Every homeowner should know how to get rid of flying termites, especially anyone living in a wooden home or a forest area. Come springtime, termite populations increase in numbers dramatically, and that’s when colonies start to form. They become very active and potentially harmful to your property.
Here are the steps you should take and products you can use to make sure you’ll never have to deal with any damage caused by flying termites again.
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Step 1 – Block Out Light Sources
To start managing your flying termites’ infestation, you have to make your place unattractive to them. First, you want to make sure that no new termites are interested in settling in. Then you can dispatch the ones already there.
It’s relatively easy to do, as in most cases, blocking out light sources has a considerable impact. You can resort to blackout curtains to limit natural light and spend a few nights without turning on the lights around the house. It works because termites, like most other insects, are attracted to light.
Step 2 – Secure Your Home
Just because you’ve blocked out most of the light coming into your home doesn’t mean that flying termites won’t find their way. After eliminating one of the main attractants, light, you should also block various entry points.
Termites often get in underneath doors, through windows, cracks in the ceilings and walls, even via the flooring. Make sure you seal your home to limit the number of termites moving in.
Step 3 – Install a Bug Zapper
Although most people use bug zappers to kill mosquitoes and flies, these devices are very effective against other flying pests too. Since flying termites love light, a well-placed bug zapper in a dark area can quickly reduce their numbers.
Of course, it’s important to use a modern bug zapper, one that emits UV light. Without a light source, the flying termites are unlikely to go anywhere near it. Once in contact with the electrical grid, the termites will fry instantly.
Note that there are plenty of indoor bug zappers too. Less powerful gadgets that don’t pose a fire hazard.
Step 4 – Vacuum Every Day
Your trusty vacuum cleaner can help you manage a flying termites infestation. But you have to be consistent and vacuum for a few days in a row to get any results.
If possible, you should also fill the vacuum cleaner’s bag or waste container with something that will kill the termites once inside. Here’s a simple DIY solution. Pour some soapy water that will intoxicate and drown the termites.
If you suck in swarms of flying termites, but you don’t kill them, then disposing of them can lead to a re-infestation.
Step 5 – Start Using Proven Termite Killers
There are many insecticides, both natural and synthetic, that can help you kill entire swarms of flying termites rapidly.
Orange Oil Sprays
An orange oil aerosolized formula is one of the most effective flying termite killers on the market. It will feature non-toxic compounds for humans and pets, but it will be deadly to termites.
The main advantages include being relatively cheap, easy to use, non-staining, and having some residual control effect.
But, an orange oil spray will be most effective when you can spray it directly on swarms of termites. Or at the very least in high-traffic areas. Don’t forget that you can also apply it to various wooden surfaces and furniture. You can even spray the oil inside cracks and crevices in walls, flooring, and ceilings.
Termite Traps
Traps are a very effective way of killing them by the hundreds. Although there are many bait stations filled with potent attractants and poisons, you can also make traps on your own.
You won’t need much. For example, the cellulose found in cardboard boxes is very appealing to flying termites. Wet cardboard boxes or sheets of cardboard attract termites like crazy.
Just make sure that before placing a trap, you also poison it. Use any good natural or synthetic bug killer that works on termites and has a decent residual control effect. You might want to go with something that doesn’t react or gets diluted when it comes in contact with water.
Of course, you can also check the cardboard and set it on fire when it’s swarming with termites. But this is recommended for outdoor use.
Boric Acid Barriers
Using boric acid to kill termites and other insects may be an old method, but it’s nothing if not highly effective. As boric acid often comes as a powder, you can sprinkle it wherever you need it.
Most homeowners choose small termite entry points, traps, and wooden elements. But this is not the fastest way to kill flying termites.
Sure, when they come in contact with boric acid, the termites will quickly get dehydrated. Also, this is a powerful desiccant that also messes up the insect’s nervous system. But it can also be toxic to humans and pets.
That means that you’ll need consistent treatments over some time. And you’ll also have to seal off the treated rooms until the situation gets resolved.
Smoke Bombs
You can always call in a professional exterminator. But most professionals rely on highly toxic, albeit more powerful, synthetic insecticides in large quantities.
These days it’s easy to kill termites at home without hiring a professional exterminator. Start by looking at all the residential-friendly smoke bombs and see which ones are best suited to handle a termite infestation.
You can set off a smoke bomb on your own, seal the room, and wait for the termites to die. Then you can go inside, vacuum everything as previously suggested, and start working on preventing a new infestation.
What Does a Professional Do Differently?
The difference between the average homeowner and a pro exterminator is that the latter has methods and tools to locate termite nests without having to poke tons of holes into walls, ceilings, and floors.
Obviously, the faster the nests are located, the faster the termite population will die. But, be prepared to seal off the treated rooms for a few days and pay a premium for the service.
Flying Termites Are Not as Scary Once You Know What to Do
Getting rid of a flying termites infestation may not be a fast process if you do it on your own. However, it can be cheap and easy if you follow the recommendations in this article and use the right products.
And remember – taking proper steps to prevent an infestation is half the battle won every time.