Mint. If you're a fan of termite-free homes and mojitos, planting mint just might change your life. The scent of this highly aromatic plant is strong enough to ward off a few different types of pests, including termites. The minty smell is so overwhelming to termites that it's actually painful to them.
Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.
Borax powder, or sodium borate, can kill termites naturally. You just sprinkle the powder on the termites and the affected area, or you make a solution of the powder and water to spray or paint on affected areas. You can also paint the solution on surfaces as a termite repellant.
Boric acid is often recommended for the elimination of termites. Boric acid is a natural pesticide and usually comes in the powder form. You can sprinkle it in the area of infestation or mix it with water to spray in the area. It might be best to use goggles, masks and gloves while spraying the acid.
White vinegar is another effective substance for killing termites and other insects. There are multiple ways you can use it: Straight. Diluted in water using a 1:1 ratio.
Bifen XTA: Best Fast-acting
Bifen XTS is a fast-acting, oil-based termiticide that can kill termites in 24 hours by attacking their nervous systems. This treatment is not recommended for use indoors. Spray it around the perimeter of your home to kill termites.
Borax (Sodium Borate)
Borax can be applied both directly on any termites that you see, or it can be sprinked around areas where termites are active. The termites must come into direct contact with the borax for it to work. Lightly dust infested areas with borax and repeat every other day for at least a week.
Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.
Termites have some major weaknesses. They need moisture to survive and they cannot survive in the air or sunlight. To travel above the ground, they must bring moisture with them. So they build mud tubes.
“If you suspect you have termites, don't panic,” said Fawn Pattinson, executive director of the Agricultural Resources Center Pesticide Education Project, a nonprofit consumer advocate group based in Raleigh that works to prevent human and environmental exposure to toxic pesticides.
Don't Panic
Termites do not bite or feed off people or pets. Also, termites do not immediately cause significant damage to wood when they start a new colony. Even if a new swarm did start a new colony somewhere in your home today they would not produce a significant amount of damage right away.
Swarming. It may seem as if termites suddenly appear when they are in swarming mode. During mating season, winged reproductives, called alates, swarm at dusk in the spring months, usually after rainfall, to find a mate and start new colonies.
Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them. The other popular termite treatment myth is using vinegar, which much like Baking soda is a waste of time.
Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies.
A commonly mentioned substance termites hate can be found even in your kitchen. It's vinegar! The problem is, it's difficult to permeate this smell through any interior wood where termites could hide, and the liquid could risk weakening dry wood further.
Use Borate on Wood Before Priming or Painting: Borate is one of the most popular termite repellents. You can spray borate on wood prior to priming and painting. It soaks into the wood and essentially prevents termites from attacking and nibbling on it.
Vinegar diluted in water or vinegar mixed with lemon juice is the most powerful homemade termite killer recipe other termite solutions for home, depending on your tastes, are also available. After you've made the solution, spray it throughout the house in any areas where termites might be hiding.
Fumigation
Fumigation is an intensive way to rid your home of severe termite infestations. The process involves enclosing the infested area and exposing all termites inside it to sulfuryl fluoride gas (Vikane). The fumigation process typically takes around 3 days.
Essentially, termites definitely bite wood and do attack other insects, but they do not bite people. Although homeowners experiencing an infestation should not be concerned about receiving bites from termites, professional extermination methods should be sought and implemented to protect the structure of your home.
Workers and soldiers live approximately one to two years. Queen termites may survive for over a decade under optimal climate conditions.
The remedy for termite treatment involves mixing vinegar with lemon juice, and then spraying it where termites dwell. The acidity of the concoction will kill termites that ingest it.
Termites can be suffocated and killed by WD-40 if sprayed on them with WD-40. If termites are sprayed in certain areas, they may be able to delay the development of termite damage. Termite baits are frequently used by the insects to lure them into consuming chemicals in order to form a chemical bond.