Question from Aspenlane
What is the safest home termite treatment? We have had our home treated with natural borax foam with mediocre results. We need something that will wipe out subterranean termites without wiping out the health of our family. Any ideas would be welcome! Thank you!
Debra’s Answer
This subject is covered on pages 157-158 in my book Home Safe Home.
It’s impossible for me to give specific instructions on how to handle your termite problem since I don’t know the conditions or extent of your termite infestation. Some possibilities are to install termite shields, cut out and replace infested wood, or use one of the new nontoxic alternatives used as freezing or electrocution.
My best advise is to find a local nontoxic pest control company and have them inspect and make a recommendation. There are many nontoxic alternatives available today.
To personally control the bed bug from spreading you need to geet aquainted using its life cycle.
“Yellow jacket” is the name North Americans use to describe the
predatory wasps with the genera Vespula and Dolichovespula.
If yyou hired someone whho doesn’t hae a very detailed plan of
treatment, you are able to just supplment you problems.
my cacti is 40 fee tall and is being attacked with wheeler termites what will get rid of them and wont harm the cacti
I have no experience with this. Find a local pest control person who uses natural pest controls. Or search online.
I found a note I had written that said, Catnip plants gets rid of termites. I also have termites on my saguaro cactus. I am going to try this unless someone else has a solution. Will the termites kill the saguaro cactus?
We live in Tucson, Arizona and our landlord seems to think that she might have termites on her Saguaro cactus tree. Could or would the bait traps work for her Saguaro cactus tree.
COMMENT FROM DEBRA:
This doesn’t sound right to me. Termites eat dead wood, not cactuses. I think more research needs to be done as to what the actual insect is before you determine a solution.
I live in Tucson as well and we have the Wheeler’s termite that will come out typically after the monsoons end and are actually beneficial. They do encase Saguaro cacti (not cactuses) and remove the dead “skin”. They’re more of an agricultural termite. Their digestive system is weaker than other types so they favor dead wood, plant, and cacti instead of wood with sap in it.
Yes, I’ve observed that if a creature is in the web of life, it has a beneficial purpose. We humans don’t always recognize the purpose. Remember, we are living in artificial environments placed in living ecosystems. All these “pests” are part of the ecosystem we are disrupting by building a house on it. It would be better all around if we built houses so they fit into the ecosystem, like a bird builds a nest, or a Native American builds a teepee. I don’t think Native Americans were concerned about pest control. Maybe insect repellant, but not killing termites or any other creatures except as needed for food. And even then, they used the whole plant or animal.