Pest Strategies

To prevent costly damage to your home, termites should be eliminated as soon as possible. Find the best termite killer for your needs from our top recommendations.

Every year, termites cause billions of dollars worth of damage across the globe as they eat away at wooden structures within the walls of homes. Fortunately, there are termite killer products out there that immediately address the situation to limit the damage or bide your time before a termite professional arrives.

To help you find the best termite killer for your home, Pest Strategies researched the options on Amazon. You’ll find our top picks below as well as other helpful termite-related information.

 

Buying Guide

When it comes to all of the termite killer options on Amazon, here’s some information to help you navigate these products and arrive at an informed decision: 

• Type: Common termite killers come in two forms — liquid and bait.

• Liquid barriers: Professionals often create a protective barrier around your home’s perimeter by digging a trench and applying a liquid termiticide to it. These treatments are non-repellent, so termites don’t notice them and carry the poison back to the colony after coming across it. 

• Direct liquid treatments: Also known as spot treatments, these termite killers involve professionals drilling holes into the woodwork and shooting foam into them. Foam can also go into existing cracks and crevices. The foam kills termites in the colony through poison transmission. 

• Baits: Termite baits are poison-filled traps placed strategically around your home’s perimeter. Termites are attracted to the wood, cellulose, or paper in the baits, which are laced with poison. Worker termites searching for wood sources find it, eat it, and carry it back to the colony, which spreads to the other termites and eventually kills them. 

• Versatility: Many termite killers specifically target termites, but some products are designed to kill other insects. For added versatility, look for a termite killer spray that also works against carpenter ants and other wood-eating pests.

• Size and coverage area: If termites are concentrated in a small area of your backyard, a single bottle of termite spray or a single bait station should work well to eliminate them. If your termite issue is widespread, a product with a large coverage area may be necessary to ensure multiple complete and even applications. 

• Active ingredients: Unlike pest control products for other insects, there are few natural and non-toxic alternatives to termite killers. The below chemicals should be used with caution and as directed.

• Hexaflumuron: An insect growth regulator, this insecticide prevents termites from growing a new exoskeleton. This eventually kills the queen. 

• Bifenthrin: This widely used insecticide is pyrethroid-based, meaning it’s naturally derived from chemicals contained in chrysanthemum flowers. It works to attack the termites’ nervous system. 

• Imidacloprid: Mimicking nicotine, this chemical is designed to block the neuronal pathway of termites. 

• Fipronil: Fipronil is a white, moldy-smelling powder that kills termites by disrupting their central nervous system. 

 

Knowing When To Call It Quits and Bring In a Professional

The myriad of pest control products online makes it simple and accessible to take pest control issues into your own hands. Termite killers are no exception. Though termites may not pose an immediate threat because you can’t see them behind your walls, it’s important to address them immediately before they do hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. 

Termites can also be found in your garden soil, trees, and bushes. These infestations are easier to treat with a DIY termite killer solution. Unless you’re a pest control professional, this is what many termite killers are geared toward.

Because termites in your walls can cause such costly damage, it’s highly advised to seek out a professional. Once termites invade your home, you’re outnumbered. Even if you have a full house, the termites will have you beat — even the smallest colonies can fall somewhere around 50,000 termites. 

Once they’ve settled into your home, they’ve already done a great deal of damage. And when it comes to treating the wood that they’ve eroded away, many DIY sprays and other treatments dry fairly fast.

Depending on the type of termite, they typically infest a home in one of two ways:

• They create tubes or tunnels that snake up the walls of basements or crawl spaces. These are known as subterranean termites. 
• They burrow into furniture. These are known as drywood termites. 

If you spot these termite marks, it’s likely too late to tackle the issue on your own. To minimize further damage, the best termite killer is an industry professional. 

 

 

 

FAQs

• Why do termites eat wood? 

Termites seek out and devour anything that contains cellulose, an organic fiber found in wood and other densely fibrous materials, such as grass. Although termites eat other materials besides wood, they’re known for eating wood because most animals and pests can’t digest it. Termites have protozoa and bacteria in their gut that allows them to easily break down the plentiful cellulose fibers found in wood, providing them with a near-limitless food source, as wood is a common material.

• Can termite control sprays be used indoors and outdoors? 

Yes. Termite control sprays are designed to be versatile. However, some sprays may only repel termites, rather than kill them, depending on the strength of their active ingredients.

• Will termite killers harm humans or pets?

It’s possible for people and pets to suffer from poisoning if the chemicals in the killers are accidentally ingested. Although the average adult would have to consume a relatively high volume of termiticide to experience any ill effects, we do recommend exercising caution if you have any young children or pets around the house. Additionally, to avoid skin irritation, wear gloves and sleeves during application. 

• What are the typical signs of a termite infestation? 

The moment you see any of these red flags, it’s time to take immediate action by using a DIY killer or calling an exterminator:

• Damaged wood
• Random barrel-shaped debris
• Uneven or bubbling paint
• Faint noises within the walls
• Muddy tubes
• Discarded insect wings

• Can I use vinegar to get rid of termites? 

In the world of pest control, a common household item like vinegar may seem like liquid gold because of its versatility and effectiveness on insects. But when it comes to termites, you’ll need something stronger to take them out. Termites actually produce a crude form of vinegar in their gut as they break down wood and metabolize the cellulose within for nourishment. In this sense, applying vinegar is like fighting fire with fire.

 

 

Pest Strategies provides reviews of select products that are top-selling on Amazon and/or popular in consumer searches. Our team evaluates the products based on industry research, consumer reviews, pricing data, and other objective criteria. Unless otherwise noted, these product reviews are intended to help inform buying decisions for non-professionals. Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator, even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.