There are a number of different types of treatments available on the market, we will endeavour to describe each one and how they work in brief.

1 Dusting Treatments                  (Repellent & Non Repellent)

2 Chemical barrier Treatments    (Repellent & Non Repellent)

3 Monitoring & Baiting System     (Non Repellent)

DUSTING TREATMENTS

This is where a dust (Carrier + Insecticide) are applied to Termite workings with active Termites this type of Treatment requires a lot of activity, best results would be achieved in warmer periods of the year when Termites are at there most active usually used in conjunction with chemical barrier treatments, can work but: NOT RECOMMENDED AS A STAND ALONE TREATMENT. Products in this range include Arsenic Trioxide, Intrique, and Termidor Dust.

CHEMICAL BARRIERS

The chemical barrier is designed to either repel Termites that come into the treated zone or to allow them to enter the treated zone and over time pass the chemical onto others and ultimately killing the nest (the transfer effect) most companies will give you 8-10 years warranty providing they are allowed to install at the manufactures  rate and in accord with the Australian standards and also providing you have annual inspections if you fail to have annual inspections your warranty would be void.

However you do not have to have the inspections done by the company that did the original job, this can be done by any licensed inspector of your choice, before you proceed with any work read the terms and discuss with your pest manager about any limitations (some limitations are not obvious until after work has already commenced) products in this range include Biflex, Termidor & Premise.

BAITING SYSTEMS

This is where stations are placed at intervals around a structure generally about 2.5-3 meters apart   Termites foraging in the area will pick up on the monitors, the monitors are a selected timber made from eucalypts a sought after food source by subterranean Termites.

Once Termites hit on the monitors a bait is applied, the bait is comprised of a cellulose carrier + and an Insect growth inhibitor this effects the Termite by interfering with the moulting process Termites need to moult its all part of the growing process after a period of time the colony collapses the young Termites fail to mature and the ability to feed the colony is reduced to a level that it can no longer sustain itself.

Now we have covered the three treatment processes in the post construction area of Termite control we have tried to keep it in a nuts and bolts fashion for people that have no or limited knowledge of Pest control and specifically Termite control to understand.

Now which treatment process is good for you weighing up the pros and cons is always hard here are a few more facts that might make it easier.

Let’s put dusting aside for the moment as dusting offers no long term control in itself.

Chemical barriers offer continued long term protection for the life of the chemical and providing you have perfect conditions to suit it would work very well unfortunately most do not, plumbing, pathways and concrete slabs can make it difficult to establish a continuos barrier.

The selection of chemical product may well be of benefit repellent chemicals such as biflex work by obviously repelling and killing Termites that come into the treated zone, should they find a gap then they are in, a chemical such as Termidor is considered a non repellent the Termites are still foraging but instead of looking for a gap unaware they enter the treated zone working and passing the chemical back to the nest eventually destroying the colony, repellent chemicals may highlight the gaps in the barrier where as non repellent will not, however the gaps still exist.

Chemical barriers would not be considered very environmental in the true sense as they are designed to last at least 8-10 years most environmental products would degrade in a relatively short time and become inert, however these products have a low level of toxicity and once dry they remain stable in the soil unless disturbed if this should occur re-application to the area would be required chemical barriers are not very effective where there is a lot of rock of very wet conditions prevail, the chemical needs an organic substrate to attach to very little substrate equals very little protection.

Monitoring and Baiting systems placed around a structure offer a good level of protection provided they are managed correctly they are very unlike that of a  Termite barrier system where the barrier needs to be continuos, monitoring and baiting relies on the foraging habits of Termites, how they find the monitors remains of some debate it is said that Termites forage randomly others suggest they can be attracted with a co.2 attractant, Termites have receptors on there bodies that allow them to pick up things like co.2 and allow them to hone into a food source more readily, which ever one it is they seem to find them.

The bait matrix is made up of mostly cellulose this is the food source the Termites seek out and extract from wood plus the insect growth inhibitor, the inhibitor reduces the ability to for the Termite to produce chitin (pronounced Kyton) this is some thing that we do not possess in our bodies so it would have little or no effect on us or our pets if we where to eat it, this form of treatment is probably the most safest form of treatment of any Pest Control product on the market today.