material being placed on food, dishes, glasses, etc,
to allergic responses such as skin rashes, watery eyes, sneezing, and can even set off
asthma attacks in people that have asthma caused by their dead body particles becoming
airborne and then being breathed in.
Treating only your unit can be effective, but it requires, a very thorough baiting with
Maxforce bait, and a complete wall and void treatment using Nibor or Boric Acid placed
into the walls through switch plates, plumbing access, etc.. There are lots of other
products available, but I prefer these for German roaches.
Spraying is generally ineffective and is cheap for your apartment manager to purchase and
easy for the PCO to apply. But unless all units are sprayed, the treatment is very
short lived as the roaches will only escape to the wall voids, attics, etc.. When
the spray wears off, the roaches come back out. Hit'em where they hide ! and
feed'em what they want. The products that I mentioned work very well, and if you
want to do-it-yourself, we can help.
Flour Moths In Kitchen
Q - I am seeing flour moths in my kitchen. How do I kill them and what do I use ?
A - Flour moths (Indian meal moths and Angoumois grain moths) can only
be controlled by finding the source of the infestation. Check all flour
mixes, cake mixes, dog food, etc.. and see what is infested. Once
you locate the source of the infestation, throw it out. Then spray all
the shelves with Demon WP .
You can also fog your pantry or cabinets with CB80. We sell a moth and
carpet beetle kit that contains both of these products.
Centipedes In Basement
Q - I Live in Chicago, Il. Every summer, we have trouble
with centipedes in our basement. I told my father that they were coming from the left
corner in a closet where the meter is at. The centipedes come out at night and seems that
when I see them, they come around from that left corner. I believe we may have a crack in
the foundation that's causing the centipedes to come in. We have sprayed with pesticides,
they are usually in spray form and are so powerful that we have to vacate the basement for
a day. The centipedes come back within a few days. I heard that it is best to spray for
centipedes at night. But my father usually sprays during the day. Maybe we need to caulk
those cracks in the foundation. We just had our basement remodeled with carpet and new
furniture. It looks really nice, but I do not want to watch t.v. at night with the
centipedes!!! I need to know what are some suggestions and a effective pesticide to get
rid of these centipedes?
A - Centipedes are an outdoor pest. Their presence indoors could indicate an unusually large outdoor population. This is where you need to concentrate your control efforts. Spraying at night could have some improved control, but generally any pesticide that is professional quality will last (residual) several days or weeks. So spraying at night is not really all that important. Early morning or late evening will suffice. Sealing all cracks will help also. Be sure to spray under shrubs, sheds, etc. and especially very heavy along a 3 -5 foot band around the entire foundation. Also spray wherever centipedes could be living.
Some recommended products are Talstar and Demon WP. Both have little or no odor and a long residual. Either will probably take care of the problem. All you need is a hand sprayer and the right products.
Trying To Find Chordane
Q - We have been treating termite reinfestation for 9 seasons and been
through 4 exterminator companies. Your firm seems to promote Sulfurimid. How does this
compare to Chlordane? In NY it is illegal. Is Chlordane a US ban or state by
state. How can it be obtained? We really need to figure out a way to solve
this problem once and for all. Thanks for any suggestions.
A - Chlordane has been banned in just about every state in the US. I do not
know which ones individually, but I can tell you that the EPA has placed a nationwide
restriction on it pending further testing and study by Velsicol Chemical Company. To
date, these tests have not been completed and it is my understanding that even if they were, that due to the bad publicity that Chordane has suffered, it will not come back
to the market - as Chlordane. It cannot be purchased anywhere in the United
States.
If you have been through 4 pest companies, and you still have a termite problem, then the
structure itself could be creating a problem that chemical treatments will not solve.
Depending on what has been used (Dursban, Dragnet, Premise, etc.) Chlordane may not be the
answer to your problems either. Chlordane is not a magic bullet. Rather, it is a long
lasting slow acting termiticide that delivered a better long term effect, but short term
effects were comparable to the products mentioned. In other words, the only benefit of
Chlordane was the fact that it lasted a long time - 10 years average in my opinion compared
to 2-3 years for the products previously mentioned - again my opinion. You might
consider using a termite baiting system. What we normally recommend is to spot treat the
termites chemically, then use a bait system to control the colony. We offer several bait
systems.
