Baiting Termites
One of the most common questions when Baiting Termites
When Baiting Termites either in the ground inside a TermiteMansion or in a Sachet of Easy Termite Bait, sometimes there appears a layer of dry mud both on the walls of inner chamber of TermiteMansion/ Pod of Easy Termite Bait and over the Easy Termite Bait.
This appearance of mud is quite common depending on species of termite and is a very normal occurrence when baiting termites. Schedorhinotermes sp. in particular commonly cover bait in mud but seldom more than a few millimeters. Not that we recommend it but if you stop adding fresh bait, they will remove the mud after all the bait is eaten.
The current scientific opinion is that anything more than 0.6 lux of light affects termite behaviour. Both our TermiteMansion and Easy Termite Bait Pod are in normal conditions, inhibitive to light more than what is required.
When installing the Easy Termite Bait Pod, it is easy to crease it which does let in a bit of extra light. When installing inside this will never be a problem. However if installing Easy Termite Bait Pod outside in direct light it is a good practice to cover over the Pod once installed with some aluminium foil or similar.
When installing the TermiteMansion in direct sunlight and after termites have been found in the inner chamber, it is good practice to cover the whole TermiteMansion with a damp cloth between baiting termite visits. This will not just prevent excess light entering the baiting chamber but also keep it nice and cool.
Also remember that over servicing during baiting (more frequently than every 2 weeks) will also encourage the depositing of excess mud.
In addition, this excess mudding can occur if either the inner chamber lid (clear) of TermiteMansion is not clipped down properly OR the zip lock closure of the Easy Termite Bait Pod is not sealed properly between baiting visits.
Easy Termite Bait Pod with mud layer is normal.
8 Comments. Leave new
Just had a question on this. I have an active station at the moment and it’s received one full sachet. But after 5 weeks (below freezing here at night still) I could only add about a quarter of the next sachet. Do I squash more in? I’m worried because I thought the active ingredients only stay active for about 3 weeks? But I can’t squeeze any in after just 3 weeks of feeding.
NO, do not force, just sprinkle loosely in and do not apply unless more than 75% has been taken. Active does not become inactive for many years and while termites are present they will maintain Queenkiller in good condition.
We have recently noticed evidence of Termite activity outside the house and in the last week earth tubes just entering the outside of the house, which has prompted us to order the full kit from you . since then we believe we have found the colonies nest located in an old and huge Blue gum in the back garden which is covered in termite mud in alcoves, (plus we have seen the flying ones which we are pretty sure came the tree) the question i have Darren should we drill into that mud on the tree and place queen killer on it or still do it through monitor stations? the mud packs on the trees alcove is quite deep.
Yes you can treat the tree but do not presume it is the nest. Darren
We have previously had termites and had a pest guy install a few traps and bait. If we want to use your traps as maintenance what do you advise? Can your traps be used to monitor and identify termite activity, do you need to use the bait if no activity is present. Do your baits go back to the nest and kill the colony?
We have now forwarded our User Manuals for more information. Without knowing the system you have and how they were installed/maintained, cannot really comment on them. I would advise to install 18 TermiteMansions as per User Manual and continue to monitor and bait as per User Manuals. Yes our system will completely remove the colony from your property.
What if you know you have termites outside in your garden but you don’t know the location of the queen. Do you need the queen killer? How would you us it not knowing the location? Or does the monitor packs also kill the termites and queen. They where going up a wooden fence at a rental. Fence is already being removed. I can’t moniti it so looking for a solution that kills any that go near the house and preferably queen as well.
Thanks
Using the TermiteMansion and QueenKiller it is not necessary to know where the Queen is. The workers will consume and transfer the QueenKiller to the Queen and nest. To remove a Queen from a property there is no alternative than using the TermiteMansion and then feeding with QueenKiller. Even a Non-repellent Barrier/Zone will not kill any termites but a few and the threat will remain. We will send you our User Manuals to explain in detail what is required.