Marianne
Super Self-Sufficient
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2011
- Messages
- 3,269
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- Location
- rural Abilene, KS, 67410 USA
In Kansas, termites are the norm.
I learned from the local pest control guy that ants hate termites. In the areas where we knew there was active termite activity, there was also major ant activity. He also told me that the purchased termite bait traps from the stores were 'iffy'. Sometimes they worked, other times they didn't. Well, he also makes a living spraying and doesn't live in the cheap seats in town, either. But if they are 'iffy', I might as well make my own and check them myself. I couldn't see paying him to install 'his' and a monthly fee to come out to check them.
So, instead of doing commercial bait traps, here's how to make your own. Simple stuff. First, dig a hole at least a foot deep, about 6' away from your building. Throw in a chunk of wood, like a hunk of scrap 2x4. Put a short piece of 1" PVC or any kind of metal pipe in the hole. You want it to be long enough to reach the wood yet short enough so it's not really sticking out of the ground too far. Pour sugar water on the wood, let it soak for a bit, then fill the hole back up with the dirt. The only reason for the pipe is so you have some way to add some more sugar water every once in a while. PVC will degrade over time in the sun, but use what you have around there. If your bait trap is in an area where you mow, obviously you want it short enough to mow over it, or have it stick way out and mow around it.
If there are termites around there, they will be attracted to the wet wood. The sugar will attract the ants initially and they'll take care of the termites. Next year, dig up one and see what ya got. No termites and ants? Good deal. Put the trap back together. Repeat on the next trap. The traps aren't going to create termites, but hopefully if there are any in the soil, they'll aim for the trap instead of your house.
Is this a sure fire thing? No. Will termites that are already in your building leave for the homemade trap? No. But it's cheap and green and could save you some bucks.
I have a longer ramble about this on my blog (link below).
I learned from the local pest control guy that ants hate termites. In the areas where we knew there was active termite activity, there was also major ant activity. He also told me that the purchased termite bait traps from the stores were 'iffy'. Sometimes they worked, other times they didn't. Well, he also makes a living spraying and doesn't live in the cheap seats in town, either. But if they are 'iffy', I might as well make my own and check them myself. I couldn't see paying him to install 'his' and a monthly fee to come out to check them.
So, instead of doing commercial bait traps, here's how to make your own. Simple stuff. First, dig a hole at least a foot deep, about 6' away from your building. Throw in a chunk of wood, like a hunk of scrap 2x4. Put a short piece of 1" PVC or any kind of metal pipe in the hole. You want it to be long enough to reach the wood yet short enough so it's not really sticking out of the ground too far. Pour sugar water on the wood, let it soak for a bit, then fill the hole back up with the dirt. The only reason for the pipe is so you have some way to add some more sugar water every once in a while. PVC will degrade over time in the sun, but use what you have around there. If your bait trap is in an area where you mow, obviously you want it short enough to mow over it, or have it stick way out and mow around it.
If there are termites around there, they will be attracted to the wet wood. The sugar will attract the ants initially and they'll take care of the termites. Next year, dig up one and see what ya got. No termites and ants? Good deal. Put the trap back together. Repeat on the next trap. The traps aren't going to create termites, but hopefully if there are any in the soil, they'll aim for the trap instead of your house.
Is this a sure fire thing? No. Will termites that are already in your building leave for the homemade trap? No. But it's cheap and green and could save you some bucks.
I have a longer ramble about this on my blog (link below).