What Kind Of Termites And Does Foaming Work ?
Q. We bought our house 2 years ago. It had a termite problem in one
bathroom, so we had it treated per the mortgage company's requirements. The guy drilled a
hole in the slab and treated that way. Well, they're back, in the same place.
I noticed that little dirt clod looking thing on the ceiling and when I broke it away to
check I could see them looking at me (probably laughing at me, too). So my
questions are as follows;
1. Is this a drywood or subterranean termite?
Subterranean termite. Subterranean means below the ground. When you see dirt or mud,
that is always a sign of subterranean termites. Drywood termites do not travel in mud
tunnels, nor will you see any sign of dirt.
2. Is the foam treatment you talk about something I can use to spot treat that area so
that I can minimize the damage while I wait for them to find the baits that you sell? If
so, how should I use it, and if not, what can I do to spot control the termites while I
wait for them to find the bait? For that matter, how much damage can they do in the
amount of time it takes for them to find the bait? Is that something I should even be
concerned about?
Yes, the foam treatment is perfect for this. The Solo foamer comes with
either a clear foaming tube or a brass extension tip that can be inserted right through the sheetrock and the back side of the
sheetrock can be foamed. If termites are active, you need to spot treat using
foam. The average time
it takes the termites to find the bait is 8 months, damage can occur during this time. You
also need to locate the termites point of entry - plumbing lines, cracks in slab, slab
construction joints, etc. and foam those areas too. Premise 2 is the recommended product
to foam with. Premise 2 can also be used as a soil treatment, so if you wanted to open the
hole that was previously drilled and stick a long plastic funnel in it, you can pour 5 -10
gallons of Premise 2 mix below the slab and stop them that way. We have all
kinds of tricks to help you treat just like a pro - and save a lot of money.
Termites In Flower Bed
Q - I have found termites in the flowerbeds along the front of my
brick home. The termites are in the dirt right against the brick but so far I cannot find
any evidence that they have entered the house or basement. I think they like the moisture
held in by the pine bark mulch and the heat held in by the bricks this time of year since
the front of the house gets morning sun. (But what are they eating?!?!? And why can't they
stay in the woods where they belong?!?!?) Some of the little buggers appear to be growing
wings. Would a do-it-yourself baiting system be a good choice to control the
termites before they come inside?
Would spot treating accomplish anything? If so, what do you recommend for spot treating
next to a house with a basement underneath? I don't want them to vacate the flower bed
just to move on to another area near the house.
I would like to use a do-it-yourself baiting system, but am confused about which system
would be the best choice for my area a HomeChoice Kit or the Smartdisc Kit. My yard
is full of lovely NC red clay which holds moisture, though I wouldn't call it wet. Would a
station with wood sticks be the best choice or would one with ground cellulose work
better? The Smartdisc Kit is more expensive, but how can you tell when the termites have
been feasting? Thanks for your help! You've got a great site and I was pleased to
discover you are a member of BBB On-line.
A - Thank you for your email. A baiting system would definitely be the way to go. If you have active termites outdoors - but not in your home, then that is perfect. You can bait and not have to use any chemicals. The pine bark mulch is doing exactly as you describe - providing a source of moisture for the termites. There could be some source of cellulose in the bark mulch, but probably not much.
As far as spot treating goes, I would recommend to use Premise 2 on a localized basis. It is great for spot treatment and does not repel the termites as Dragnet FT does.
The HomeChoice Termite Bait System is very versatile and our most popular. The way to tell if there is activity is to remove the wood detector and look for the live termites. Remember, termite baiting only works when live termites are actively feeding at a station. Then use Terminate to kill the termites. Our kit comes with a Do-It-Yourself Guide to Termite Baiting and explains everything in great detail.
Grubworms Killing Lawn
Q - MY LAWN IS INFLICTED WITH HOLES AND DYING GRASS. A NEIGHBOR SAID THE PROBLEM IS GRUB
WORMS. WE SEARCHED OUR YARD, AND SURE ENOUGH, WE SEEM TO HAVE A SEVERE PROBLEM. WE TREATED
THE YARD SEVERAL TIMES LAST YEAR, BUT TO NO AVAIL. WE WANT TO GET RID OF THEM AND HAVE OUR
GRASS BACK, BUT WE ARE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT BIRDS. LAST YEAR, AFTER THE FIRST APPLICATION,
THE WORMS APPEARED DEAD AND BIRDS WERE SWARMING OUR YARD, PECKING THEM OUT OF THE GROUND.
