Termites

[Goonie Goat]

Today I was out the back and by dumb luck/divine intervention whatever you would call it; I just so happened to find a nest of termites when I pulled out a big clump of grass wedged up against the hardwood fence. It was something I'd never really consider ever doing (pulling out that bit of grass) but it was almost like it was meant to happen for some reason..

Anyway, Years ago the stupid cunts next door decided to jam a colourbond fence right up against this hardwood fence and ever since then there's been heaps of moisture at the base, and the fence is basically rotting and falling to pieces now. I put a piece of wet cardboard sprinkled with borax on it in hope that these fuckers take some of it back and maybe it might kill the lot.

What should I do? Considering just getting the chainsaw and chopping it all down but I'm sure there would be problems like the neighbours thinking I'd be stealing an inch of their property, and it's also up against a slab which would make putting a new fence in a bit more tedious than usual..

All the poisons online like confidor is like $250/L. Id have to spend like 1k to spray this fence and around the house..

Anyone have any ideas or a more cost effective way of killing these things?

 

[Indy]

Fipronil SC 100. It's the same formula as Termidor, but about a quarter of the price. Drown the cunts with it before you disturb the nest any further.

 

[Goonie Goat]

Fipronil SC 100

Drown the cunts before you disturb the nest any further.

Thanks heaps that'll save me some cash

 

[Indy]

Thanks heaps that'll save me some cash

I actually use Vista SC200 it's more concerntrated and goes twice as far for the same price. Usually source it from Agricultural supply mob like Nutrien.

If you go the SC100 use exactly as the Termidor PDF recommends. But if you go the SC200, only use half as much.

 

[afghan bob]

We getting the local termite guy around next week, he's the real deal, been doing it forever
If u like 2 wait i can find out the best method of attack
He normally lays little bait stations around the house that contain food that they take back 2 the queen, like a virus, that knocks her off and whole horde turns 2 shit

 

[Goonie Goat]

I actually use Vista SC200 it's more concerntrated and goes twice as far for the same price. Usually source it from Agricultural supply mob like Nutrien.

If you go the SC100 use exactly as the Termidor PDF recommends. But if you go the SC200, only use half as much.

Okay think the termidor said 1L treats 10 meters. Bunnings has their David Gray fipronil for 99 bucks per litre , If it's the same strength as confidor I might get away with 3 bottles of that stuff if it's the most cost effective

 

[Goonie Goat]

We getting the local termite guy around next week, he's the real deal, been doing it forever
If u like 2 wait i can find out the best method of attack
He normally lays little bait stations around the house that contain food that they take back 2 the queen, like a virus, that knocks her off and whole horde turns 2 shit

Ill grab some baits while I'm at it, just scared these things will find their way into the weatherboards and flooring. First time I've seen termites here, luckily they are a fair way from the house but it still freaks me out. So I'll definitely go around the house too

 

[Indy]

if your checking a few others out. There's Biflex, that's formulated to kill them on contact. Whereas Termidor/Fipronil is intended to infect the termite and take it back to the nest to spread to others.

That said, I have knocked out a nest within 24 hours with Fipronil alone. Just saturate the surrounding nest first to create a barrier, then get a bit of reo steel/steel rod or similar and gently open the nest in places and saturate it that way. A couple of hours should knock most of them out. But prefer to leave it a whole day before removing the nest.

 

[Goonie Goat]

if your checking a few others out. There's Biflex, that's formulated to kill them on contact. Whereas Termidor/Fipronil is intended to infect the termite and take it back to the nest to spread to others.

That said, I have knocked out a nest within 24 hours with Fipronil alone. Just saturate the surrounding nest first to create a barrier, then get a bit of reo steel/steel rod or similar and gently open the nest in places and saturate it that way. A couple of hours should knock most of them out. But prefer to leave it a whole day before removing the nest.

