Termites are wood eating insects that become an estate owner’s worst nightmare. While termites do not usually cause any harm directly to humans, they are known to damage the internal structure of buildings by making tunnels inside the walls and living in them. Termites make walls hollow and weak, eventually leading to breakdown of the structure.
While precaution is always better than cure, there are several chemicals to get rid of or provide some relief from termites if you ever have to undergo the unfortunate experience:
1. Orange oil:
Orange oil is an essential oil made of orange peel as a byproduct of making orange juice. Consumption of orange oil results in the death of termites, making it safer and one of the best methods of terminating termites without causing any harm to humans.
2. Boric Acid:
Boric acid is a common household product found easily in any store or pharmacy. Boric acid is extremely poisonous for termites and again a relatively safer option since it does not cause much harm to humans.
3. Imidacloprid:
This is a liquid anti-repellent chemical that attacks unsuspecting termites and affects their central nervous system. It causes paralysis and death. Use this chemical in the proportion of 10.5 ml mixed with 5 litres of water. It is of low toxicity to humans, so it can be used without risk. A pesticide containing this chemical is Premise 2.
4. Fipronil:
Fipronil is a liquid insecticide that affects the central nervous system of the termites. It is very slow acting in nature which is actually an advantage. Since it acts slowly, it allows time for the infected termites to spread the poison in the nest or colony, thereby eliminating many termites. Some examples of non-repellent liquid termiticides containing fipronil as an active ingredient are Taurus SC and Termidor SC.
5. Diflubenzuron:
Diflubenzuron is a termite bait system. It does not target the death of termites rather it focuses on inhibiting the growth of termites. Baits containing diflubenzuron are placed in the house perimeter and attract termites. On consumption of these baits, termites’ molting process gets disrupted which is necessary for their development. This causes a significant decline and eventual end of their colony.
6. Chlorantraniliprole:
Chlorantraniliprole is a non-repellent liquid insecticide that affects the muscles of termites, causing paralysis and eventual death. Its main characteristic is that it cannot be detected by termites so it is a very powerful tool to get rid of these insects. Another characteristic of this chemical is that it is environment friendly meaning it does not largely affect humans or non-target organisms. It is low on toxicity to everything but termites. A pesticide containing this chemical is Altriset.
7. Chlorpyrifos:
Chlorpyifos is a widely used liquid termite repellent for its ability to target and control multiple pests at the same time. It has to be mixed with water in the proportion of 1:19 to make the solution.
You can use any of the above-mentioned chemicals to get rid of termites at your place. However, it is advised to get a quick consultation from a pest control expert for professional advice and services.
