Control Solutions Inc.
By Anna Iversen, BCE, PCO Technical Service Manager
Liquid termiticides are a well-used and effective tool in termite control. Use relies heavily on the active ingredient of the termiticide going everywhere it needs to go. It can be challenging to accomplish that task, however; there may be voids that are inaccessible to the spray droplets, for example.
In these cases, a foam can be an important component of a successful program, whether for subterranean or drywood termites. Foams are formulated to expand, allowing for application in areas that may be tough for traditional liquid suspensions to reach. The surfaces of the foam bubbles make contact with the substrate for longer. In fact, a thick foam can almost “crawl” around obstacles and through tunnels, getting the active ingredients where we need it. Many foams are sold in ready-to-use cans, which makes application easier: In addition to no mixing or miscalculation risks, users can climb up and down a ladder more effortlessly with a can than with a sprayer/foamer.
Although foams are an excellent tool, they often are best used in combination with other termite control methods, including liquid termiticides, baiting systems, dusts and wood treatments. Using multiple tools allows pest management professionals (PMPs) to address termite activity from different angles and improve overall treatment effectiveness.
BASF
By Dr. Jason Meyers, Senior Technical Services Representative
To ensure you are field-ready for termites, consider adding these two inspection practices if they aren’t already part of your checklist:
1. Use moisture directionality to find hidden colonies. Instead of only checking high moisture zones, follow the gradient. Termite foraging tubes often align with slow drying pathways — like the downstream side of a gutter leak or a condensation trail under old heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) lines. Mapping where moisture migrates helps PMPs locate cryptic activity faster, especially in slab on grade structures.
2. Prioritize “micro disruption” perimeter checks. Termite pressure can shift subtly based on landscaping changes. When customers add mulch, edging, river rock or planter beds, treat these as trigger events for micro disruption inspections. A five-minute focused check around new soil to structure contact points can prevent a small conducive condition from becoming a full infestation.
Nisus
By Dr. Jamel Sandidge, BCE, National Director of Technical Services
Termites remain one of the most difficult structural pests to control because of their hidden biology, large colony sizes and ability to exploit even the smallest treatment gaps. Every termite protection method has strengths and weaknesses. Bait stations can provide colony suppression and monitoring when termites find and feed on them; liquid termiticides create protective treatment zones; and wood treatments protect vulnerable structural components directly. However, no single approach can account for every environmental condition or structural change over time.
Moisture, soil movement and natural degradation can impact the longevity of liquid termiticides, while landscaping changes such as adding mulch, soil, flower beds or other materials against the foundation can unknowingly create pathways that bypass treated areas. Bait stations also can become damaged or unknowingly removed during construction or landscaping, or left inaccessible, potentially creating vulnerable areas around the structure. At the same time, termite activity patterns and environmental conditions can influence how quickly termites locate bait systems.
That is why layering multiple technologies together makes sense. Adding borate treatments directly to wood provides another level of protection, helping increase the overall chances of long-term termite control while also creating additional value and service opportunities for PMPs.
Neogen
By Andrew Fisher, BCE, PHE, Business Unit Specialist
Many termite infestations are driven not only by termite pressure, but also by structural conditions that provide concealed entry points, excess moisture or direct contact with cellulose. Understanding these risk factors helps PMPs identify vulnerabilities before significant damage occurs and allows for more effective recommendations during inspections. Common conducive conditions include:
Wood-to-soil contact, including siding, door frames, lattice, deck supports and porch components.
Poor drainage and improper grading that allow moisture to accumulate near foundations.
Expansion joints, slab cracks and utility penetrations that create concealed entry points.
Dense vegetation and excessive mulch that conceal shelter tubes and retain moisture.
Construction debris, wood scraps, cardboard or other cellulose materials left in crawlspaces or beneath slabs.
Obstructed inspection zones caused by insulation, stored materials, landscaping features or structural modifications.
Subterranean termites are opportunistic foragers that readily exploit these conditions. Identifying and documenting conducive conditions during inspections improves risk assessment and helps clients understand the corrective actions that can reduce the likelihood of future termite activity. Addressing these issues as a part of an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy can significantly improve long-term protection.
