credit: Ohio State University Termite Tube on foundation
Today & Tomorrow’s 1:5:10:365 Tips for becoming a better steward for our home and planet deals with non-toxic termite control.
1:5:10:052 Tip: Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel through tubes that create pathways to the wood they eat. Traditional pest control involves poisoning the soil under a building to prevent termite colonies from forming. Some of the pesticides used for this purpose have persisted for years. There are a number of safer treatments now available for termite control. Bait stations can be set which confine the poisons so they are carried back to the termite nest, but I prefer the non-toxic approach. 
Keeping the soil free of cellulose debris can go a long way to preventing termite colonies from forming, Physical barriers can stop them from forming their tubes, and nematodes provide a biological control.
Tomorrow I will talk about non-toxic dry wood termite control.
***********************************
Additional Information
credit: ARBICO beneficial nematodes
“Nematodes are microscopic, non-segmented roundworms that occur naturally in soil throughout the world. Inside the nematode’s gut is the real weapon — symbiotic bacteria that when released inside an insect kill it within 24 to 48 hours.” http://www.arbico-organics.com/organic-pest-control-beneficial-nematodes-info.html
************************
Would you like to receive an email alert for each new 1:5:10:365 EcoTip? Sign up for a Google Alert.
