Liquid Termiticide vs Bait Systems: Which is Better for Your Home?Liquid Termiticide vs Bait Systems: Which is Better for Your Home?

The question of termiticide vs bait is an ongoing debate to which there is currently no definitive answer. What can be established is which method is better for a particular property, and that is the only important consideration for many householders.

The wider view on termite prevention , including the safety of humans living on the particular property, is for the professionals to discuss and develop. With hindsight it is always possible to form an opinion of what would have been better if only we had known at the time what we know now, but in most fields of endeavour, while the opinions of the public may be welcome, they must be taken in the context of the amateur's limited knowledge and an individual's natural bias according to their own circumstances.

In other words, we are entitled to our opinion, but we shouldn't get the idea that we know more than those who have been working on a subject, possibly for years.

In the case of termite treatments, for many years the use of liquid termiticide was regarded as the ultimate method, despite some people's reservations about water safety and the contamination of the soil.

What we are Learning About Termites

What has emerged in the more recent past is that termites have a form of intelligence that means they can tell when a noxious chemical barrier is causing them harm and they will keep away from it and seek out other routes.

Tests carried out at the University of Kyoto in 2022 showed that termites trying to get through a maze would pick up on the excited responses of those finding a successful route and the rest would follow.

Because the bait method is slower and more prolonged than with the liquid termiticide, termites do not seem to respond in the same way. The workers in the advance party still get out there on the journey towards the house and take tiny amounts of the bait back to the nest, where it can eventually even kill the queen. Unfortunately, even if that happens, we don't know it.

While it is not out of the question that eventually pest control will be carried out by psychological means, that remains in the realms of science fiction – for now. What is real in the here and now is that using bait rather than the barrier can be extremely effective because the termites don't appear to have cracked the code.

Is a Barrier Possible on Your Property?

There are several factors to consider here. Is a complete barrier even possible on your property? The logistics of the construction may make it difficult or just plain not achievable. This is not a decision the householder can make, but a professional survey can reveal whether there is the potential for an uninterrupted ring, and uninterrupted is the crucial word, because termites are enterprising little varmints and will pour through any gap in their millions.

How Important is Cost?

It is an unfortunate fact that sometimes property maintenance issues can be influenced by cost. You want to sort your place out, but there are other demands on the household budget. Looked at from this angle, while a termiticide barrier may be more expensive in the first place, it can last several years and work out cheaper in the long run than continually refilling bait stations. Would it be better to bite the bullet now or spread the cost?

Do you Need Results Immediately?

Depending on what kind of termites you have, it may not be just termiticide vs bait. Fumigation could be a third answer, but this doesn't harm the subterranean kind. In this case a barrier might be the best option in the short term before, as we have seen, word gets back to the termite colony that this is happening, and they will have to find another route. There may be a quick improvement but that doesn't mean the problem has been solved – it could be just a ceasefire.

Setting up bait stations will have some impact, but it will take time, so if your home is being eaten around you, you may not be prepared to wait. If you can, so much the better, as the baiting system takes advantage of termites' instinctive foraging. They go out looking for food and take it back to the colony, so they are aiding and abetting their own demise.

When Safety is Paramount

The perils of fumigation and the slower but equally dangerous introduction of toxins to the soil and potentially the water supply by injecting a barrier chemical can make using bait stations the best solution. These can be placed in the crawl space under a building, well out of the way of children, and the fact that they are secure and can't be opened accidentally also offers safety to pets.

Environmental Considerations

Being acutely aware of ecological matters can make decisions harder for some individuals. In this case the only way to leave nature to its own devices is to leave the termites alone – which is no solution at all. Bait stations would seem to be the least harmful course of action in this respect.

Consult an Expert

Your circumstances are by no means standard, and it is therefore important to talk to a professional company like us at Dentec Pest Management about termiticide vs bait. They will carry out a survey and the results of that, along with your views and family circumstances, will lead to the right decision.