Termites are small crawling insects that play a significant role in the ecosystem. But then, these insects can be a problem because they usually feed on wooden structures at home and several plant materials. Remember that termites eat wood to satisfy their ferocious appetites. If left untreated, these insects will cause significant structural damage to your property.
Nowadays, many homeowners use different insecticides and several effective control approaches to address termite invasions. But are all these insecticides effective enough? Well, continue reading to find out more.
Will Raid Kill Termites?
Raid might help to deal with minor termite invasion. However, it is not the recommended product to use. Raid is a reliable brand of insecticide used to deal with several common household pests like ants, roaches, mosquitoes, fleas, flies, moths, scorpions, hornets, and yellow jackets. So, it might slightly help repel a few termites.
If you must use a Raid product, then it would be best to purchase Raid Ant & Roach killer. This product is effective in killing stubborn carpenter ants, and it might be destructive to a few wandering termites at home. Furthermore, the Raid Ant & Roach killer contains active ingredients that kill ants, with residual action.
Termites can be a nuisance if not dealt with correctly or with the right product. However, the Raid Ant and Roach killer might slightly reduce the level of infestation as an emergency option at home.
But you need to always use the recommended product if you want effective results.
What Kills Termites Instantly?
Surprisingly, there are very few products or techniques that can instantly kill termites. However, you can use a combination of techniques to eliminate an entire colony over a period of time. Using a termiticide, in this case, is the most popular termite control product which guarantees fast results.
Liquid termiticides are chemicals applied around the home’s perimeter to create a termite-repellent barrier. A few recommended termiticides are active in killing termites upon contact.
Fumigation is another practical option that homeowners use to kill termites. Although an expensive option, the gasses are toxic to termites when inhaled, killing them instantly while repelling new members.
Cayenne pepper is a natural home remedy most people use to kill or repel termites. The pepper normally damages the termite’s nervous system, killing them within minutes. Also, pepper is a safe and cheap product which can be used indoors.
In the absence of pepper, you can alternatively use Diatomaceous earth. This is a natural termite killer that gives results within minutes. Diatomaceous earth is a special powder/sand with tiny razor-hard edges. This product cuts the termites’ soft bodies upon contact. Inside the body, the powder socks the termite’s moisture, leaving it dehydrated before dying slowly.
Can Cockroach Killer Kill Termites?
Unfortunately, cockroach killer is not the most effective product in the market that kills termites. Even though it can be toxic to a few crawling termites, it will not kill an entire colony. Most roach killer sprays have toxic elements and active pest control ingredients that will kill several other household pests.
Cockroach killer spray and products are specially designed to damage a cockroach’s nervous system. So, the product will not be as active enough in dealing with termites because they have a slightly different digestive system. The best roach killer contains a few ingredients like Imiprothrin and Cypermethrin which kill cockroaches upon contact.
For a successful result, you must use the specific termite killing product because they guarantee fast and permanent solutions.
Note: Always consult a licensed control professional to know which product to use and how to use them in eliminating minor or major infestation.
Do Termites Come Back After Treatment?
Unfortunately, termites might still come back after treatment if you did not use the correct approach to eliminate them. Professional exterminators are licensed to use certain chemicals that guarantee permanent solution. They are also the best in case of severe invasion.
At home, many structures are supported with wood on the ground. So, termites will likely burrow and build nests in woods because they provide sufficient moist and dark environments to forage. The termites will continue building nests if you do not address the source of moisture in your home.
The other reason why termites might still come back is if you do not regularly inspect underneath wooden structures. New colonies will build nests in areas where there is less or no human interruption.
As a homeowner, you are advised to work with a licensed and experienced termite control professional who will recommend the suitable treatment plan depending on the level of termite invasion to prevent them from coming back.
Do Termites Die on Their Own?
Yes. Like all other living organisms, termites die on their own. However, factors like the particular species or environment will determine the time a termite can survive. For instance, worker termites can live for a few months or years, while reproductive termites can live for several years.
To survive and thrive longer, termites live in colonies and divide labor. Some termites will look for food while others care & tend to the young ones. However, death is natural to a colony’s life cycle. The queen compensates termite death by producing new individuals.
Ordinary termites in a colony are incapable of producing eggs. So, a queen termite lays millions of eggs in her entire lifetime that later develop into workers or other members. Some queen termites will produce tens of thousands of eggs each day to ensure growth and survival of the colony.
Surprisingly, an individual member can willingly leave the colony if it is infected by a parasite or disease to ensure the other members are not affected. This behavior is known as altruism in social insect colonies.
Do Termites Eat Wood?
Yes. Most termites eat wood and cause significant structural damage to property and structures. With thousands of species roaming around, the subterranean termites are considered the most destructive species of all – living in large underground colonies and feeding on wooden structures.
Termites are social insects that live in large colonies. Each colony has a king, queen, and workers. The termite workers search for food (wood or several plant materials) to feed the queen and ensure successful reproduction.
Wood is the primary food source for termites because it has cellulose. The cellulose is the main component of the termite diet because it contains sufficient glucose molecules that their bodies can break down into useful nutrients and simple sugar to use as a source of energy. Additionally, termites have special enzymes in their guts to help them digest wood cellulose easily.
Research also reveals that wood contains other organic compounds like lignin that provides additional nutrients and energy.
How to Get Rid of Termites?
There are several approaches like using physical barriers, biological control, or chemical treatments homeowners use to get rid of termites. But you must always remember that eliminating a severe termite invasion can be challenging and needs professional assistance.
Here are four practical methods to help you achieve successful results.
Using Natural Home Remedies
The most popular home remedy to eliminate termites is using dishwashing solution mixed with orange or neem oil. This ingredient is deadly because it inhibits how the termites lay eggs or shed their exoskeleton.
– Mix a few drops of dishwashing detergent with two cups of warm water
– Add enough oil into the solution.
– Shake the solution well and spray it around the affected spot.
Using the recommended termiticide
Termiticides are special anti-termite chemicals that actively deal with termites around the home’s compound.
Many people consider it because of its fast result and non-toxicity levels. Though, you must follow the correct guidelines and the specific insecticide to guarantee fast results.
– Spray a barrier of termiticide on the lawn or along outdoor wooden surfaces and exterior perimeter.
– Termites will ingest the chemicals in the termiticide and go back to the colony.
– The chemicals will act as viruses and slowly kill the termites.
Note: Other chemicals in the market might also eliminate the infestation.
Using biological control solutions
Biological control techniques also help to deal with subterranean termites. The most common method involves introducing beneficial nematodes around the affected area.
Nematodes are tiny long decomposer worms that are commonly used as biological pest controllers. These worms will bore holes into the termites and release poison that slowly kills them.
Using termite baits
Baits are not only effective in eliminating termites but a cost effective approach.
The most practical termite baiting system is using cellulose-based material treated with a slow-acting toxic substrate that is easily ingested by the termites.
When termites ingest it, they carry it back to the colony and share it with other members. Ordinarily, most bait affects natural termite growth and slowly kills them as they try to molt.
Conclusion
It is always necessary to immediately take action whenever you notice termites in your home. This is because they can be a major pest problem, no matter the kind. But with several products in the market, you need to identify the most reliable product that will effectively get rid of them.
This guide has looked at how Raid kills termites and all other effective methods of dealing with these pesky insects at home. But you should consider professional exterminators in case of severe invasion.