least toxic chemical to treat termites

[44echo]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

Ecology-- termites eat only rotting wood, so if you've got termites, you've go rotten wood.

That's not true.

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

T
Ecology-- termites eat only rotting wood, so if you've got termites, you've go rotten wood. .

I wish that was true. I pulled out plenty of good lumber that was eaten by termites unfortunately.


Termidor and Bora-care have worked very well for me, but I have no idea of it's toxicity and how it will affect individials. Termidor is applied externally to the home in the soil. Bora-Care sprayed into the wood near the ground where termites get a foothold into eating the wood in the home.

[44echo]

Originally Posted by guidoLaMoto

Ecology-- termites eat only rotting wood, so if you've got termites, you've go rotten wood. THAT'S your real problem.

https://www.britannica.com/animal/termite/Nutrition

The food of termites is mainly cellulose, which is obtained from wood, grass, leaves, humus, manure of herbivorous animals, and materials of vegetative origin (e.g., paper, cardboard, cotton). Most lower termites and many higher ones feed on wood that is either sound or partly decayed. A few termites, known as foragers or harvesters, collect and eat grass, leaves, and straw. Many higher termites (family Termitidae) are humivores, or exclusively humus feeders.

[Levante]

Originally Posted by creepy

Hello City Data folks,
A family member has Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), we also just got termites. They were not visible a few months back so catching them early. WE are trying to use the least toxic chemical to treat this. They are external to the home and on 1 side only. We are going to research a bit more but so far this ingredient in Spectracide product looks like what we will use: Contains: Hexaflumuron. https://s7cdn.spectrumbrands.com/~/m...45SDSOct21.pdf
Have any of you who are chemically sensitive use these and had good effect both on killing the termites-but not hurting your loved one with sensitivities?


I also see that the all natural methods:


Biological control agents (nematodes and fungi) have demonstrated some success, particularly in laboratory settings.


Thanks.

Get regular ants relocated to where the termites are found?
They say the regular field ants are very aggressive predators and find termites babies tasty.

If it isn’t a severe house infestation it might work?

[guidoLaMoto]

Originally Posted by 44echo

That's not true.

Termites are attracted to rotting wood and only move on to good wood when they've finished the rotted.

https://www.terminix.com/termites/wh...sture%20levels.

Easy to confuse carpenter ants with termites. Carpenter ants bore into good wood to form their nests. They don't actually eat the wood, if that makes any difference to a homeowner.