Termites or white ants are harmful insects that can reproduce twice as fast as the ugly ones and at much shorter intervals. They are real calamities for homes. In fact, termites attack the frameworks and the wooden frame of houses within a few months. This is why it is essential to protect yourself as much as possible. Through this article, discover practical tips to prevent an invasion of white ants as well as solutions to exterminate them if necessary. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn some of the things that everyone should know about termites.
What are they?
Termites are social insects of the order Isoptera. They are very common in hot countries, where some species of termites build large nests in spoiled earth, the termite mounds, which are characteristic of tropical plateaus. In Europe, termites cause great damage to homes by digging their galleries in the lumber.
They are divided into three castes: sexual termites, workers, and soldiers. The king and queen are usually the only sexed individuals in the termite mound. The worker (white, blind, 4 to 6 mm) destroys wood to feed the colony. The soldier (blind, 8 mm) has a large redhead with powerful mandibles and defends the colony. All wood species are susceptible to attack, except for some exotic hardwoods. Paper, cardboard, and fabrics of vegetable origin are also degraded.
Preventive methods
Here are 3 of them:
Lemon
It is common knowledge that termites love cardboard and lemon. Therefore, to concentrate the colony in one spot, pile up a dozen boxes in the corner of the garden and sprinkle them with lemon juice. If you let it sit for a few days, you will see that the white ants will move to the pile of boxes. For the rest, burn them.
Natural wax
It is difficult to get rid of wood termites when they are already present in the house. However, coating wooden furniture and frames with a natural wax (turpentine) will keep them away. Moreover, for a guaranteed result, do not hesitate to apply lavender oil to your beams when they are dry.
The sun
This is one of the most basic methods to fight a termite invasion. Since they can’t stand the sun, you’ll need to make sure that the house has good sun exposure. In the event that wooden furniture is already affected, place it in the sun and wait 2 days.
Curative methods
If the termite colony is already well advanced, you can:
Call in a professional
This is the quickest way to get rid of them. Calling in a professional gives you peace of mind about the results. Plus, their products are safe for you and your family (even small children).
Buy nematodes
Because wood-boring insects are difficult to eliminate, the nematode method is particularly effective. In fact, it involves the use of small worms that are the sworn enemies of termites. These parasites use termite larvae to lay their eggs. Thus, once infected, the termite larvae are killed when the nematode eggs hatch. The most important thing to remember is that this cycle continues until the colony is completely decimated. Although this may seem “barbaric” to some, it is the best natural method to date. You can buy nematodes in specialized stores or on the Internet.
Opt for insecticides
Using insecticides to control termites is not new. However, it is not the most suitable because most of them use chemicals that can harm the health of the occupants of the house. Be careful that children cannot reach them by accident.
To counter this, boric acid is in the first place. An insecticide whose particularity is to be 100% natural. Based on minerals, it has the ability to attract insects. You can buy it in gardening stores or pharmacies. The method of use is simple: take a container and mix boric acid, sugar, and milk until you obtain a paste. Then divide the paste into plastic bottles and place them near the colony.
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