The Popular Method Of Termite Baiting

Termite baiting is becoming increasingly popular as a way to treat for and prevent termites. Instead of attempting to protect a structure by creating a barrier between it and the termites, baiting targets the termites themselves. Termite baits are designed to suppress or eliminate the termite colony living in the soil.

Commercial termite bait systems are a relatively new technology. The most widely used bait products are applied very similarly. The initial installation of any baiting system involves plastic stations being inserted into the ground around the periphery of the structure approximately every 10 feet.

Inside these stations are untreated wood monitors. The stations are usually inspected every month for termite activity. If live termites are found in the station, a toxic bait will be placed inside and the infested monitor may or may not be removed.

The idea is to get the termites that have been recruited to the wood monitor to now pick up the bait instead. Certain bait products are intended to be used by themselves, while others can be used in combination with spot applications of liquid termiticide (applied only to areas where termites are active) or a complete liquid treatment.

Because the in-ground bait stations are placed outside the structure, they do not directly affect termites that are already foraging inside. To address these inside infestations certain manufacturers provide above ground stations.

Above ground stations are basically plastic boxes that contain a paper matrix (bait) laced with the active ingredient (toxicant). The boxes can be attached over a termite mud tube or directly onto infested wood. The termites forage inside the box and consume the paper bait.

Probably the most popular termite bait system on the market today is the Sentricon System. This was the first termite baiting system commercially available. It is now the most widely used bait system within the United States and internationally.

It was developed in 1990 by Dow AgroSciences (Indianapolis, IN) and the University of Florida. Sentricon is a stand-alone system and is not intended for use in combination with liquid termiticide.

The bait system consists of in-ground stations that contain 2 pieces of untreated wood ("monitors"). The stations are checked on a monthly schedule to see if termites have invaded or "hit" the monitors.

If so, the termites are collected from the monitors and placed inside a tube of bait. The bait then replaces the monitors in the station and the termites must then eat their way out of the bait tube.