User Manual
EASY TERMITE BAIT USER MANUAL
ACTIVE CONSTITUENT: 1.0g/kg CHLORFLUAZURON
APVMA Approval No: 68903(2013)
Easy Termite Bait™ is used in the Pod it is sold in and attached (sealed) to termite activity.
Easy Termite Bait™ when used according to the label and this manual, will eliminate subterranean termite colonies, including the queen.
To aid in the baiting process we recommend the additional purchase of;
1. Quality cloth/gaffer/duct tape
2. Acrylic Adhesive/ Gap Filler (example ‘No-More Gaps’)
3. Screws to give extra strength to tape
BACKGROUND
Subterranean termites are sensitive to changes in atmosphere, light, moisture, temperature and smell. Of the over 300 species of termites that occur in Australia, only 3 or 4 do any significant damage to our homes. All these damaging termites are in a colony which almost completely live their life in a closed/ sealed environment, protected from the environment and their predators. To achieve this isolated protection, they enclose their food source into their system of tunnels and storing and nesting chambers.
To achieve maximum potential with termite baiting to achieve total colony eradication and not suppression, four important requirements are needed;
1. Highly palatable and desirable as a food source over other choices (not all commercially available baits meet this basic requirement), including dry baits (not mixed with water) that deteriorate over time.
2. Reliable moisture source or in the case of commercially available baits, made up with precise amount of water to consume and regurgitate as necessary.
3. A method of providing bait into closed system of colony and then adding more bait without disturbing the consumption.
4. An active/ proven ingredient (chlorfluazuron) that can reliably result in complete colony and queen elimination in a reasonable time frame (months) without any detection of it’s presence.
BAITING
Bait is the substance with a chemical/ poison (poison to termites only) that is made up with water and is fed to termite activity via feeding device (Pod). The Pod is sealed to active timber once termites are within. Bait is a food product and spoils once made up with water unless it is being eaten by termites. Bait is never added to anything that doesn’t have active termites.
PREPARING EASY TERMITE BAIT™POD
1. If you are a smoker or have recently been exposed to any chemicals, use disposable gloves when preparing bait.
2. Pour 200ml of non-chlorinated water into one Easy Termite Bait™ Pod by opening the zip lock seal. Tap water is often highly chlorinated.
3. Reseal zip lock and shake contents for 30 seconds until even, lumpy consistency is achieved.
4. It is extremely important that the zip lock closure of Pod is completely closed and locked after each inspection and after adding more bait.
5. Ideally Pod is installed in Vertical position with zip at top. Depending whether the surface to be attached to is horizontal (adhesive patch on bottom of pod is used) or vertical (adhesive patch on side of pod is used), we cut out the centre of appropriate adhesive patch with pointed scissors or pointed blade, taking as much of 10mm hole as possible. At this stage protective cover of patch is left in place.
A. WHEN TERMITES ARE CONSUMING A SOLID, ABOVE GROUND, TIMBER STRUCTURE
The Best method of using Easy Termite Bait™ Pod is when you have termites in a solid timber structure that is firmly attached to the ground (like your home). This method of treating termites is the easiest and fastest method to achieve colony eradication. When termites are found in a structure it is extremely important not to disturb them or use any chemicals on them prior to using Easy Termite Bait™ Pod.
INSTALLING PREPARED POD ON TIMBER STRUCTURE
In this method the Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod (as above) is attached directly to structure with active termites within timber via the Straw, Adhesive Patch, Adhesive and Tape and Screws.
1. A small hole (5-6mm) (size of supplied straw) with pen knife is made into termite active timber (avoid if possible, using power drill as vibration can alarm some species of termites). Try to choose area that is visibly damaged but not so thin that will not allow hole to be made without collapse or won’t support Pod to be attached.
Only continue if termites visible (If no termites cover with gaffer tape and find new location). A torch will help see termites in hole.
2. Insert straw snuggly into hole, cut excess straw off, leaving 10mm exposed.
3. Remove protective cover of appropriate adhesive patch to be used. Apply 5mm bead of Adhesive/ Gap filler around patch.
4. Place Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod over straw, pushing firmly onto timber.
5. Still holding pod (second person and second pair of hands is beneficial now), add tape to firmly attach/seal pod to surrounds.
Install Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod Vertically with the zip lock at upper most position for easy addition of more Easy Termite Bait™ (plus water) from second Pod. Only one Pod/ place of feeding is required or desirable for colony eradication. NOTE: At every new feeding location some bait is used by termites to protect entry point and therefore not consumed. Therefore, it is faster and more economical to have consumption by colony at fewer feeding locations. DO NOT HAVE PODS ANY CLOSER THAN 5M FROM ANOTHER TREATMENT POD.
NOTE: Always attach Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod to activity within a structure at furthest practical point from ground. However, the ease of opening should be a priority, therefore do not put where opening is difficult to access.
NOTE: Sometimes there is no alternative but to install pod in horizontal position, making it very difficult to add more bait later. When this happens and after confirming consumption in pod, we attach second pod on top of first pod (cutting 10mm hole in first active pod). PLEASE contact us directly to discuss this further or any other situation which seem unique.
