All liquid termiticides for termite control nowadays only stay in the soil for 3 or maximum 5 years. And depending on the mixture rate used by pest control operators, it may even last only a year!
That means home or building owners need the properties re-treated each time said chemical wears off, which is either yearly or the longest every 3 or 4 years. If there is no valid termite management system protecting your home, the risk that said property will be penetrated and damaged by termites is an absolutely nail-biting episode.
Are there other choices? Yes, there are. Marketed as less intrusive to structures are the termite colony elimination systems. This system works by baiting. Monitoring stations are installed surrounding the structure and as soon as termite activity is detected on a particular station, it will be replaced with the chemical-containing bait. This method takes advantage of the termite biology of sharing and passing on food (usually your house) to the rest of its population and especially to the nestled Queen so that the population gets larger and larger. If indoor termite activity is found, an above-ground version of the bait is also installed. However, as this system relies heavily on termite foraging habits, some termite species are not controlled as much as the Coptotermes species.
In the Philippines, we have four (4) identified destructive termite species. They are widely distributed nationwide and wherever you live, protection from all four species is always the best option. As such, we go back to the Liquid Termiticides as apparently a more comprehensive system.
What Homeowners Must Know:
- Ask the Pest Control Service Provider what chemical they will use and take time to learn and observe the mixture rate they will use for the product. As mentioned above, the period of effectivity on the soil of a chemical treatment also relies on this concentration of the chemical on the soil underneath your house.
- Expect After-Sales Servicing. Contract-based services give homeowners the best value and assurance of quality of service. Spot or one-time treatment for termite control is risky and you may only end up paying more due to the recurrence of the termite infestations.
- Termiticide applications to built homes must be applied fully to the external wall perimeters of a structure.
a. If it is concreted, holes must be 6 inches from the wall and distances between holes must be 1 foot or maximum 1.5 feet. Further distances will enable gaps which allow sufficient termite entry. Even though a PCO will say the type of chemicals being used are those called non-repellant, the homeowner will still run greater risks of a re-infestation and potential damages. These distances are the globally specified standards. Worldwide experts will not be called experts if these standards are without basis.
b. If the external perimeter walls are not concreted, the PCO can either trench to reach the footing or rod (or inject via high pressure) at the same 1 foot distances.
c. Each linear meter distance must be injected or fully drenched at pressurized applications of 4 to 5 liter solution of the termiticide.
Such post-construction treatments to your homes are unavoidable due to the reality of the chemicals available now. An option that is very much worth considering is the installation of a termiticide replenishment piping system. But before you have it installed, do your research remember that its main purpose is to be regularly re-charged with chemicals. So make sure the quality and specifications of the piping system is indeed built for chemicals and that it is durable to last as your house.