There area number of termite treatments available, but which are the most cost efficient and what works the best to stop termites in their tracks in Sydney, Australia?
In Sydney, the proper termite treatment involves applying termiticide as a continuous barrier in the soil nearby the house, termite baits, installing continuous termite shields at the top of the foundation, and/or termite reticulation systems. Other termite treatments contain termiticide foam, using crushed granite (trade name Granitgard) or steel mesh cloth (Termimesh) as a corporeal barrier, moisture control, and wood elimination. A mixture of methods are used for "integrated pest management," as many times a single technique is not enough.
Termite Baits
Termite baits are a great indicator of the nearnessy of termites and are an efficient way to kill the colony causing the problem. Sentricon makes such a system. Fmc makes FirstLine, a termite baiting center using an insecticide stomach poison in a cellulose matrix. Fmc is modifying their stock to concentrate untreated stations that last longer than treated bait stations. The bait is a cellulose food treated with termiticide, a toxic substance and/or insect increase regulator. The food is wood or laminated-texture cellulose, which is favoured by termites. Termites eat the treated food and carry it back to the nest, reducing the size of the colony. The termiticide in the bait works gently enough that termites have a chance to go back to the nest instead of dying near the bait, because dead termites repel other termites.
It's not recommended by this firm as a standalone treatment, unless it is confident where the termites are advent from. Well settled baits are a frontline indicator of termite action and often used to supplement soil barrier treatments. We prefer to use Termidor for termite treatments in most circumstances, as it is a low toxic alternative which termites stray through treated areas at random and pick up poison to take back to the nest. Unlike high toxic repellents, it does not wish a continuous barrier nearby your home. Termite baits may be used a supplement for efficient termite control.
Why are termites a qoute in Sydney?
Termites (often incorrectly called 'white ants') feed on wood and serve an leading function in nature by converting dead trees into organic matter. Unfortunately, the wood in buildings and other structures such as wooden power poles is equally appetising to termites, so they can cause serious damage which may be very high-priced to repair.
There are many species of termites in Australia, of which about 20 species can eat sound wood in buildings; those causing most damage to buildings are communal insects that live in subterranean colonies that may contain up to 200,000 individuals.
Bushland is a feature within most suburbs of our most populous capital city, and many of these trees have been removed to make way for housing development.
In order to articulate humidity and to protect themselves from extreme weather conditions, a colony (or nest) of subterranean termites may be up to 6-7 metres below the soil exterior and have wide tunnel networks that can enlarge up to 100 metres from the nest.
How can buildings be protected against termites?
Control techniques for termites can essentially be divided into two types, arresting and treatment. Prophylactic measures are in fact applied while the building of new buildings, but some (eg. Stainless steel mesh, or a layer of granite chips) are not very favorable for existing buildings or structures.
Prevention of charge in Sydney, Nsw Australia
Building build can sell out the chances of termite damage. leading strategies contain reducing the number of timber used in buildings, a properly designed concrete slab with edges exposed for inspection for termite activity, or provision for easy under-floor inspections of timber floors. Premise of a reticulated principles under the concrete slab can also to allow chemical barriers to be applied and re-applied whenever necessary.
Chemical barriers
Chemicals that are used to kill termites are called termiticides. Termiticides have differing modes of action, and several methods are used to apply them.
For many new buildings, creation of a termiticide-treated layer of soil surrounding and under the building form an integrated barrier together with the corporeal methods described above.
The termiticide is applied to the soil under the slab and nearby the footings, pipes, conduits and other structures of the house while building to originate a vertical barrier. Added loosened soil nearby the perimeter of the house, together with nearby all pipes and aid facilities, is treated while and after building to from a horizontal barrier.
Timber intended for use in the building of houses, outbuildings, fences and other outdoor structures is often treated with chemicals by dipping and pressure or vacuum impregnation.
Treatment of Sydney infestations
Treatment of a termite infestation in an existing buildings in this area of Australia also requires an integrated approach, together with destruction of termites within the timber structures, measures to find and destroy the termite nest, re-establishment of a chemical and/or corporeal barrier, and regular inspections to detect any ongoing or new termite activity.
For existing buildings, where signs of infestation have been detected, chemical treatment is usually the best option for destroying termites and re-establishing a barrier.
Premise
Active Ingredient Imidacloprid a member of the relatively new class of chemicals called chloronicotinyls. It is used to originate a barrier or treated zone in the soil where it attracts termites, which die within the treated zone.
Brand - Premise, from Bayer
Type - Chloro-Nicotinyl (an insect nerve inhibitor)
Toxicity - Rated S5. "Practically non-toxic" both oral and dermal.
Odour - This water-based insecticide is almost odourless.
Longevity - The label claims "at least two years". Bayer propose us that they are intending to re-label claiming 5 years.
Bayer's printed data states "At Csiro test sites, Premise was efficient for a minimum of 2 years with more than 6 years operate achieve at some sites. Trial work in infested buildings has shown that more than 90 per cent are still termite free 5-6 years after treatment.
Bayer also claim that Imidacloprid has some indirect colony operate effect. In other words, it will kill termites without repelling them, and can have a negative consequent on the health and numbers of any colony infesting the immediate area.
Biflex
Brand - Biflex Aqua from F.M.C.
Type - synthetic pyrethroid water based termiticide
Toxicity - Rated S6, oral - "slightly toxic", dermal - "practically non-toxic".
Odour - This water based termiticide is almost odourless.
Longevity - the label claims "at least 10 years" when applied at maximum strength. In practical conditions nearby a typical home, due to water exposure, disturbance of orchad beds etc Stc recommends re-treatment each 5 years.
A characteristic of Bifenthrin is that it binds very speedily and strongly to the soil particles. This makes it a good option where moisture movement in the soil may be a factor. On the downside, for the same reason, it tends to be filtered out by the soil so that it will not seep through the soil and perforate some target areas as well as a stock like as Imidacloprid.
Termidor
Brand -Termidor from Basf
Active Ingredient Fipronil - Benzisothiazolin
Toxicity -Rated S6, oral-harmful if swallowed, dermal-may irritate skin, does not effortlessly perforate skin. Repeated exposure may cause allergic reaction.
Odour - has a minute vegetable oil smell.
Longevity - re-treatment each 5 years should be expected.
Termidor was launched in 2002 after some presentations from the Usa, where it is used extensively.
In Australia it was introduced shortly afterwards, speedily building up a reputation as "the best" termiticide. This is because of claims made that it has strong indirect colony operate effects. The effectiveness of Fipronil as a termiticide is beyond doubt. Fipronil is an very low toxic active insecticide. It is applied by spraying, trenching and soil rodding as a chemical soil barrier nearby existing structures, and may also be used to protect poles and fence posts.
Accordingly, A1 Pest operate regards this stock as "top of the range" and its cost premium is commonly worthwhile on jobs where a continuous soil treatment is unlikely to be achievable due to building characteristics.
N.B. - A1 Pest operate Pty Ltd cannot warrant that colony operate will occur, since this will depend on many factors together with the termite pressure nearby the single areas treated. The best protection is achieved by the formation of a continuous soil treatment in conjunction with a usually monitored termite baiting system.
Termite Treatments Used in Sydney, Australia
