How Termite Bait Stations Work
Termites can wreak havoc on your home or business. By the time most homeowners notice visible damage to their property, a colony may have already been feeding on their home’s structure for months. For residents of Eastern Massachusetts, including the Boston Metro area, Cape Cod, and the North Shore, Eastern Subterranean termites are the type of termite to worry about.
Bait stations are the most effective tool for eliminating termites before serious damage occurs.
Are Termites Common in Massachusetts?
Eastern Massachusetts experiences both bitter cold winters, which slow termite movement outside, and warm, humid summers. The summers are ideal for termite colony expansion, especially in coastal areas like Cape Cod or the South Shore. These areas are vulnerable due to high moisture levels in the soil, aging wood-frame construction, and a prevalence of older homes.
During the harsh winters, termites, like all living things, need somewhere to go. They live underground in large colonies. When they go into wood or above ground, they bring moisture by building mud tubes or lining wood they have eaten with mud. However, heated structures are a year round feeding place for termite colonies to survive the winter.
Ideally, a professional can come out can inspect your home regardless of the season. If you suspect that there are termites on your property, call a professional termite control service to come and inspect your home for signs of termite damage.
What Are Termite Bait Stations?
Termite bait stations contain bait to eradicate termites. They can be in ground or above ground bait stations. In ground stations are devices installed in the soil around the perimeter of a home. Above-ground termite bait stations can be installed directly over infested wood or active mud tubes.
The termite bait station devices are equipped with cellulose bait mixed with a slow-acting termiticide to eliminate termite colonies. As termites forage, they find the bait station. Worker termites consume the bait and share it with the rest of the colony, including the queen. This brings termiticide directly to the colony, causing the colony’s eventual collapse and demise.
While termite bait stations can eliminate existing termite infestations, it’s best to use them also to continue monitoring your home.
What to Expect from Termite Bait Installation
Termite bait installation is straightforward, though it is best done by a professional with experience identifying termite infestations and their sources. A licensed pest control professional can conduct a more thorough inspection of your property to assess termite activity and strategize the most efficient placement points for the stations.
Once installed, stations require regular monitoring. This typically happens each year or so for in ground stations and every month or so for above ground stations, depending on the termite activity and system type. During each visit, a termite technician checks stations for signs of termite feeding, replaces depleted bait, and documents the activity across the property.
Unlike liquid termiticide treatments, which create a chemical barrier in the soil, bait stations require no trenching or drilling into the foundation of your home or business. This makes them a strong non-invasive option especially for homeowners and business owners in Eastern Massachusetts.
How Long Do Bait Stations Take to Work?
Eliminating an entire termite colony with bait stations does not happen immediately after installation. The amount of time it takes depends on the size of the colony and how frequently termites are feeding on the bait. This can sometimes take several months to fully cause a colony’s collapse. For bait stations to be most effective, strategic placement is key. A termite professional will be able to install bait stations for the most efficient elimination of a termite colony.
Regular monitoring visits are also essential to ensuring that bait is replenished as needed and that any new activity is caught early to avoid damage to your property.
Termite Bait Station Installation Services
If you own a home in Boston, on Cape Cod, or along the North Shore, a professional termite inspection is the first step toward protecting your investment. Our licensed technicians specialize in termite detection and bait station installation throughout Eastern Massachusetts, with experience in the older construction, coastal soil conditions, and seasonal termite patterns specific to this region.
Contact Greenhow today to schedule a termite inspection and get a customized bait station plan for your property.