Termite Control, or Traitement Termites

Termite control, also known as traitement termites in French-speaking countries, is important in any area which depends heavily on wooden structures. While this rules out many industrial facilities in advanced countries, it remains an issue for the residences in almost all areas of the world because most residential structures incorporate wood. Termites are worse than many pests, such as cockroaches or rats, because they pose a more immediate and physical threat. Other pests threaten people through the unsanitary conditions they create and which can lead to illness in human inhabitants. Termites, however, can bring entire structures down on top of the other inhabitants if they are left untreated.

Like ants, this species of pest operates in colonies that are usually managed by queens or small groups of reproductive creatures. This makes control of these insects very difficult. With other pests, you might be able to reduce their numbers by killing numerous individuals. With termites and other colony creatures, you accomplish little or nothing by simply spraying poison and wiping out a lot of the creatures. The queens reproduce at such incredible rates that they can replace lost members in a matter of days. Extermination attempts must be aimed at the reproductive members of the colony in order to have any effectiveness at all. In fact, recent research suggests that the termites which you see foraging in the open are those termites which are close to the end of their life cycle anyway. The next generation is always close to the queen.

The urgency of termite control, or traitement termites as the French call it, is derived from the nature of their diet. Termites are not interested in the food in your house, but this is not something for which you should be grateful. Termites are interested in the wood of your home or business. The both make their homes in the wood and consume it. They can make such large cavities that walls can buckle from their own weight because of the loss of structural integrity inflicted by these insects.

Unlike other pest control methods, improving sanitation will do little to help you with this problem. Instead, to prevent more infestation, seek out moist areas of rotting wood. Termites will always seek the weakest point at which to enter a habitation. Repair any such moist areas, such as you might find near water pipes or under sinks. Afterward, repair any cracks or tunnels that you can see. This will slow down their ability to travel between places. Also seal the entrances to your home, just in case they are entering from the outdoors.

Once you have taken prevention measures, you should try to eliminate the pests. Poison is a very popular method of wiping out termites, but you must be careful how you apply the poison. The poison should be left near their passage entrances so that they carry it back to their queen as quickly as possible. When you have achieved termite control, or traitement termites, maintain the prevention measures which you already began.