PLEASE, IS THERE A WAY TO SAVE OUR LAWN. SOMEONE TOLD US TO TRY "MILKEY SPORE."
WILL THIS WORK? WILL IT HARM THE BIRDS? IF IT WORKS, WHERE DO WE BUY IT?
A - Grub worms can only be controlled at certain times of the year. The
problem is that once the eggs hatch, then the grub gets very large very fast.
The grub larvae can only be controlled when they are small and still near the
surface of the soil - that is generally during late July - early August. The
only product that works on Grubs is a product called Merit. Merit
contains Imidichloprid - the same ingredient in our popular Premise 2 termite
chemical. Merit is mixed with water and sprayed on your lawn in late May
- Late June. Merit kills the newly hatched grubs that hatch from the newly
laid June or May beetle eggs. Merit will not kill grubs that are in the last
larval stages - before they hatch into beetles. Milky spore is not recommended as
like any fungal agent, it depends on the soil moisture to thrive and in hot dry summers it
will die very fast unless the yard is kept saturated with water constantly. Even then,
your control will be limited. Merit will not harm the birds once it is watered in your
lawn.
Carpenter Ants In Trees
Q - I live on a dead end street where the side and back of
my house have woods behind them. I have a above ground pool on the side of the house.
Large trees (75 feet in height) surround my house. It seems that carpenter ants are
dropping on average, one tree per year. Up until now I have been fortunate that they are
dropping away from my property. I am cutting down one tree now that is extremely close to
the house and I am sure, is the next to fall. Since the property is mine, naturally I
would like to keep as many trees as possible. Any way of treating the whole area? Any
recommendations?
A - I recommend to use Advance Carpenter Ant Bait and sprinkle it around the base of the
trees and also sprinkle it in the valleys of the tree branches. Etc. You can also take
duct tape and wrap it around the tree branches sticky side out and then coat it with the
Advance bait. Baiting is going to be your best bet as it will result in the killing of the
ant colonies. Spraying such a large area will not result in destruction of the
nests.
Worried That Termites Will Move From Fence To House
Q - Thanks for the quick reply to my questions on do it your self termite baiting! You
suggested a termite spot treatment for our fence (the only place we are noting any termite
activity) however I worry that this will repel the bugs away from our fence and towards
the home (one fence site is only 1 1/2' from the house. Would it make more sense to put
the bait traps in and hope that the termites will be happy with the fence and the traps
and leave our home alone. I also have been looking at lots of websites directed towards
termite control and one site was a little hedgy on baiting as it is still "so
new." They specifically stated that it could take months for termites to
gravitate to the traps and in the meantime might decide our house looks good enough to
eat! (With so many different areas on our fence affected I am thinking we are dealing with
multiple colonies and wondering if baits would still be effective) Anyway....since I
have not a clue in what direction I should go I guess my main question is With our fence
so close to the house, with multiple areas eaten on different parts of the fence...would a
chemical spray be more effective than the baits??
A - You bring up some good questions and I appreciate your concerns on termite baiting.
Relatively speaking - termite baiting is new. So is the internet. The internet is here to
stay even though it still has it's critics - although they are few. Termite baiting is the
same. For some reason, some people just don't want to accept change - in fact they fight
it. Termite baiting is the greatest advancement in termite control since the invention of
organophosphate insecticides in the early 1940's. This invention and the invention of the
stainless steel handheld sprayer have had such as profound affect on pest control that now
when you think of pest control - you still think of having baseboards sprayed with a
silver spray can by the Orkin man. We quit spraying baseboards years ago. Now
we use baits for just about everything - roaches, ants, crickets, silverfish, and yes
termites. Baits perform better - and in the case of a colony of ants or termites, it is
the only way to achieve total control. Without baits, you will be subject to limited
control and continual application of pesticides to maintain that limited control - ants or
termites.
It is true that baiting is slower process. The average amount of "time to termite
activity" in termite bait stations is 8 months. That is why we recommend spot
treatment of termites in the beginning. Treating your fence will not necessarily cause
termites to gravitate towards your home. That is an old myth - used by pest control sales
people to sell termite jobs. The truth to the matter is that once termites are on your
property - single or multiple colonies, it is only a matter of time before they find your
home regardless of whether you treat your home or not. The reason is that a colony
of termites will forage for food sources (wood or cellulose) in an area as large as an
acre or two.