Okay might just go with https://www.billygoatlawns.com.au/p...MIlMWDx9b3igMV66NmAh2XgCZlEAQYAiABEgLB7fD_BwE

2 of those should be plenty I'm hoping. Might get the granular stuff too

 

[Billygoat]

Just take the timber down a panel a month or something. No point battling the inevitable, and you got a perfectly good fence there anyway. (Fuck I hate colorbond fencing),

 

[Goonie Goat]

Just take the timber down a panel a month or something. No point battling the inevitable, and you got a perfectly good fence there anyway. (Fuck I hate colorbond fencing),

Yep looks like that's gonna be the case. Neighbours can eat shit for all I care anyway.

I'll make sure these fuckers are dead before I take it all down though, don't want to spread them about

 

[afghan bob]

if your checking a few others out. There's Biflex, that's formulated to kill them on contact. Whereas Termidor/Fipronil is intended to infect the termite and take it back to the nest to spread to others.

That said, I have knocked out a nest within 24 hours with Fipronil alone. Just saturate the surrounding nest first to create a barrier, then get a bit of reo steel/steel rod or similar and gently open the nest in places and saturate it that way. A couple of hours should knock most of them out. But prefer to leave it a whole day before removing the nest.

That's ok if u know exactly where nest is
Buried baits in ground lets them take it 2 where ever nest is
Apparently u gotta stop the queen from laying eggs 2 have a real chance

 

[Indy]

I'll make sure these fuckers are dead before I take it all down though, don't want to spread them about

Yeah, be sure to wipe them out first before cleaning them up. Because they will bolt if you disturb them too much.

 

[Indy]

That's ok if u know exactly where nest is
Buried baits in ground lets them take it 2 where ever nest is
Apparently u gotta stop the queen from laying eggs 2 have a real chance

Not a fan of baits myself. IMO, that introduces/attracts them into the property. I prefer to put a barrier down around the buildings (50mm out, 150mm deep) using Fipronil. That way any strays will take it back to nest and knock queen out eventually. I think Termidor is good for 5 years, but using Fipronil, I recharge every couple of years to be sure.

 

[Goonie Goat]

Yeah baits seem expensive too, and they say they are a for monitoring / precautionary measure.

Luckily I know where they are, fortunately it's not a guessing game, had to have been atleast 50 termites running about as soon as I pulled the tuft of grass out, so I'll begin my assault in that spot first, then dig around the other posts nearby to see if there's any others.

So I'll soak with sc200 first, then sprinkle fipronyl granules along the fence line. Give it a few weeks or months and then start pulling the fence down

 

[afghan bob]

Indy probs knows what he's on about, i'm just saying we have a termite specialist coming around every 3 mths 2 monitor baits he sunk in the ground about 3 yrs ago. Its a white powder looking cookie in a sm plastic container that is harmless 2 everything but termites
We got an entire pergola demolished by the little rascals so he comes and checks baits
Either they moved on or they carked it as baits not been touched
I'll explain your situation and see what he comes up with if u like
Won't be till next week

 

[Goonie Goat]

Indy probs knows what he's on about, i'm just saying we have a termite specialist coming around every 3 mths 2 monitor baits he sunk in the ground about 3 yrs ago. Its a white powder looking cookie in a sm plastic container that is harmless 2 everything but termites
We got an entire pergola demolished by the little rascals so he comes and checks baits
Either they moved on or they carked it as baits not been touched
I'll explain your situation and see what he comes up with if u like
Won't be till next week

Okay thanks I'll be keen to hear what he'd be doing.

I did find some baits that I could probably buy down the road, 2 for $100, come with plastic shell to drill onto wood I think.

Possibly could just get the paste alone to whip up and paste alongside the posts later down the track, but would have no clue if it would or wouldn't work.. but it does seem pretty effective by the looks of it.

 

[Indy]

Not a bad way to go @afghan bob. As long as your Pest Guy backs his treatment methods with certain guarantees. But unfortunately, it's one of those industries that is full of shonk's and fine-print clauses that doesn't have them liable for much at all, if anything (at all). Most are there just to sell you an expensive management system with the intention to keep their hand in your back pocket. That said, though, you probably do have a decent guy looking after you.

Also, with some new houses. Their may be clauses within the house contract that states you must provide a suitable termite management plan for the duration of the warranty on the house. So sometimes there's no getting around it.

The best thing a homeowner can do is get themselves educated about the bastards, so you can monitor your property to some extent yourself.