West Palm Beach's Complete Subterranean Termite Control Guide

It is very difficult to control subterranean termites without the use of termite control products. It is also difficult to control them if you purchase control products and don't apply them correctly. The worst aspect of DIY termite control is that you're not likely to know when you fail. Termites can attack your West Palm Beach home by the millions without alerting you to the danger. When it comes to DIY, we don't recommend control methods, but we do recommend the following prevention tips.

• Never bury wood in your yard.
• If you have wood products in your yard, elevate them.
• Inspect your exterior and seal any gaps, cracks, or holes you find.
• Address conditions that cause oversaturation of the soil around your home, such as clogged gutters, gutter breaks, and damaged plumbing.
• Do routine inspections of your exterior. Look for shelter tubes and the presence of tiny white wings. Inspect difficult-to-reach locations and look for these two warning signs, as well as the appearance of wood damage, swarmers, or worker termites.
• Learn what termite workers, soldiers, and swarmers look like, so you are able to identify them when you see them.

Termiticides

It is likely that you are familiar with termite soil treatments. This has been the preferred method of termite prevention in South Florida for over a century. But a lot has changed. In the past, all termiticides were toxic to termites and worked to exterminate them when workers came in contact with the products, which were injected into the ground all the way around structures. This worked great. But, since the product was detectable to termites, it was possible for workers to find a pathway through contaminated soil and still get into homes. Certified professionals used a combination of soil treatments and annual inspections to make sure no damage was being done. These products can still be purchased today. We don't recommend them because it takes a highly-skilled professional to ensure that these products do the job they promise.

At Native Pest Management, we use termiticides that are invisible to termites. When the termites pass through treated areas, they pick up the active ingredient without knowing it. Then, through a process of grooming, they share the product with the other termites in their colony. This leads to colony elimination. While these new products are far more effective, they still need to be administered by a certified professional. When any termiticide is incorrectly installed in the soil, weather conditions and other factors can render the product inert. It is always best to hire a professional for this important job.

Bait

A new technology that is taking the world by storm is the use of termite bait stations to eliminate attacking termite colonies. Bait definitely works. But not all baits are created equal. It is important to use a product that has a proven track record. The experts here at Native Pest Management trust the Sentricon® System with Always Active™. This bait solution is the number one choice for professionals. This product has been examined and scrutinized in more than 30 independent studies and it has more than 70 scientific papers written about it.

How does it work? Termites find the bait in the stations planted in the ground around your home. When they take the bait, they share it with the other termites in their colony through a process called trophallaxis. One by one, they receive the active ingredient and this leads to colony elimination. No more colony, no more threat to your property. It's that simple.