Ensystex
By Mike Boyd, Technical Market Manager
When nature calls, no one wants to discover an “out of order” sign on the outhouse.
Any wooden structure can be invaded by subterranean termites, but outhouses are particularly vulnerable because they sit directly in nature. Avoiding this frustrating predicament can be achieved in three steps:
1. Remove conducive conditions by rerouting rainfall, repairing leaking roofs and avoiding ground-to-wood contact through the use of concrete piers.
2. Treat the often-exposed wood of the outhouse by spraying or painting a borate product directly onto all unpainted, raw interior and exterior wood surfaces.
3. Dig a trench approximately 6 inches wide and 6 inches deep tightly against the outside walls of the outhouse — without gaps — and apply an appropriately labeled nonrepellent termiticide evenly into the trench at a standard rate of 4 gallons per 10 linear feet.
Following these steps definitely will leave you sitting pretty.
Rockwell Labs
By Nick Godfroid, BCE, Technical Specialist
As PMPs, one of our highest priorities is properly identifying pests. One of the most common misidentifications we encounter is between winged ant and termite alates. Here are three key differences that can help you distinguish between the two:
1. Antennae. All ants have elbowed antennae that form a distinct angle. Termites have moniliform antennae that, when magnified, resemble a string of beads. When observing with the naked eye, they typically appear straight.
2. Waist and abdomen. Ants have a narrow, constricted “waist” that separates the thorax and abdomen, which helps regulate their temperature. Termites lack this constriction and instead have a straight, uniform transition from the thorax to the abdomen.
3. Thorax shape. My favorite way to tell them apart is by examining the thorax, which can be done easily with the naked eye. Ants tend to have a more pronounced thorax that appears humped. In many cases, it is so raised that the wings seem to attach to the sides rather than the top. Termites will have a flatter thorax and wings that are attached dorsally.
Syngenta
By Dr. Chris Keefer, BCE, Technical Services Manager
Effective termite management comes down to five essential practices, which can help ensure effective results and client trust:
1. Conduct thorough, regular inspections. Create diagrams, take photos, document conducive conditions and use technology like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to pull together a cohesive picture of what the account’s risk level is.
2. Correct conducive conditions. Eliminate moisture sources and wood-to-ground contact. Direct water away from the structure, ventilate crawlspaces properly, use vapor barriers and request that the customers store wood in a separate area.
3. Learn about construction. Become familiar with all types of construction used in your area. Contact
a builder to learn more and to visit structures in various phases of construction.
4. Use proper identification. Different termite species dictate different treatment protocols. Use a microscope, collect alates and soldier termites and reach out to universities, extension agents or industry experts for help.
5. Be upfront with clients. Explain processes in detail through writing, verbal communication, photos and video.
AMGUARD
By Dr. Chuck Silcox, Product Development Manager
Experienced termite technicians often memorize an “elevator speech,” which is a series of facts that can be shared with the owner of the structure they are treating — ostensibly, in the amount of time it would take to ride an elevator with the person. Your speech should cover these four highlights:
1. Explain that subterranean termites must maintain contact with the soil to obtain the water that is necessary to sustain the colony. The objective of your liquid termiticide application is to create a chemical barrier between the structure and the soil.
2. Point out that no liquid termiticide barrier is 100 percent complete, and that is why your company uses a nonrepellent active ingredient — so the termites cannot detect and avoid treated soil.
3. Note that the active ingredient also is rapidly transferred throughout the colony, resulting in
its collapse.
4. Conclude by saying that long soil residual is another characteristic of the active ingredient. You can even provide data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service showing its documented efficacy. See the most recently published report in the October 2025 issue of Pest Management Professional magazine (p. 30); a new report will appear in the magazine later this year.
Technicide
By Jim Harper, Founder and CEO
Professional dust pesticides are especially effective in termite service for three key reasons:
1. Deep access to voids and galleries. Dust can penetrate cracks and hidden areas where termites travel.
2. The transfer effect. Termites carry dust particles back to the colony, spreading the treatment to others. Studies have shown dust application can achieve high mortality rates in termites over time.
3. Long residual performance. Certain nonrepellent dusts can remain effective for months in protected spaces.
<p>The post Tips & Tricks: Termites first appeared on Pest Management Professional.</p>
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