Termites eat all kinds of cellulose, including wooden structures, paper, and tree roots.
Termites are cellulose-eating insects that can be a major problem around human structures. They cause significant amounts of damage to wooden buildings every year. According to the North Carolina State University, over two billion dollars are spent annually to control these insects in the United States. These creatures are most common in warm, damp climates, and eat all kinds of cellulose, including books, pool filters and shrubs. Getting rid of them can be very expensive.
Subterranean Termites
The most common treatment for subterranean termite species is chemical barrier treatment. This standard method involves drilling into the foundation of a house and injecting chemicals that kill and repel termites. Treatment also extends around the outside of the house, and is priced according to the size of the home's perimeter. According to Termite MD, this technique costs between $4 and $7.50 per linear foot. According to Costhelper, the 2010 prices may be as high as $16 per linear foot.
Drywood Termites
In homes with drywood termite infestations, the conventional treatment is fumigation. A leak-proof tent is erected around the entire home, then filled with gaseous insecticide. Occupants must leave for at least a few days. Fumigation for termites is priced according to the volume of the home, but can be estimated by the square foot. Costhelper suggests that the usual price for lethal gas fumigation is around $1 to $2 per square foot. Homeowners may need to add in the cost of hotel rooms or other accommodations while the structure is being fumigated.
Baiting
In areas where chemical treatment isn't feasible, or could cause environmental damage, bait stations may be used. The process tends to cost more than chemical extermination, and effectiveness depends on the age of the termite colony and its size. Bait station treatments start at about $1.20 per square foot, but may increase significantly.
Heat Treatments
Termites may also be killed by extremes of heat or cold. Heat treatment is similar to fumigation, but uses hot air to kill the termites, instead of insecticide gas. This treatment may cause some damage to heat-sensitive items left in the house, but does not leave a residue in food, medications or other items, the way fumigation can. Heat treatment costs are similar to fumigation costs. Termite treatment using cold requires injecting liquid nitrogen directly into the affected wood. It is best used as a spot treatment, and may cost as little as a few hundred dollars.
Microwaves and Electricity
Small infestations may be treated using microwaves and electricity targeted to the area where the colony is located. These methods work only on drywood termites, and require good targeting. Both techniques cost about $1000 per treatment and can be less effective in homes with heatsinks or metal objects near the colony.
Orange Oil
Orange oil is a natural termiticide derived from citrus fruits. It's often used due to its low toxicity and green reputation, but may not work on large infestations. It's important to know where the termites are before applying orange oil. By the bottle, this oil costs between $12 and $60, but it can be difficult to apply without the experience to detect a termite colony. When applied by a trained professional, orange oil treatment can cost from hundreds of dollars to over a thousand, depending on the infestation.
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