Since the 1950s, when the pest control industry took off in the United States, developing termite eradication methods has been a priority. Since day one, a few effective methods were used to eradicate termite infestations, but very few, or zero methods to prevent termite infestations existed until some time later. Eventually, the pest control industry made use of termiticide soil barriers to repel termites from homes. Today, many states require home-builders to apply termiticide barriers around and below foundations during a home’s construction. These termiticide barriers have proven effective at preventing termite infestations in homes, and interest in these barriers is of growing interest among American consumers. While the use of termiticide barriers is now fairly well known among today’s homeowners, there exists widespread confusion concerning the difference between repellent and non-repellent termiticide barriers.
There are two types of termiticide barriers that are used today. Most people are familiar with repellent termiticides, but there also exists non-repellent termiticides. When a subterranean termite encounters a repellent barrier the termiticide will cause them to move away from the property. In some cases, termites acquire a lethal dose of the termiticide, and when this occurs, they die quickly. If a termite that is exposed to a termiticide survives for more than 24 hours, then they will continue living. As long as a termiticide barriers does not have any gaps, they can protect structures for a long period of time. Non-repellent barriers do not repel termites, and when exposed to the termiticide, a termite will not die immediately; instead, the termite will return to its nest where it will spread the lethal poison to many other colony members. Eventually, all exposed termites will die before they can infest a structure. Both repellent and non-repellent termiticides are effective at preventing eastern subterranean termite infestations in Massachusetts, but a reapplication of a termiticide barrier may become necessary several years after the initial application.
Is your home protected with a termiticide barrier?