Electro-Gun Treatment

The Electro-Gun is a hand-held device that emits 90,000 volts of electricity in order to treat drywood termites. The termites then conduct the current because their bodies are made up of 90% water. Wood, however, is not a good conductor of electricity. The mortality rate of the termites varies greatly using this form of treatment. Studies have shown that only 44% to 92% of drywood termites die from an Electro-Gun treatment.

Pros There is no specific chemical used solely with the Electro-Gun. If "properly" used, the Electro-Gun can have a fairly good mortality rate, depending on accurate detection of drywood termite colonies. There are no residual effects with this type of treatment.

Cons Limitations exist with the use of electricity and acceptable locations. Metal, earth or concrete create non-ideal conditions. This is not practical if termites are wide spread. Holes need to be drilled into sheetrock and framing, causing damage. Wood burns may result in this type of treatment. If any portion of the infestation is not killed, the termites will re-colonize. The Electro-Gun treatment would most likely be followed by a treatment with a chemical, usually a borate solution. Borate solutions have a poor mortality rate in termite treatments.

Direct Heat Treatment

Direct heat is a method of using controlled and monitored heated air to eradicate certain wood destroying insects by exceeding the temperature in which they can survive. The core temperature of structural wood is raised to 130 degrees for 1 hour to eradicate drywood termites. In order to attain the proper wood core temperature, the ambient air temperature is raised to 150 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Although a direct heat treatment will take 6 to 8 hours to complete and overnight move out is not required, the preparation for a direct heat treatment is more intensive than preparing for a whole house fumigation.

Pros Direct heat treatments can be up to 100% effective for drywood termites, only if the lethal temperature is achieved and is kept for a certain amount of time. In comparison to fumigation, no chemicals are used and overnight move out is not necessary. Direct heat treatments will usually only take 6 to 8 hours to complete. This is a non-toxic form of treating for termites.

Cons According to the SPCB (Structural Pest Control Board), direct heat is for local or spot control only. The list of items that need to be removed from a structure during a heat treatment is much more extensive than the list of items that need to be removed during whole structure fumigation. Certain household items may be completely destroyed during this process. Follow-up treatments will likely be required.

Microwave Treatment

The Microwave treatment method is similar to the microwave you have in your very own home. It has been redesigned however, to treat flat surfaces such as walls or wood beams. It cooks drywood termites and will treat one square foot area at a time. This method is a spot treatment that also kills termites by applying heat.

Pros Microwaving is a non-toxic form of treatment for drywood termites. The treatment is usually complete in about 6 hours. Leaves no residual or chemical in the structure. Drywood termites are literally cooked within the walls.

Cons Microwaves only have a 89% to 90% mortality rate for drywood termites. Accuracy and detection of the termite colony is very critical. If any portion of the infestation is not killed, the termites can re-colonize in a short amount of time. It is only a semi-portable form of treatment. Inaccessible areas cannot be treated using this method. Can be very damaging to wood and most household items, especially electronics.

Freezing
(liquid nitrogen)

Freezing or extreme cold treatment methods are used by injecting liquid nitrogen into wall voids adjacent to suspected drywood termite infestation sites, reducing the area to -20 degrees. The mortality rates vary greatly and this method is generally used only for small treatment areas at one time.

Freezing can be an effective method of treatment for inaccessible areas, as the liquid nitrogen is injected through small holes drilled into walls. Locating the drywood termite colonies is a very critical part of this type of treatment.

Pros Depending on the dose of liquid nitrogen that is used, the mortality rate for drywood termites can be from 74% to 100%. Liquid nitrogen is non-toxic. This method only takes a few hours to freeze drywood termite colonies.

Cons Freezing can only be used to treat one small area, like one wall or a section of fascia board at one time. Frost formation within the house may damage some wall coverings, electrical wiring and some household items. Holes need to be drilled into sheetrock in order to inject the liquid nitrogen, causing damage. Very few pest control companies offer this option as it is very costly and tends to be a unreliable form of treatment.

Nematodes
(biological)

Nematodes are un-segmented roundworms. Biological Control Nematodes are breed specifically to be insect parasites and will not harm humans, animals or plants. This type of special nematode can be used for the control of subterranean termites only. It is not effective for use with drywood termite infestations as the nematodes need to live in a moist environment. This type of biological treatment is not recognized by the California Structural Pest Control Board.

Some nematodes will actively move through soil to seek out subterranean termites, which are referred to as "cruisers". Other nematodes will stay still and wait for the termites to move to them and then "jump" onto the termite, which is why these nematodes are referred to as "ambushers". Once the nematodes have entered into the insect host, they release a special bacteria and the toxins produced by this bacteria will kill the insect after a few days. In the meantime, the nematodes will feed off of this bacteria, mature, mate and multiply inside the insect and then eventually leave the dead insect body in search of a new insect host to infect.

Would you want this in your backyard?

Pros Absolutely no chemicals are used with nematodes.

Cons Despite many claims, there is no clear evidence that the use of biological control nematodes are particularly effective against subterranean termites. In most cases, the termites will simply move to avoid the nematodes or groom them off of each other. Some humans and animals can be allergic to this type of nematode, creating a major health issue in their use. Nematodes only live for a few weeks and then die.