The Natural Oil That Wipes Out Drywood Termites

Caring for your home goes beyond just keeping it clean and watering your lawn. These activities are necessary for beautifying the outside, but you could have some serious damage happening on the inside if you're not wary. Termites are some of the most economically impactful pests you can have, and drywood termites cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars in damages annually because of their ability to destroy the integrity of a home. If you find that you have drywood termites living in your house's wooden skeleton, you can use clove bud oil as a natural repellent to wipe the pests out.

Drywood termites feed in cellulose from the wood in your house's structural beams and support. As their name implies, they prefer to chow on hard, dry wood, literally threatening the balance of your home. Clove bud essential oil is proven toxic to termites, mostly thanks to its high concentration of eugenol. This compound is very antitermitic and is generally believed to attack the nervous systems of insects such as termites, killing them instantly. Using tree essential oil could very well save your house from internal destruction.

If you're skeptical about whether you have a drywood termite infestation in your home, there are a few ways you can tell them apart from subterranean termites. Unlike the latter, which live in ground nests, drywood termites reside inside the wood that they're feeding on. They also leave their conspicuous droppings, which look like small pellets, out in the open via tiny holes in the wood. Drywood termite poop pellets have ridges on them that are unique to their breed. Once you've established that you do have a drywood termite infestation, then it's time to break into action with your clove bud oil.

Since you're treating the wood against pests, diluting the essential oil is unnecessary. You can use it as is. Essential oils are volatile and will evaporate without harming the wood. Pour the oil into a spray bottle and spray the affected wood thoroughly. This is a natural, non-toxic way to eliminate termites destroying your property without endangering the environment or the health of those living in the house.

While clove bud oil works well as a continuous treatment, taking steps to prevent a drywood termite infestation from occurring in the first place is ideal. If you are building a home and have the extra money in your budget, you could invest in wood that is less likely to be targeted by drywood termites, such as heartwood-grade timber. This type of wood is termite-resistant because it's difficult to chew on and penetrate.

A more feasible and affordable method to prevent drywood termites from invading your house would be to set up screens that block entrances and spaces where these pests could scurry in. If you've been meaning to cover up any holes or crevices with plaster, then now's the time to make it happen. If you have exposed wood, you can consider painting over it heavily to deter the termites. If your house is still in the building stages when you can afford to use chemicals without harm, then you can opt to have the wood sprayed with termite pretreatment before the insulation is installed.