I recommend to treat your fence - if your are concerned about repelling the termites,
(which is not a concern) then use Premise 2. Premise 2 is non repellent and kills
the termites without repelling them. Dragnet FT will repel termites but also kills them
very effectively.
Then use our HomeChoice Termite Bait system to go after the colony. This is exactly the plan that many pest control companies use and recommend. Your other option is to only chemically treat the fence and then "wait" for the termites to hit the house and then chemically treat the house. You may have some damage to replace or fix, but it is an option. If you do opt for a chemical treatment over a bait system, just be prepared to continually treat to keep the chemical effective - since most chemicals only last about 1-2 years. On second though - go with bait. :-)
Termites Only In Fence And Pest Company Wants Over $1000.00
Q - Last fall we began noticing "eaten" areas of our old wooden fence
surrounding the house. When we first bought the house, we were told that carpenter ant
damage was noticeable. We thought that the ants were back but when we contacted the pest
people, inspections resulted in diagnosis of termites. After several different companies
came by with quotes ranging from $800-$1500 we were all set to have a spray done to our
house to prevent anything from getting in here. (The damage (in 6 or 7 different areas) is
limited to the fence and no one has noted anything in the house). Now we are being pushed
towards baiting which seems to be a more realistic choice since our termites are in the
fence. But the price is 2x the price of spraying.
I was really excited to see a "do it yourself" baiting kit but I am wondering
if it is as easy as it sounds. If kits only run $200-$300, why are companies charging well
over $1000 for baiting. Also, with one of the termite damage areas about 1 1/2' away from
the house, would baiting still be suggested-especially if we are doing it ourself. What
should a do it yourself-er prepare themselves to be doing when going with bait treatment?
A -Your question is a common one. It really is true that you can buy a do it yourself
baiting kit for $200.00-$300.00. As a matter of fact - You can buy our 20/20 HomeChoice /
Terminate kit for exactly $249.95. And it contains the same basic ingredients that
Firstline Bait utilizes - which is used by Orkin. The reason your
company charges so much is because they are in business to make money. And after they come
back a few times to check your bait stations and maybe use a few gallons of Dragnet or
Premise to stop the termites on your fence, they look at their P&L and smile - all the
way to the bank. Termite baiting is a very profitable business for those pest companies
that do it correctly and keep their cost down and profits high. It is not uncommon for
pest companies who perform termite baiting to charge 5-6 times what the bait costs them.
Fortunately - that is why we are in business. We sell to pest companies who
perform termite baiting and we will also sell to you - along with complete
directions on how to do it. Termite baiting is not rocket science, and if you
have 15 minutes a month to spend checking bait stations, then we can save you
a lot of money. What I would recommend is to use our Sub-Termite spot
treatment kit to kill the termites on your fence, this
is done by treating the soil below your fence and then install our 20/20 HomeChoice
Termite Baiting kit around your home and do your own baiting. As far as preparation
goes, just be prepared to do a little work and save a lot money.
Winged Ants in An Apartment
Q - I live in an apartment. These little flying ants come out about every March and last
for about 2 to 3 months. I am the only tenant that has these pests. The property
management has done nothing to control these ants, so I need to do something to get rid of
them. I have tried bombing and spraying with an over the counter spray (Flying Insect
Killer Plus) Nothing really seems to work. I cannot find exactly where they are coming
from. It definitely seems like the walls. I have had a couple of different exterminators
inspect, but I get different answers (pavement, moisture, but they are not termites) Do
you have any suggestions that I may do to survive my 3 months with these bugs without
going through the property management?
Never spray liquid sprays for ants - you can't kill the nest this way. Spraying will
only kill the worker ants but not the queens. This may reduce your ant population
but unless you can kill every single worker - which will cause the colony to starve and
crash - which is very difficult in ant control, you will not get control.
