Here is how to get rid of drywood termites, following practical extermination methods discussed below.

Of all the species of termites, the drywood termite exists in small colonies. They prefer to live in abandoned woods or wooden structures, and they can survive without moisture. This is why they live for a very long time, feeding on dry woods.

When there is a heavy infestation, these termites can destroy a huge wooden structure in no time.

Drywood Termite Extermination Methods

Drywood termites live in the woods, and they also feed on them, which kind of accelerates the rate of wood destruction by the pest. They are smart creatures, in that they keep feeding on a particular wood and you may never be able to detect their presence because they know how to leave the surface intact.

However, if you start noticing fecal pellets by any wooden structure in your apartment, you have a good reason to suspect an infestation of drywood termite.

Drywood termites also create galleries inside a piece of wood. They are attracted to any wood species, hard or soft, munching on the piece little by little.

As a result of the cunny nature of these pests, it may be challenging to detect an early infestation. Still, if you pay closer attention to the points below, it will be easy to confirm their presence, even when their population is not yet out of control.

When you come across any of the signs discussed, know that drywood termites are unwelcomed tenants residing somewhere in the wooden material.

Signs of Drywood Termite Infestation

Your apartment may be infested with drywood termites:

Whenever you spot insects with wings flying around your house in the evening, usually drawn by light; know that you have an infestation.

If you wake up in the morning and find litters of wings by your window sills or that have been caught in a spider’s web.

If you find wooden pellets; usually very tiny – on the floor around your furniture on under it.

These pellets are sometimes reddish-brown, reddish-black, or cream, and they are not more than 2mm long. Pellets from drywood termites are easily identified because they fall into piles when the termites try to push them out of their nest.

If you notice surface blisters, know that you already have an infestation. Whenever you notice these, find out more by tapping on the wooden structure, probably with a screwdriver. Do you get a hollow sound from the tapping? You are likely to have an infestation already.

There are other signs like stains on the wood and creaking sounds coming from inside the wood. Bottom line is that whenever these insects are around, their swarmers announce their presence.

The next line of action should be to get rid of them before they eat into every wooden structure in your home.

How To Treat Drywood Termites Naturally

Drywood termites cause devastating damage to wood and furniture if left alone. Give them more time, and your structural beams are gone too. This is why you need to get rid of them immediately you notice an infestation.

More so, getting rid of them at the early stage will cost you less time and effort in control options and in repairing the damage they cause to your wood.

It is not advisable to rush into a local store to get a termiticide whenever you spot a drywood termite; because of the risks attached to exposure.

With insecticide, you will need to vacate your apartment; and take precautions not to get your edibles contaminated. Save yourself that stress by opting for a natural method of eradication instead.

Some of the natural means of getting rid of termites are discussed below;

Vinegar

White vinegar is a fantastic household product with a multi-purpose function. It can be used to clean out stubborn dirt. It can also serve as a pest repellent, to get rid of a wide range of flying and crawling insect pests, including termites.

All you have to do is get a spray bottle and apply the white vinegar to places where there may be an infestation of drywood termite. This solution is an effective contact insecticide that exterminates the termite on contact.

To use vinegar for termites, make sure you reapply it regularly till you see the end of the last drywood termite in your home.

Nematodes

One natural way to eradicate these termites is to invite nematodes into your home. Nematodes are worms that feed on termites. If you have them around your garden, very good, but if not, you can get them online.

All you have to do is put the parasite on the drywood infested area, and they will go in search of their lunch.

This set of parasites are very productive termite exterminators; they will continue to reproduce and then continue to look for the termites until they are totally out of your household.

Sodium Borates

Sodium borate is made into a powder popularly known as borax powder. This powder is beneficial for exterminating drywood termites, and you don’t need to vacate your building if you want to apply it.

This powder can be used in two ways; you can either spray the powder around the areas of drywood infestation. Or you can make it into a solution by adding water and vinegar to it.

After making this solution, you can now spray it in areas where you think the termites are nested.

Whichever method you adopt, you have to make sure that you reapply from time to time.

Orange Oil

D-limonene is very deadly to termites, and it is what is mostly used to produce orange oil. The orange oil dissolves the exoskeletons of termites, and therefore they get to lose proteins rapidly till they die.

Once you spray the orange oil around the infested area, the termites will be exterminated and be away from your household.

You can keep spraying it time after time to deter another infestation. You can get the lemon oil at your local store, or you can place an order for it online.

 Drywood Termite Treatment Methods

Structural Fumigation

Fumigation is the most effective way of exterminating termite infestation. This is carried out using sulfuryl fluoride (Vikane) or methyl bromide (Bromo-gas).

The entire building is covered before the gas is released within, and it is very effective because the gas eliminates all the oxygen in the entire structure, such that when insects breathe, they’ll die immediately.

This kind of fumigation can only be carried out by licensed fumigators because the chemical is very potent and can eliminate every insect and animal pest or even pet if they are around.

Spot Wood Treatment

Most Drywood infestation is not as severe, and structural fumigation might not be necessary.

Using localized wood treatments like foams and dust will help get rid of drywood termites in the home or social buildings.

To use localized treatments, you have to drill holes into the infested furniture or wood, ensure it gets to the termites’ galleries. You can apply the insecticide or dust formulation to the galleries.

To treat your woods or furniture, you can either use Boracare or the Fipro Aerosol to get rid of Drywood termites.

Boracare

Borcare is a borate-based product that is effective in eradicating drywood termite, but first, you have to investigate and identify the termite colony. After this, you need to replace the wood and treat Boracare.

To apply bora care, get a five-gallon bucket, fill it with warm water, and mix it with bora care. This product is very thick, so you must mix it properly and ensure that it is well broken down.

After this, you can pour the mixture into a sprayer and begin to spray the furniture. You can also spray your trees if they are also infested.

You can also use Bora care to prevent termites from infesting your property.

FiPro Aerosol

Unlike Boracare, FiPro Aerosol is a foaming aerosol. It is made with Fipronil, which is a harmful and active ingredient proven to be very useful in combating the outbreak of a termite infestation.

You can apply Fipro Aerosol foam inside the termite galleries, cracks, windows or doors, and fireplaces. FirePro aerosol is an active agent that works fast in eradicating termites because it penetrates deeply into the wood.

To use Fipro Aerosol, drill up to 8 – 10 inches around the infested wood.

After this, fill the holes with the aerosol foam and then fill up the holes that were made in the wood with any sealing material, or you can use a wood patch.

Conclusion

You don’t want to find out how much damage drywood termites can cost you in monetary terms, so it is wise you do everything to prevent them from ever visiting.

One of the best ways to solve a problem is to do all you can to make sure that the problem never occurred in the first place.

Therefore, you must always check around for a possible infestation. More so, if you make use of treated wood, drywood termite will rather stay away from treated woods.

Another way to prevent drywood termites from coming around your home is to keep your environment clean at all times. If you have a tree in your yard, always ensure that you trim it from time to time.

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