Economy Pest Control serves the Greater Boston area with high-quality termite and pest control.

Termite Baiting

Termite baiting achieved wide popularity several years ago as an alternative to liquid soil treatments. Today, there are several competing baiting systems that all rely on a similar idea.

Termite baiting begins with a survey of the property and the placement of termite bait stations (sometimes called aggregation stations) in the soil around the perimeter of the structure to be protected. Inside these stations you will find, in most cases, just a piece of wood. Most of the systems on the market do not actually put any insecticide into the bait station until termites have found and have begun feeding on the wood, at which time the wood is replaced with a cellulose matrix impregnated with one of several different active ingredients.

The wood in the bait stations does not actually attract termites. They simply stumble upon it in the course of their routine, random foraging.

When in the course of a routine inspection, a termite bait station is found to have been attacked (or "hit") by termites, the wood is replaced with a cellulose matrix that is impregnated with an oral termiticide. Over the ensuing weeks, months, or years, the termiticide will be distributed throughout the colony as the termites groom, feed, and interact with each other, resulting in the colony's eventual elimination. Once this occurs, the termiticide is removed and replaced with plain wood again (in most manufacturers' versions of baiting systems), and the stations go on a "routine monitoring" schedule.

The advantages to termite baiting include:

It is environmentally friendly. There is no possibility of liquid termiticides leaching into the soil or water table. Therefore, it can be used safely in even the most sensitive locations.
It does, in most cases, eventually eliminate termite colonies.
There is no need to pull back carpeting or remove flooring, and (usually) no need to drill holes through concrete.

The disadvantages to termite baiting include:

Baiting can be agonizingly slow, often taking years to achieve control.
Although it may eliminate a termite colony, it provides no protection against the building being re-infested. The only protection comes in the form of continued monitoring of the installed stations (at the homeowner's expense). Forever.
It tends to be more expensive than liquid treatment options, both in terms of the initial installation and the continued lifetime monitoring.

Choosing the Right Exterminator

Economy Pest Control is an independent, family owned and operated, full-service pest control company serving the Greater Boston area. Presently in our third decade of local ownership, our goal is simple: We want to provide the highest quality professional pest control services, at the fairest possible price. For more information about how we can help you with termites or any other pest problem, please contact us.

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