How Do I Get Rid of Termites?

A reader asks The Green Guide:

We have termites again and it was recommended that we tent our house. Do you have any additional information/answers to the following questions:

-Are there any alternatives by now?
-Which fumigants are considered the "safest"?
-For how long should we vacate the house?
-What should we remove from the house?

Please let me know if there are any new safety tips.

The Green Guide responds:

If you have subterranean termites, this article will help you make some decisions about how to handle them:

"What's The Safest Way to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites?"

Tenting your home can be very damaging, since furniture, clothes, food and any number of other items in your home can absorb the gases used, and the gases can linger in the air for up to 40 days after they're administered. One particular gas, Vikane (sulfuryl fluoride) can cause central nervous system depression, and long-term exposure can result in blood and bone disorders. Also, if you do have subterranean termites, tenting will only kill the bugs above ground and do nothing to eliminate the underground source of the problem. Currently, we aren't aware of any less-toxic alternatives to the fumigants currently in use, so unless tenting is your only alternative, you might want to go another route.

Termites work very slowly, and some species can take eight years to do substantial damage to your home, which means you probably have some time. Have someone come out to your house to assess the damage they've already caused, and if the damage is minor, you can choose a less-toxic method of pest control, like Sentricon, which is an insect growth-regulating bait that is installed underground. Sentricon, and other baits like it, kills termites slowly and requires diligent monitoring and maintenance by a professional, but since it doesn't require chemical termiticides to be applied directly to the soil, it's a more environmentally preferable alternative.

A good first step, no matter how dire the situation, is talking to an exterminator that specializes in Integrated Pest Management. These pest-control specialists, who opt for mechanical and physical methods rather than chemical, can take care of the existing problem safely and provide tips on how to prevent further infestation.

Resources:

Bio-Integral Resource Center, www.birc.org

Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet: Termite Control, ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2092.html