A - When controlling ants - you have to eliminate the nest or colony. This is the only way
to get total control. So that is where your search begins. Generally you will see more
activity closer to the nest than away from it. Look for signs of nesting around windows,
doors, and other places where moisture is prevalent. That is where most ant species prefer
to nest. So look for the moisture, also air conditioners, shower stalls, or bath tubs on
outside walls are good places too. Sometimes you can actually follow the ants back to
their nest if they are trailing around. If not and you only see winged ants then it may be
very difficult to see anything. Next - begin your control effort by trying some different
baits. We sell the Drax Combo bait syringe and the Gourmet bait syringe - both are fairly
inexpensive but do a good job. Place small pea size placements of one of these baits
wherever you think the ants are. Place the placements in window sills, corners of walls,
even take off electrical switch plates and put the bait inside the outlet - the same for
plumbing lines. If these baits do not work, then you may have to resort to dusting all the
wall voids in your apartment with Boric Acid Dust. This is accomplished by removing the
electrical switch plates and inserting a small duster (white crusader) into the wall void
and blowing the boric acid dust into the walls. All switch plates, electrical lines,
plumbing lines, weep holes, cracks, crevices etc, need to be treated to basically toxify
all the places where the ants might live or travel. This is called a wall and void
treatment . This may take 2-3 hours to perform but is safe for you and will kill
everything that bugs you - ants and roaches. Our Home Roach kit is perfect for this.
Using Timbor For Drywood Termites in California
Q - In reading the product data for using Timbor it recommends drilling the
wood and injecting the termite infected area and the wood for pretreat with 60 psi.
What sprayer do you have that will meet this PSI and comes with a small injection
tube?
Do you sell foaming agents that I can use with Timbor products? I want to treat the attic and wood outside? Any advice?
A - 60 PSI for the Timbor application is purely to ensure that the material is dispersed throughout the infected areas. What helps to overcome this is to try and seal as many kick out holes as you can find. That way you don't lose as much pressure. The Solo Foamer works great in applying Timbor, as the foam will slowly penetrate all the galleries. Actually, I would probably recommend Premise 2, because it works faster at killing the termites. Just foam the Premise into the galleries and that should do the trick. Premise 2 is non repellent also.
As far as a sprayer that will deliver 60 PSI - the Chapin 1 gallon sprayer will deliver it if you keep it pumped up. I believe it comes with a small injection tube. The B&G sprayer (not listed on our website) also comes with an injection tube for crack and crevice application. Both brands are a little expensive for homeowner use.
Normally for spot treating drywood termites, I recommend our drywood termite spot treatment kit. It comes with everything you need for spot treating and works great. We sell Masterline foam for use in the Solo Foamer. Treat your attic using Timbor - the correct way to apply it is with the B&G 2 Quart Duster or the B&G Electric Duster. You could also use the B&G Mini Duster but it would take considerably longer. Outside wood is difficult to treat unless it is bare exposed wood. That is because most chemicals including Timbor will not penetrate paint or varnish, stain, etc..
Advantage of The HomeChoice Termite Bait System over Terminate Alone
Q - I have looked at the Spectracide Terminate bait system (little spikes) that is sold at Home Depot and other retail stores and it appears to use the same active killing product. I'm sure you are familiar with these. These baited spikes are priced around $95 for 40.
I'm not sure from reading your web site what and why your $250 system advantage is vs. the $90 for the spikes.
Could you enlighten me as I'm trying to help a neighbor make a choice of how to treat his home. His wife is ill and the $2,000 cost from the contractor is more than their budget now allows.
A - The reason the pest contractor wants $2000 is because the system they sell and maintain requires monthly inspections and regular monthly maintenance. Termite baiting is a little more sophisticated than the package on the Terminate product would lead you to believe. You simply can't put Terminate stakes in the ground and expect the termites to find them before the Sulflurimid in them (toxicant) loses it's effectiveness. Basically Terminate only lasts about 30 days after it is placed in the ground. Less if it stays wet. After 30 days the bait matrix degrades and is no longer effective. To keep Terminate effective all year, you need to replace each stations before it degrades, usually about every 30 - 60 days.
That is the reason that we put Terminate together with the HomeChoice Detector
stations in a kit. By using the HomeChoice as a Detection tool, you can wait months or even
over a year for the termites to start feeding. And during this time you never have to
replace anything. That keeps your cost extremely low. Remember - the average amount of
time to termite activity is 8 months. And termites are not active in most parts of the
country at ground level during the winter. If you used Terminate only - as directed, you
would have to replace the stations every 2 months to be sure that they are effective. Even
then you couldn't be for certain that they are effective. The Terminate stakes are the
most effective the day that they are placed into the ground - then day by day they
gradually lose effectiveness until there is nothing left except just the plastic and the
cardboard matrix. The Terminate stake at that point is no good and needs to be
replaced.
