Chemical Free Termite Treatment Options

The termites that attack wood in buildings are tiny and destructive, and strike fear into the hearts of people who envisage their homes crumbling around them. It is not surprising that the pest control industry in Australia has been fuelled by fear of ‘white ants’.

Until the 1970s termites were treated by spraying chemicals in and around a building to kill any existing infestation and create a chemical barrier to deter new attacks. Spraying tended to be carried out as a precautionary measure, whether or not termites had been found on a site.  While chemical spraying is certainly an effective way to eliminate wood-eating termites, it also kills grass-eating termite species that are no threat to buildings. In addition to being lethal for termites, the old sprays were toxic to humans and other animals and when used around buildings their chemical residues can leach into the soil, find their way into the ground water and spread into the ecosystem. Many of the termicides, such as organochlorines that were used as recently as ten years ago, are so toxic that they have been taken off the market.

Chemical free methods of eradicating termites were piloted by John French, a CSIRO scientist who approached the termite problem in a new way.  He studied the life cycle and habits of colonies of wood eating termites and developed chemical-free termite baiting systems. These systems help to detect the presence of a termite colony, and use growth inhibitors to eradicate the colony in the nest.  Effective termite baiting treatment for a building depends on many factors including its size, age, the type of construction and materials and its location.  When using baiting for termite control, Adelaide and its climate calls for methods that might be less effective in a tropical location.

This thoughtful approach is aimed at detecting and monitoring the presence of termites before starting eradication treatment, in stark contrast to the old approach of indiscriminate spraying of toxic chemicals. The growth inhibitor used in termite baiting systems is not harmful to humans and targets the specific termite species that threaten wooden building structures.  The bait treatment is only activated when signs of termite activity have been found, and the active ingredient is enclosed in an impervious container that prevents it from leaking into the environment.

Baiting systems rely on qualified technicians to educate homeowners to perform their own monitoring and termite inspection.  Adelaide company, Termite Free Naturally, has worked with John French and other scientists to develop baiting methods that target the termite species that breed in South Australia and are most effective in local climatic conditions. To find out more about chemical free termite treatment options, visit the website www.termitefreenaturally.com.au.