Subterranean termites are probably the most undesirable house guest a homeowner could have.  They can be extremely destructive as they munch their way through the fabric of your home, costing you a fortune in repair bills.  Your local pest control company will be able to deal with a serious infestation using highly effective termiticide poisons to dispatch the insects.  However, if you've spotted just a few termites lurking outside your home, you may prefer to deal with them yourself using natural methods, before resorting to toxic chemicals.

Here are some effective non-chemical subterranean termite treatments you might like to try.

Cardboard trap

Subterranean termites feed on the cellulose contained within wood and wood products.  The insects prefer damp wood as it's easier for them to process.  You can take advantage of this behaviour by setting a cardboard subterranean termite trap.

First of all, search for tiny mud tubes running up the sides of your external walls or around the foundations of your property.  These tubes are used by subterranean termites to move around and are a clear indication of termite activity.  Place sheets of damp cardboard beneath corrugated sheeting in the area of the tubes and leave it there for a few days.  The termites will be attracted to the tasty buffet of easily digestible cellulose within the wet cardboard and will happily set about eating it.  All you have to do is remove the cardboard with its termite burden and burn it.

Sunlight

Subterranean termites live in underground colonies within a cool, damp environment.  You can kill off a colony that has been established outside your home by clearing away any vegetation that provides it with shelter and digging up the area, thus exposing the inhabitants to a fatal dose of heat and direct sunlight.

If you have wooden furniture that has been attacked by termites, place it outside in bright sunlight on a hot day for an hour or so.  This will kill off any termites that are feeding within the wood.

Parasitic nematodes

Parasitic nematodes are tiny worms that feed on garden pests.  There are specific species that feed on termites, and these can be extremely effective when introduced into areas where termites are active.  You can buy nematodes online, or through your local pest control company.  Simply place the nematodes into your garden in areas where termites have been seen and let them do their work.  The worms are invisible to the naked eye and won't harm your plants, pets or 'friendly' insects like bees.

In conclusion

Subterranean termites can do terrible damage to the fabric of your property, resulting in heft repair bills and inconvenience for you and your family.  If you don't like the idea of using toxic chemicals around your home, try the eco-friendly termite control methods suggested above, and have a chat with your local pest control company for further advice.