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My house has been found to have termites, what control method is better, baits or liquid insecticides?

Last Updated: March 07, 2012

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Unfortunately, there is no simple answer. Both techniques have their advantages.

Termite baits:

  1. Are designed to suppress or eliminate termite colonies.
  2. They incorporate a slow-acting toxicant or growth regulator into cellulose-based termite food. The toxicants are delivered to the colony by foraging worker termites, which share their food with other colony members.
  3. Because of their precise delivery system and the small amounts of pesticide used, termite-baiting systems are thought to be the "safest" of the available termite treatment methods.
  4. Drawbacks include their higher expense and the unpredictable time delay between installation and termite feeding on baits.
  5. Pest control companies report a generally high level of satisfaction among their bait customers. To be effective long term, homes should be continually monitored for new termite activity.

Soil-applied liquid insecticides:

  1.  Provide a fast, economical way to control termites.

 

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