The best and most accepted way to bait for termites is this way - when the termites start feeding,
then use Terminate by placing 1 or 2 stakes around the HomeChoice station that has
Termite activity. If placed directly next to or even inside the HomeChoice stations, the
termites will transition over to the Terminate and begin feeding. This way your use of
Terminate is very targeted and not wasteful. When the wood detector
inside the HomeChoice Station is devoured by the termites, start placing
Terminate inside the HomeChoice Station.
The primary reason that we use the HomeChoice Termite Detector station is because of it's improved visual checking of the termites and it's reduced disturbance to them. All professional termite bait systems use a Termite Detector station and then use a toxicant AFTER termites have been feeding. The HomeChoice system is no exception. Maybe that is why the World's Best Pest Control Company (Orkin) has elected to use Firstline as their termite baiting system. Terminate and Firstline are the exact same product made in the exact same place. We sell Firstline too. How much do you want to spend today ?
Serious Tick Problem In Home
Q - We have a serious Tick infestation in our home. They can be
found just about everywhere, dressers, ceilings, carpets, etc. Any advice on controlling
this pest would be appreciated. We have tried several things and have reduced the
population to a degree but do not feel sufficient control has been reached. We do have a
dog and Cat and have eliminated their access to the house.
A - Indoor Tick infestations are best controlled by applying Demon WP or Demand to all
baseboards, window sills, under furniture, rugs, etc. Apply it just about anywhere that
the ticks are found, but be sure to allow all surfaces to dry before reentering the house.
These products are easily applied with a handheld sprayer. They come concentrated but
easily mix with water and have little or no odor.
Be sure to treat your animals also. We recommend to use PetCor flea spray on them.
PetCor
is easily applied and contains Precor a growth regulator that is great for flea
Can I Treat For Termites Myself ?
Q -I have recently found out that I have termites. Is it possible to eliminate them
myself, and what is the cost of treatments. Also, once eliminated, what do I do to find
out what damage has occurred that needs repairs.
A -When assessing termite treatment options, you need to consider the complexity of your
home, the species of termite ( I am assuming subterranean or ground termites) and the most
important question, if you want or desire to try and control them yourself. The general
reason for this is that you can save thousands of dollars by doing it yourself.
Realistically, the chances of you gaining the chemicals that the pros use are available in
most areas without any need for licensing. They are not restricted use products. However,
they are generally only available from a specialty distributor such as ePestSupply.com.
As far as damage goes, if the damage is not visible, then it's not visible. Even a trained pro cannot assess damage that cannot be seen. There are special scopes and cameras that can be placed inside the walls to try to see hidden damage, but 99% of the professional pest companies do not have them. They basically use the "eyeball" method. Any damage to trim or sheetrock is usually very evident. If not, then don't worry about it. If you are concerned about structural damage, then call a pest consultant to come out and inspect your home for the damage. Then kill'em yourself !
New Home Pretreatment For Sub Termites
Q - I am about to begin construction of a new home in northern Kentucky. What products are
recommended for use during the construction phase to discourage termites? Are
stronger, more effective products available to professional applicators? If so,
would these products be available to persons involved in agriculture?
A - When preventively treating for sub termites, a soil treatment is usually recommended
to create a chemical barrier that kills and repels termites before they enter your home.
This type of treatment is usually called a "pretreatment". A typical
pretreatment using Dragnet FT or Talstar is usually all that is needed to prevent termite
infestation. The chemical is sprayed onto the soil area before the plastic is laid
(monolithic slab) just like spraying a yard. The amount of chemical used is 1 gallon per
10 square feet. So to calculate the amount of chemical just take your total square footage
of the ground "thumbprint" area and divide it by 10. If you have 2000 square
feet then you will need 200 gallons of diluted mix. After the home is built, you will then
need to treat the outside perimeter foundation. This is done by digging a small trench
3-4" deep along the wall with a pick and flooding the trench with chemical. The rate
of application here is 4 gallons per 10 linear feet. A simple way to calculate the
chemical needed is to take the total linear feet divide by 10 and multiply by 4. If the
total linear footage is 200 linear feet (all outside walls measured) then 200 divided by
10 is 20 times 4 is 80. You will need 80 gallons to treat the outside foundation.
