Termite Control FAQ
Here we address some of the common FAQs about termite control.
Why Need Initial Termite Inspection?
Prior to determining the method of treatment, an inspection by a professional pest control inspector is important beyond the building but also the surroundings. A written report is optional that normally incur a fee.
A detailed written report will include evidence found of termite activity, high-risk termite entry areas inaccessible to inspection, and termite control options and limitations. Specific areas inspected should include accessible timbers within the crawl space in the sub-floor, roof void, interior, exterior, garden landscaping, fences, other timber structures and trees in the locality.
What are the Questions to Ask When Deciding on a Method of Treatment?
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What method is suitable for the species of termite found?
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Is it a Preventive or a Corrective Measure?
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Is the building structure and the surroundings suitable for the method proposed?
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Will past treatment methods (DIY or past contract) affect this new proposed method?
What Methods of Termite Treatment Available in Malaysia?
The best method of treatment is an integrated one. A combination of Physical Barrier mostly structural prevention, Soil Treatment as Preventive Measure and a Spot Treatment as a Corrective Measure.
What is the Soil Treatment standard Protocol?
Treatment around the perimeter and sub-floor of a building to eradicate termites attempting to gain entry into the building through a treated soil area. There are several types of termite control chemicals registered by the Pesticide Board for use in termite control as a soil treatment chemical.
The efficacy of the treatment depends largely on the building structure, underground condition and surroundings activities. The general retreatment warranty provided by a licensed Pest Control Company depends on the type of chemical as specified by the Manufacturer and also assessed risks.
*Understand the Pros and Cons of this method prior to deciding.
What is a Termite Baiting System?
A Termite Baiting System involves the installation and monitoring of termite bait stations. This method relies heavily on the termites "finding" and consuming sufficient bait, and in Termite Colony Extermination.
Termites have acute survival instincts. The location of a toxic food source if detected will be abandoned. Too much disturbance of the foraging termites in a particular location will alert the termite colony to abandon the area. The termites appear to be gone, but may in fact be entering the building in other areas.
With a termite baiting program, there can be no absolute guarantee of long-term protection of nearby buildings. There may be other termite nests nearby the building that do not find the bait stations. Your home is a much bigger bait station. Other termite nests may exist in trees, under concrete on-ground flooring, and in-fill patios of neighboring properties.
If you find live termites or termite-damaged timbers DO NOT disturb the area. DO NOT use spray or insecticides on the termites. If sufficiently disturbed, the termites are likely to move elsewhere, and may not be rediscovered until further obvious damage has been done. The termite professional can introduce termite dust or termite bait directly to the live termites present in an attempt to eliminate the entire termite colony.
Regular FOLLOW-UP INSPECTIONS are essential and should be carried out at least every 3 to 6 months where signs of termite activity have been located in the vicinity of susceptible buildings or timber structures. More frequent visits are required after Monitoring Stations are installed and baits are engaged.
About the Nemesis Termite Baiting System
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How does it work? The Nemesis bait contains chlorfluazuron as the active constituent, which acts as an insect growth regulator or IGR. The worker termites readily eat the bait and pass it onto other termites in the central nest as part of their mutual feeding and grooming process. Termites must regularly molt in their development from nymph to adult. The chemical prevents the termites from re-growing their external skeleton, resulting in the death of the termite. Termites cannibalize other dead termites thereby hastening the elimination of the entire colony.
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When is it used? Where a live activity is found we recommend that an above-ground bait station containing Nemesis bait is positioned directly on areas of known activity. The above-ground stations are checked at 2 to 3-week intervals to assess levels of bait consumption by the termites. The bait is replenished as required. With sufficient consumption, the entire termite colony will be eliminated. Bear in mind, there is always the likelihood that other termite nests will infest the building.
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How does the Nemesis system work? Above-ground baiting of live activity found: An excellent initial strategy whereby the Nemesis termite bait is immediately placed into an above-ground station and onto or into the timbers where termites are found feeding. The Nemesis Bait is highly attractive to destructive termite species. This means termites readily feed on the Nemesis termite bait, taking it back to the center as part of their mutual feeding and grooming process.
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Termites cannot avoid what they cannot detect. Nemesis is specially designed so that the IGR chemical cannot be detected by the termites. They do not know where the deadly effect is coming from. The insect growth regulator's active ingredient also stops the termite colony from being able to reproduce as the Queen termite becomes affected and dies. Nemesis termite bait is replenished or In-ground bait stations if used should be regularly inspected for termite activity therein. Once feeding commences the bait should be replenished every 2 to 3 weeks. The termite colony loses whole generations of replacement members and gradually declines and finally collapses, particularly as the Queen is affected and dies.
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The effects of the Nemesis Termite Bait are visible and can be tracked with some degree of reliability. The termite’s natural habits, food preferences, energy saving, and feeding behavior are all used against the colony.
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In-ground monitoring of termite activity. If live termites cannot be located, special in-ground monitoring stations can be placed either in the soil, through concrete, or under the pavement at strategically important points around a building. These stations can be inspected on a regular basis with the inspections tailored for intervals of approximately 2 to 3 months.
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Regular inspections are essential. It is strongly recommended that regular 3 monthly or 6-monthly house inspections are also carried out by your pest controller if your house/property is assessed to be at moderate to high risk of a termite infestation.
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Termite Monitoring. When the termite colony has been eliminated, the bait is removed and new timber inserts are put into place. The monitoring system then continues to provide an opportunity to detect termites foraging in the soil close to structures.
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Several months to gain control? Nemesis termite baiting may take several months to completely eliminate a termite colony even in favorable circumstances. However, in ideal circumstances, termite baiting can be reasonably expected to greatly reduce the rate of timber consumption by the termite colony within one month after the termites begin to consume the termite bait. With sufficient bait being consumed it is virtually certain the colony will be eliminated in the medium term, but not always.
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Additional system features. The Nemesis bait system features stations that are opened by a special tool. The active ingredient of the Nemesis termite bait is securely contained below ground. The active ingredient has extremely low toxicity to humans and pets. The Nemesis plastic station is a specially designed low-profile permanent fixture for insertion in concrete pathing around the perimeter of a house.