Answer
Nov 24, 2014 - 06:40 AM
The manufacturers of termite bait systems don't give a lot of helpful advice. Since these are professional quality and use systems, I guess they expect you to understand how to use them. With The Advance Termite Bait System, the only thing I can find is a brochure for builders that helps some - http://www.epestsupply.com/images/Pro...
Here is a simple page that explains the Smartdisk System which is no longer available, this is something we put together years ago - http://www.epestsupply.com/smartdisk_...
But here is the bottom line on how these systems work -
1) The wood inside the station is used to begin the feeding process. It is actually not a lure and does not attract termites. With Advance, it contains a 2 piece wood insert (TWI) and the compressed inspection cartridge (TIC). These pieces only give the termites something to begin feeding on.
2) When you inspect the stations (every 90 days minimal), look for signs of active termites. Termites are very small creamy white insects about the size of a small ant. They are very easy to see. This is what they look like - 3) When you find these worker termites inside the station, don't automatically panic. It's like fishing but the fish haven't actually been hooked yet. Wait until about 50% or more of the TWI and or the TIC is consumed. You will know this because it will be eaten and gone. That simple.
4) When the termites have eaten 50% or more of the TWI or the TIC, replace the TIC only with a Termite Bait Cartridge (TBC). This is the clear cartridge with the orange sticker - http://www.epestsupply.com/images/Pro... Leave the TWI in place for the termites to consume.
5) Every 90 days inspect the stations, and if the stations contain the TBC, and it is greater than 50% consumed replace it. Otherwise do nothing to the stations. Do not check the stations more often as this could disrupt the termites.
6) The "Burdon of Proof" or the proof that the system is working as far as Dow Agrosciences and most termite bait manufacturers are concerned, is when you find the heads of the soldier termites inside the stations.
Here is what happens - The termite workers will die from consuming the termite bait which contains a growth hormone. The soldiers only job is to protect the worker termites, and it is important to know that the soldiers cannot feed themselves. They must be fed by the worker termites. So basically when the soldiers are inside the bait stations and the workers are dead or dying, the soldiers begin to starve and die. Their head is very hard and thick and takes longer than the body to degrade. So when you find a dead soldier typically, you will find the head and not the body. When you find many soldier heads inside the stations and not live soldiers or live workers, it is assumed that the colony has been effected by the bait and is either on a serious population decline or is eliminated.
In most cases, it takes at least 2 or more years for this to occur, although in warmer climates it can occur faster.
Basically, you have to keep feeding the termites until you see the burdon of proof, or until the termites quit feeding and there is no signs of activity for at least a full season. This is how you determine overall effectiveness.
After the colony is eliminated, I would suggest to replace the TBC with the original TIC (just compressed paper) and probably also the TWI (just wood) and continue monitoring indefinitely. You don't have to check the stations every 90 days, but I would suggest to check at least every 6 months during the spring and fall.
If I can find any more helpful info from BASF or Whitmire on this, I will post it here. Hope this helps.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Ron
Here is a simple page that explains the Smartdisk System which is no longer available, this is something we put together years ago - http://www.epestsupply.com/smartdisk_...
But here is the bottom line on how these systems work -
1) The wood inside the station is used to begin the feeding process. It is actually not a lure and does not attract termites. With Advance, it contains a 2 piece wood insert (TWI) and the compressed inspection cartridge (TIC). These pieces only give the termites something to begin feeding on.
2) When you inspect the stations (every 90 days minimal), look for signs of active termites. Termites are very small creamy white insects about the size of a small ant. They are very easy to see. This is what they look like - 3) When you find these worker termites inside the station, don't automatically panic. It's like fishing but the fish haven't actually been hooked yet. Wait until about 50% or more of the TWI and or the TIC is consumed. You will know this because it will be eaten and gone. That simple.
4) When the termites have eaten 50% or more of the TWI or the TIC, replace the TIC only with a Termite Bait Cartridge (TBC). This is the clear cartridge with the orange sticker - http://www.epestsupply.com/images/Pro... Leave the TWI in place for the termites to consume.
5) Every 90 days inspect the stations, and if the stations contain the TBC, and it is greater than 50% consumed replace it. Otherwise do nothing to the stations. Do not check the stations more often as this could disrupt the termites.
6) The "Burdon of Proof" or the proof that the system is working as far as Dow Agrosciences and most termite bait manufacturers are concerned, is when you find the heads of the soldier termites inside the stations.
Here is what happens - The termite workers will die from consuming the termite bait which contains a growth hormone. The soldiers only job is to protect the worker termites, and it is important to know that the soldiers cannot feed themselves. They must be fed by the worker termites. So basically when the soldiers are inside the bait stations and the workers are dead or dying, the soldiers begin to starve and die. Their head is very hard and thick and takes longer than the body to degrade. So when you find a dead soldier typically, you will find the head and not the body. When you find many soldier heads inside the stations and not live soldiers or live workers, it is assumed that the colony has been effected by the bait and is either on a serious population decline or is eliminated.
In most cases, it takes at least 2 or more years for this to occur, although in warmer climates it can occur faster.
Basically, you have to keep feeding the termites until you see the burdon of proof, or until the termites quit feeding and there is no signs of activity for at least a full season. This is how you determine overall effectiveness.
After the colony is eliminated, I would suggest to replace the TBC with the original TIC (just compressed paper) and probably also the TWI (just wood) and continue monitoring indefinitely. You don't have to check the stations every 90 days, but I would suggest to check at least every 6 months during the spring and fall.
If I can find any more helpful info from BASF or Whitmire on this, I will post it here. Hope this helps.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Ron
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