The Channel 9 News Report
In an item on Channel 9 news on 6th March
A couple of pest professionals stated that the heavy rains from Tropical Cyclone Marcia in Queensland and half of NSW have made it easier for termites to get access into homes because the chemically treated soil barriers could have been washed away from the foundations.
News headlines are often a bit over the top and yes, it was a little sensationalised, however, the pest professionals are right.
Chemical Termite Barriers & Untreated Soil
Not only can termite barriers be washed away, but untreated soil can be washed onto and over the barriers, allowing termites to use the newly deposited soil as a bridge.
Because chemical termite barriers eventually fail due not only to wash away’s or bridging but also to chemical degradation over about ten years, professionals have, for the last fifteen years, been supplementing termite barriers with termite monitoring systems.
Termite Monitors loaded with timber attractive to termites are used to trick them into settling for food outside so they don’t need to try and get inside houses.
The more termite monitors around where termite scouts are looking, the higher the probability of intercepting them. It is a mainstream colony killing process that works without poisonous implications for humans, pets or wildlife.
Termites and White Ants DIY System
The good news is that DIY Termite Baiting Systems are available to homeowners. The DIY option for Termite Monitors do not require digging in and the termite bait to kill the termite colony is exactly the same formulation as used by professionals.
Once termites were a professional-only job. This is no longer the situation; placement of the termite monitor is not critical, checking for termite action is just a glance at the termitraps as you walk past and termite baiting is a matter of adding water to a termite bait pouch and placing it on the termite monitor. At under $700 for a full kit including a how-to instruction manual, you should also be saving money.
