Home and Garden: Getting scientific in the battle against termites

Submitted by HomeMasters pest Control

It’s a tactic that’s been around for ages — the idea of using an irresistible bait to lure out an elusive entity. The same idea is at the heart of modern pest control, and when you’re trying to get rid of termites, the more effective bait you can use, the better. Time is literally money when it comes to getting termites out of your home.

HomeMasters Pest Control adds a little science to the time-honored tradition of using bait with the Sentricon system.

Sentricon introduces bait into your yard and home that termites can't resist — and one device is enough to wipe out a typical termite colony.

The bait is chemical-free and termites enjoy it more than the wood of your home,” Katie Crowder, HomeMasters Pest Control marketing manager, said. “Bait stations are an eco-friendly protection method that will eliminate the colony, not just deter them.”

Sentricon bait stations, 4.5 inches in diameter and 10 inches long, are placed around your home. Worker termites find the bait, then share it with the rest of the colony. The active ingredient prevents termites from maturing through molting, which ultimately results in the elimination of all the termites.

The number of stations that are needed depends on the size of the home, and are placed about 10-15 feet apart around the perimeter.

While very effective against termites, the stations are safe for your pets, too.

“A dog could pull up a bait station and chew on it and not be harmed,” Crowder said.

The science behind Sentricon is good, but it takes experts to make sure your home is safe from termites.

“We come out annually to do a crawl space and bait station inspection,” Crowder said. “The crawl space inspection is a visual inspection for any signs of termites. In the bait station inspection, each bait station is checked for signs of a termite eating away at the bait. It is not water soluble, so they do not dissolve in the ground, and only start to look 'gnarly' if termites are eating the bait.” Science is great, but sometimes, a trained pair of eyes is good, too.

HomeMasters Pest Control is locally owned and operated and has been serving customers in Johnston County since 2001. To learn more, visit www.homemasterspest.com or call 919-938-4575.