How To Put Termite Baits Into Place
Termite baits are one of the most effective options for getting rid of termites in the soil and preventing the bugs from making their way into your home. The bait stations themselves are shaped like cups with a wide lip. These bait stations are implanted into the soil, and termites are attracted to the food inside the baits, which also contains an insecticide. A termite that eats the bait will die, but typically not until they first get a chance to share the bait with their friends. You can hire a pest control expert to come install termite baits at your home, but it's not actually too tough to install them yourself if you follow the instructions below.
Step 1: Figure out where you're going to place the termite baits.
In most cases, you will want to place the baits around the entire perimeter of your home. You want them to be about two feet from your foundation. This should be just outside the gutter dripline. If your roof has a bigger overhang than is normal, then you may need to put the baits a little further from the foundation to avoid putting them directly under the gutters. (Water from the gutters can rinse the bait out of the bait station and render the station less effective.)
Step 2: Dig holes for the bait cylinders.
Once you've figured out where you'll put the termite baits, it is time to dig holes. Measure the diameter of your bait cylinders. Most are between four and five inches across. You will then want to dig the holes about a half inch wider than the bait cylinders and about a half inch deeper, too. Little metal trowels — the kind used for planting flowers — work really well for this purpose. You want to place one trap every 10 feet around the perimeter of your home.
Step 3: Set the bait traps.
With your holes dug, all you have to do now is set the bait cylinders inside the dug holes. Make sure the rim on the top of the cylinder sits comfortably on top of the soil. You can push a little extra soil back into the hole if it seems a little too big and loose.
Step 4: Set a reminder to change the bait cylinders.
Set a reminder in your phone three months from now. This is the day when you will need to change the bait cylinder. Changing your cylinders on schedule will ensure you keep killing those termites so they don't invade your home. Usually, you can just pull the center out of the cylinder and push a new one inside, rather than having to replace the whole thing.
Termite bait traps are a very effective option for killing termites. Follow the instructions above to place them on your own.