Your total chemical gallons needed will be (approx) 280 gallons. I recommend either
Dragnet FT or Talstar.
The other possibility is treating all of the base plates, window sills, and studs (4 feet
up) with Timbor or BoraCare. Timbor and BoraCare work extremely well at killing termites and anything the eats the
wood. Timbor mixes at 1 lb per gallon, and you will need approximately 25 pounds to treat
your home. BoraCare mixes in 1 gallon of water and treats up to 800 sq ft of
wood. What you treat and where is up to you. Some customers treat every square inch
of wood and both sides of the sheetrock (paper backing which termites will eat). We sell
all of these products and even a 25 pound container of Timbor. These are the same
products that the pros use. There are no licensing restrictions on these products.
Placement Of Baits For Termite Control & Eradication
Q- I live in a wood frame house in south Louisiana that is built on concrete piers capped
with sheet metal termite shields. I recently found an area where the termites created a
tunnel around the shield. I used Spectracide Terminate as a stop gap measure in the
affected area until a long-term plan can be implemented. The widest portion of my home is
30' wide, the narrowest is 24' with an overall length of 61 feet. Will baits placed along the perimeter of the house provide adequate coverage for the
entire structure or will additional stations need to be placed under the house?
A - We do not recommend placing termite bait stations in the ground under houses. The only exception would be if you used the Firstline Inline Above Ground Station. The reason is that monthly checking of stations under your home tends to be cumbersome and it is usually a lot easier just to place them outside the foundation where they are easily accessible.
Q - Will rainwater runoff from the roof be a problem? I assume that I should place the baits away from the drip line as close to the house as possible?
A - No, the stations need to get wet occasionally, place them just outside the drip line
where they can get wet and become a natural part of the environment. Do not let them stand
in water - if they do, then dig the hole deeper to allow for drainage or move them farther
out. Do not place them in low areas. You may need to build a small mound to raise the
station a few inches.
Q - How many stations will I need for the house?
A - Based on the dimensions that you gave me, you have around 176 linear feet. One station placed every 10 feet will yield you 17.6 or 18 stations.
Q - Additionally, I have a 20' x 30' workshop that is built on a slab and is located 6' from the house. The slab has no penetrations in its center or walls. What is the recommended number of baits for this building? In the 6' common area between the house and the shop do the baits in this area serve both buildings or does each building need its own "ring" of baits ?
A - For an additional 100 linear feet you will need 10 stations. However - a trick is to run a single row of stations between the house and the garage eliminating the need for stations side by side in this area. That would eliminate a few stations.
Foaming Agents For Use With Timbor
Q - Do you sell a foaming agent that works with TimBor for between walls? If not, what do
you recommend as a foaming agent ?
A - Yes, we sell a product called Pro Foam - it mixes at a ration of 16 to 1. It's what all the pest pros use. Pro foam contains a superior foaming agent and also wetting agents to help the pesticide penetrate the wood. Use it with the Solo Foamer.
Drywood Termites In China Cabinet
Q - I have moved in my aunt's maple china hutch into my house and it obviously has termites in it. I was told afterwards that they found termites in her old wood house. How do I get rid of them before they get in my house?
A - Sounds like you have Drywood termites. Drywood termites are infamous for infesting furniture. The problem is that if they are in the furniture - it is very likely that they will (or already have) swarm and infest your home. I recommend to immediately remove the china hutch from your living area and place it in an outside storage or patio area. You can wrap it in plastic sheeting to help protect it from the weather.
Our drywood termite kit is for performing spot treatments. Normally, you will find small "kick out" holes where the termites are tossing the wood pellets out of. That kick out hole leads to the nest. Find the Kick out holes and then inject our products into them. The other alternative is fumigation, which you will have to contract with someone locally to perform. You can read more about Drywood termites at http://www.epestsupply.com/drywood.htm.
Termites In Shed - Can't Afford Professional
Q - I have termites in my shed that is about 30 ft from my house,
if I use something to kill them will it just drive them to my house? And what would you
recommend to kill them, I can not afford to have it professionally done. And should I treat
the house as well even though there is not evidence of them in the house? We just moved
here 18 months ago and was told it had been treated for termites a couple of years before
we bought it. Any information you could give is appreciated.
