Sentricon: Termite treatment product information

Termites are some of the most destructive insects in the world, and keeping them away from your property can make your life a lot easier. The most used products to do so are termite baiting systems, which draw termites to a trap and kill them there.

The most-used and best-tested termite baiting system on the market is called ‘Sentricon’. Dow AgroSciences of Indianapolis, USA has developed the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System, and it is being marketed and sold through pest-control firms which are associated with Dow. Sentricon works by drawing termites to a bait, which is filled with an chemical that kills the termites while they are molting. In other words, the termites are killed in their adolescence, and they can never procreate. The Sentricon System consists of three distinct steps, which will be discussed more fully below. First, termite activity is measured in order to find out where the termites come from. Second, the termite bait is delivered to the activity spots. Finally, the bait system is tracked in order to keep the termites from spreading again.

Termite activity measurement
The activity of termites around a house or structure is initially measured with monitoring stations which are placed around the perimeter. These monitoring stations contain a plastic cylinder which allows the termites to enter. Inside, food is kept for the termites. These pieces of wood are used to measure the number and activity of the termites. Such stations are placed all around the perimeter at the edge of the foundation, at intervals of 3-6 meters in holes in the ground. The exact distance between the measuring stations depends on the termite problem, and putting the stations closer together makes sure the odds of detecting termites increases. It is important to insure that the stations are all placed in soil that has not been treated with insecticide or termiticide before. Paved surfaces are typically not a problem for the system, because stations can be placed alongside them or even under them. Besides stations around the house or structure, stations can also be installed in locations which are prone to termite infestations. For example, stations may be placed at locations which already suffer termite damage, wooden areas or furniture or wet areas. When all stations have been placed, it is important to check the wood pieces in the stations regularly in order to determine which locations suffer most from termite infestations.

Bait delivery
When termites are regularly detected in a monitoring station, the wood which is placed in the station in order to detect termites is replaced with a bait. This chemical, which is called noviflumuron, is contained in a plastic tube which allows the termites to enter and consume the chemical. When this happens, the termites’ growth is slowed. The termites eventually venture out of the station and return to their colony. When this happens, the rest of the colony can follow their trail and themselves also consume the bait. Eventually, this will make sure that all termites die before they reach adulthood. When it is determined which station feeds the most termites, more stations can be buried alongside it in order to speed up the extermination of the termites. All stations should still be monitored regularly to keep track of termite populations around the structure. Eventually, no live termites will be found and the extermination step of the Sentricon system can be concluded.

Continued Monitoring
When the termites have been exterminated, the chemicals in the stations can be removed and replaced with ordinary wood in order to continue monitoring the termite populations. The initial termite population may be destroyed, but the area can be re-invaded by neighboring colonies which will quickly settle in the area. Therefore, continued monitoring is very important, and is an integral part of the Sentricon system. Continued monitoring, every few months, should be done by a professional firm for a long period of time in order to determine the continued termite threats.

Independent studies have shown the Sentricon Colony Elimination System to be an effective option in the battle against termites. It has been shown to be effective in a large host of environments, even some in which protection against termites has previously not been possible. However, it is not a miracle cure, and continued work is always needed in order to battle termites.
Sentricon is only marketed through professional companies, which receive a lot of training in order to comply with the safety standards which are involved with the Sentricon system. Continued development of the Sentricon system allows for it to be used in more and more situations, in order to battle termites wherever necessary.