6. Many surfaces will not allow good attachment of tape, once tape applied you may require some screws to hold tape in place.
7. Using the cartridge of acrylic adhesive/ gap filler to apply more adhesive, externally around adhesive patch between Pod and timber will guarantee a complete seal around the outside of the join once Pod is firmly attached with tape and screws.
8. It is also a good idea to make a temporary platform to support pod if conditions allow, until adhesive dries.
ON-GOING BAITING OF TIMBER STRUCTURE WITH POD
After the installed Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod has been left untouched for a minimum of 10 days (up to 28 days), the Pod is inspected via the zip lock.
1. The Pod should be inspected every 10 to 28 days with the more frequent inspections occurring during the initial stages of termite feeding.
2. Although Pod is light resistant, when installed in direct light it is a good idea to also cover between visits with aluminium foil. In particularly hot environments a moistened cloth may be draped over Pod to keep it cool. In addition, the Pod may require additional protection from wildlife/ pets.
3. After opening Pod at 10 days via Ziplock and termite consumption has not commenced, and no sign of termites or mud exists within pod. Using the zip lock opening (and using a long sterile screwdriver) find the straw from inside pod and dislodge and re-pierce hole into timber/ termite workings. If consumption has still not commenced after 4 weeks the bait will have started to deteriorate and a new activity point with a new Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod should be tried. However, leave original pod in place until colony elimination even if it remains inactive.
4. Allow all (or 90%) of first Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ to be eaten before adding contents of second Easy Termite Bait™ Pod plus water, mixed well, and tipped into first attached Pod via zip lock.
5. Continue to add contents of additional Easy Termite Bait™ Pod (plus water) to original Pod as contents consumed BUT as consumption slows increase days to inspection (i.e., if more than half contents remain, double time to 20 days).
6. When worker termite numbers start to decline (Queen has died) and soldier numbers become dominate, continue to add new clean bait which will allow an observation of when activity has ceased between visits. Even when no termites are observed and it is expected that colony elimination has occurred, add clean bait and re-inspect in 4 weeks. If only soldier termites are seen, all workers may have died, and soldiers will not last long without workers feeding them.
7. After 4 weeks and still no activity has been observed, and new bait is still clean, leave a further 4 weeks until confirming Colony Elimination.
8. After Colony Elimination has occurred Treatment Pod can be removed and any repairs to structure can now be made.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Do not over service as continually opening the Pod will slow feeding. Ideally do not use more than one Pod at a time in area of activity. Even when 2 or 3 Pods are used in a home in different areas (never closer than 5m apart), one is usually eaten in preference to others. On average anywhere from 3 to 12 Easy Termite Bait™ Pods is required by colony until elimination of the whole colony and queen. More may be required in particularly large colonies or when multiple feeding points are used.
B. WHEN TERMITES ARE FOUND OUTSIDE A SOLID TIMBER STRUCTURE AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ATTACH A POD TO ACTIVITY.
The SECOND method of using Easy Termite Bait™ is when you have found termites in the vicinity of your house but not within a solid structure that will hold a Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod.
If termites are found while digging, lifting pavers, under loose timber, within wood pile or similar: it is necessary to install 12 to 24 Monitor Station With TImber around the activity (12 for localised activity away from home and 24 if your home within 50m of area).
It is also a great idea for Termite Management to be proactive and install 24 Monitor Station With TImber around the area of your home prior to any termites and to determine if any termites are a species which will damage your home.
In this situation once the Monitor Station With TImber is active with termites, the whole monitor becomes the feeding chamber. The actual time for the Monitor Station With Timber to become active can be anywhere from days to months depending on many variables.
The Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ Pod is made up as above (“PREPARING EASY TERMITE BAIT™ POD”). Remove the lid of the active Monitor Station With Timber. Then the whole contents of pod (mix with water) are tipped into the Active Monitor Station With TImber and the lid is replaced.
ON-GOING BAITING OF MONITOR STATION WITH TIMBER
1. The Active Monitor Station With TImber should be inspected every 10 to 28 days with the more frequent inspections occurring during the initial stages of termite feeding.
2. Allow all (or 90%) of the first Prepared Easy Termite Bait™ to be eaten before adding contents of second Easy Termite Bait™ Pod plus water, mixed well, and tipped into Monitor Station With TImber.
3. Continue to add contents of additional Easy Termite Bait™ Pod (plus water) to Monitor Station With TImber as contents consumed BUT as consumption slows increase days to inspection (i.e., if more than half contents remain, double time to 20 days).
4. Continue to add new clean bait which will allow an observation of when activity has ceased between visits.
5. Even when no termites are observed and it is expected that colony elimination has occurred, add clean bait and re-inspect in 4 weeks. If only soldier termites are seen, all workers may have died, and soldiers will not last long without workers feeding them.
6. After 4 weeks and still no activity has been observed, and new bait is still clean, leave a further 4 weeks until confirming Colony Elimination.
7. After Colony Elimination has occurred Monitor Station With TImber can be removed, remove screws, remove both timbers, clean monitor with hot water, new timbers added, reinstall screws and Monitor Station With TImber is reinstalled in new location.