Handling Termite Infestation in Your Home
Termites can be a complete menace in your home. While primarily feeding on wood, termites can also damage books, paper and insulation. What's even worse is that you may only notice the signs of termite infestation in your home later on when they have been there for quite some time. This simply means that your property may have already suffered immense damage. Fortunately, there are some practical ways to deal with these destructive pests. If you notice any signs of termite infestation in your home such as presence of swarmers (winged termites) indoors or mud tubes over your support tiers, floor joists, or even foundation, here are a few tips on how to handle it.
Expose Them to Sunlight
One of the most effective and natural ways to get rid of termites is exposing them to sunlight. However, remember that this will only work best if specific or movable items are the ones infested. In most cases this will be furniture.
Generally, termites will thrive in darkness. Therefore, exposing them to the light as well as the heat of the sun will oftentimes kill them. However, this is usually a slow process and, depending on the amount of sunlight you receive in your region, it may take a few days to completely get rid of the termites.
Consider Beneficial Nematodes
Nematodes are simply unsegmented species of worms used to destroy pests. For termites, the worms will burrow into termite larvae (the hosts) and kill them. Beneficial nematodes are usually effective and aren't harmful to humans or even pets. All you have to do is simply spray your nematodes, which you should find in your nearest garden supplies store, in the infested rooms. You may also want to spray around your home and into your yard because you may not know how far the infestation has extended. For best results, it's often recommended that you use nematodes the same day you purchase them. Otherwise, store them in your refrigerator. It's crucial to note that nematodes can be destroyed by the UV light from the sun. Therefore, the best time to use them would be before sunrise or after sunset.
Flood The Soil
Flooding the soil is often a great way to deal with outdoor termites, which can easily find their way indoors. If you have identified some small mud tubes in your garden, you can simply dig through them and flood the place. Doing this will drown the termites.
While you can do all these on your own, it is usually a good idea to involve termite treatment professionals who will know exactly where these termites could be. Also, remember that termite infestations may go undetected for years, so make it a habit to schedule for termite inspection once every year or so.