A - If you have termites in your shed, then treating your shed
with a repellent termite chemical such as Dragnet could drive them to the house. On the
other hand if you treat the shed with a non-repellent termite chemical such as Premise 2
or if you install a baiting system such as HomeChoice, then the chances of them moving to
the house are greatly reduced. All termite chemicals that have been available for the last
13 years have a limited life span. Most have a half life of 9 months. (point in which half
of the chemical is gone) Your previous treatment is probably long since deteriorated.
Termite Bait Stations Inside Homes
Q - You don't seem to discuss bait stations that can be applied to the
active tubes when found in the inside areas. Is there a problem?
A - Good question. The problem with interior termite infestations, is that there is too
much competing wood such as studs, trim, base plates, paper sheetrock coverings etc, to
entice the termites to feed on a prefabricated bait station. Remember termites will eat
anything made of wood or cellulose, paper etc. . Several companies market an indoor
termite bait station, but I have never talked with anyone that was completely satisfied
with the results they got. We have a new above ground bait station that keeps the bait
moist (which may help to entice the termites) that we are experimenting with right now,
but until we good results, we will not market it. The Sentricon above ground station is
marginal, and the Exterra system comes with a "bait bag" that can be placed
inside walls which have termite activity that seems to work better than Sentricon.
The only above ground bait station that I can recommend is the Firstline above ground
station which works well outside on brick walls, and concrete foundations, stucco, etc,
but not on wood siding.
Normally, we recommend to foam inside walls with our Solo Foamer . Use a small amount of foaming agent, a small amount of Premise 2 or Dragnet FT a small amount of water, shake it up, pump it up and walla ! a shaving cream type of foam that works great for filling wall voids, eaves, etc. You need to stop the termite infestation with chemicals and then rely on a bait system such as HomeChoice to control the colony.
Termite Company Wants Thousands For Termites In One Spot
Q - We have a two door garage outside. An inspection done by a
professional found only one area at the center part in between the doors that showed signs
of active infestation coming up under our asphalt driveway. What product or products would
you recommend? They wanted to sell us a complete bait system all around the house for
thousands of dollars even though the man said we only had this one problem area. Help!
A - What you are experiencing has been a common practice in the pest control industry for decades. Most pest companies will recommend a complete treatment (full treatment) on a home even though termites may be in only 1 or 2 spots. They do this to limit liability and because everyone knows that termites will move from a treated spot and enter in an untreated spot. This is the reason for the bait system. Bait systems go after the colony. When using a bait system we recommend to spot treat the areas with either Dragnet FT or Premise 2. This can easily be done on your garage center support by drilling 1/2" holes every 12 inches around it then placing a long plastic funnel into the holes and pouring the chemicals through the funnel. You can take a flashlight and look through the other holes to be sure that the chemical is flowing properly around it. Pour as much chemical as it will take. You can mix it a gallon at a time in a bucket and pour it in the funnel.
We sell a sub termite spot treatment kit that should do the trick. I would then install our HomeChoice Termite Bait System and do your own termite baiting. These are the same products that thousands of pest companies use.
Chiggers and Ticks on 5 Acres of Land
Q - I have been taming about 5acres of rough overgrown, [30 years] land in
west. ky, it is under a heavy oak canopy , and is heavy with ticks of all type, and
chiggers in the heat of summer. land has been burned virtually to the ground. looking for
a product to spread overland to help reduce, eliminate, and keep it that way. thank-you
A - Chiggers are actually the immature stage of the straw itch mite. Controlling the ticks
and chiggers on 5 acres of land is a tough job - the best you can hope for is control and
not total elimination. If you have a way of spraying the ground - with a boom type sprayer
or some type of hydraulic sprayer - then I would recommend regular applications of
Talstar. I would spray it at least one a month until the problem is under control. You may
also consider using a growth regulator (IGR) such as Precor to control the eggs and
immature stages of the ticks and chiggers. It is the cheapest and best control and will
provide as good control as anything else available. It mixes at a very low rate so you can
keep your cost down.
More Questions Added Regularly !
If you have a question that you need answered
and you did not see it here - Ask A Pro !
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The opinions expressed here are those of the Ron Dawson |