What is a baiting system?
Conventional "Barrier" Treatment
For years, the standard method of controlling subterranean termites was to apply a liquid pesticide, known as a termiticide, to the soil. The goal was to create a continuous chemical barrier around and under the building in order to block all potential routes of termite entry. Termites attempting to penetrate the treated soil were either killed or repelled. In actual practice, there are many obstacles to achieving such a barrier. Many potential termite entry points are hidden behind walls, floor coverings, and other obstructions.
Even where access for treatment is possible, it is hard to uniformly wet soil and achieve thorough coverage. A typical "barrier" treatment may involve hundreds of litres of pesticide injected into the ground alongside the building, beneath concrete slabs, and within foundation walls. Homeowners sometimes object to the drilling and disruption that such treatments often require.
Alternative Approach: Termite Baiting System
Termite baiting employs a very different approach. With termite baiting, small amounts of active ingedient are deployed in plastic in-ground stations to knock out populations of termites foraging in and around the structure. Foraging termites consume the bait and share it with their nestmates, resulting in a gradual decline in termite numbers. A comprehensive baiting program then seeks to maintain a termite-free condition on the customer's property through ongoing inspection, monitoring and re-baiting as needed.
Installation of the TermatriX Termite Monitoring System
First, a pest management professional will inspect your home for termites or identify termite "hot spots", such as air conditioning units, hot water systems; old tree stumps leaky taps, garden beds, fence posts, and bathrooms. If there are termites or if there is a significant risk of attack from subterranean termites, your Pest Management Professional will recommend the installation of TermatriX termite Monitoring In-Ground system and or if active termites are found inside, Above-Ground TermatriX Termite baits will be installed for immediate colony control.
The Installation Steps
Step 1
Using a pole digging auger of 11 cm in diameter, the Pest Manager will dig a hole 25cm deep.
Step 2
Termite below ground stations containing a preferred matrix of highly palatable cellulose matrix will be placed at 3 - 4m intervals around the perimeter of the structure in moist shady areas where possible, such as in mulched garden beds, close to "hot spots".
Step 3
Containing cellulose attractant tablets (No Active Ingredient) in a secure aggregation cartridge will be inserted to monitor for termite activity. It is unique to TermatriX and offers significant advancements over competitor products in aggregating large numbers of termites to a single feeding site and for making inspection simple.
Step 4
The stations will be checked regularly for termite activity using a customised tool to open the secure station lids.
Step 5
When termites are found in a station the TermatriX termite bait containing CHLORFLUAZURON 1 g/kg mixed with water will be placed directly into the station to ensure minimal termite disturbance and immediate termite feeding.