9 - Which Type of Termite Baiting Should I Choose?

As mentioned in the previous video, there are a number of termite baiting systems available.
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There are even stations you can buy on the internet for DIY purposes. You may also be surprised to know that for many pests, like Cockroaches and Rodents, Tom actually endorses the DIY approach if you are that way inclined. However, he does not recommend DIY approaches when it comes to termites. If you get it wrong, the damage they do is simply not worth the risk. By using a professional, along with premium products, you stand the best chance of protecting your home for the long-term.
At Suburban, we are accredited to use most systems available, however we have found three to be extremely effective. We recommend:
• Exterra Termite Interception and Baiting System
• Sentricon Always Active
• Trelona Advance Termite Bait System
At Suburban, we will always recommend the system that is most suitable for your property, rather than offering the same one regardless of the situation, which unfortunately some companies do.
Exterra Termite Interception and Baiting System
This has been our most popular baiting system over the last 20 years and proven itself to be our most effective.
Exterra is designed to use timber interceptors, and once termite activity is evident within a station, Requiem bait is added. This means we need to monitor the stations more frequently compared to other systems that has the bait already in them.
Why is Exterra so Effective?
Using chemical products, like Termidor, to treat live termites can be very effective, however it is very hard to measure that success. We can treat them one day and return a short time later and have no activity present, which indicates success, but if we are not able to locate the nest, we cannot say for sure. The thing about Requiem or similar bait products, is we require multiple visits to top up the feeding stations. This means we can physically see the bait being consumed over time, and see the live termites being effected. This includes signs like seeing the ratio of workers to soldiers changing over several visits, and the colour of the termites changing too.
The result is that it can take longer than chemical, but guarantees elimination, where chemical cannot. Plus, it gives you confidence when you can see the progress happening throughout the colony control process.
Sentricon Always Active
Sentricon Always Active was the first of its kind to embed the active ingredient into the bait that is installed into the station. This means that when termites start consuming the contents in the station, they begin the colony control process immediately, rather than needing to wait for our next visit for the bait to be added (like with Exterra).
This ground-breaking concept meant monitoring the stations less frequently whilst still being effective. It DOES still require some monitoring though or it will eventually become ineffective.
This should have brought the price down substantially, however, unfortunately the cost of the new technology meant the product was far more expensive compared to other systems.
Trelona Advance Termite Bait System
More recently, BASF, who make the chemical product Termidor, brought out their own active bait station which is called Trelona Advance Termite Bait System. It uses the same concept as Sentricon, but is more versatile due to the variety of cartridge options you can place in the stations, along with the ability to use it in-conjunction with a Termidor Soil Treatment.
This has been a huge benefit for those who prefer a chemical solution, but who had limitations (like a timber deck in the way). This product allows us to still achieve a full Termite Management System, using a combination of products from the same manufacturer.
To top it off, the frequency of monitoring Trelona is similar to that of Sentricon, which can save you money.
Which one of these systems would suit your property?
Ultimately this would need to be determined by our Technician on a case by case basis, however, typically we are likely to recommend the Exterra System for most high risk sites where a chemical solution is not suitable.
Trelona is great for homes with less pressure from the risk of termites, or where a partial system is required, like in combination with a chemical solution as discussed earlier.
Buildings with less risk can accommodate less frequent monitoring, which can reduce the cost and is always our aim at Suburban, that is, to find the ideal tipping point for adequate protection with maximum value!
Regardless of the system you choose, it is important to remember that it is only effective if it is maintained. This means ongoing monitoring, but also equally important is choosing a company you know will service the stations properly AND offer more than just checking stations.
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