The objective of the experiment was to test the effect of different caffeinated liquids (Coke, Redbull, and coffee) on the lifespan of termites. Results indicated that Redbull killed termites the fastest (1.75 hrs). Coffee killed termites in 3.42 hrs, and Coke was the least effective (5.04 hrs).
Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.
Apply Pest Repellent in Appropriate Places
Permethrin can even be added to the cement you use to put in a floor in the basement or mix it with the wood glue that is used when putting in a wooden floor. There is no risk of toxicity for you or your family when you use permethrin to prevent termite infestation.
Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies. If you can't access most of the termites, immerse their colony in vinegar.
Sunlight. Termites hate sunlight. In fact, they can die from too much sunlight and heat exposure. If you suspect that a piece of furniture has termites, drag it to the yard to bake in the sun for a bit.
Baking soda is another home remedy that we've seen homeowners try. Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them. The other popular termite treatment myth is using vinegar, which much like Baking soda is a waste of time.
Borates. Sodium borate, sold commonly as borax powder, can kill termites – as well as wash your laundry. You can either sprinkle the powder around the affected area, or you can mix it with water and spray it into an area that you believe to be infested.
What chemical kills termites? There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact.
Termites are also consumed by nematodes such as roundworms, arachnids such as crab spiders and scorpions, and insects such as wasps, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, dragonflies and scorpions. Assassin bugs will raid termite nests and inject them with toxins before sucking them dry.
Coffee killed termites in 3.42 hrs, and Coke was the least effective (5.04 hrs). It was interesting to observe that higher the caffeine levels, the sooner the termites died.
What's more, coffee grounds help attract worms, which are great for your garden. To use coffee grounds as fertilizer, simply sprinkle them onto the soil surrounding your plants. Summary Coffee grounds make great fertilizer because they contain several key nutrients required for plant growth.
Salt is a very effective termite killer according to the team at termite Phoenix. To eliminate termites you should take some salt and spread it on the ground outside your house. Make sure that you cover the entire perimeter. Make a void in the ground outside the house and fill it with water and rock salt.
WOODLIFE CopperCoat can be used to treat wood that's below ground as well as cut ends that are most at risk. You can also use a borate spray like Bora-Care to keep termites and carpenter ants away from wood. All you have to do is dilute the formula with water and spray it on the wood surface.
Ants are the Enemy of Termites
Ants are the biggest natural predators of termites. If you have an established colony of ants in your yard, it is highly unlikely that you will have an established colony of termites.
Arthropods such as ants, centipedes, cockroaches, crickets, dragonflies, scorpions and spiders, reptiles such as lizards, and amphibians such as frogs and toads consume termites, with two spiders in the family Ammoxenidae being specialist termite predators.
But to ants termites are a source of food and their mounds are even a place to live after an invasion battle. Frilled lizards feed largely on termites as do geckoes, legless lizards and skinks. Blind snakes also enjoy the feast. Goannas are attracted to termite mounds to feed on those that squat or eat there.
In terms of fertilizing soil, coffee grounds do have significant nitrogen content, which means they can help improve soil fertility. But because they also affect microorganisms in soil, plant growth and possibly soil pH, you don't want to rely on coffee grounds as plant food.
In sharp contrast to the advice of internet posts that suggest spreading coffee grounds to deter ants, new studies suggest that household ants are attracted to coffee odor.
If taste is your concern, your best bet is to store coffee in an airtight container somewhere cool, dry, and dark. Stored this way, ground coffee can be used for a few months past its expiration date, whole bean for up to nine months, and instant coffee for up to twenty years.
Coffee's bitter compounds are responsible for its repelling effects. These compounds make the coffee unpalatable to rats and mice. They will avoid areas where there is the use of coffee grounds.
Around the Home
Coffee grounds have been used for over a century to mask food odors in homes and stores. If you have smells in your kitchen, living room, even in the refrigerator or freezer, put out some fresh or even dried coffee grounds to make your home smell much nicer.
Roaches & Coffee
They'll eat almost anything to get the energy and nutrients that they need to survive. So if they won't find anything else sweeter or more delectable in a cupboard, they'll definitely go for your coffee. That's why they can absolutely nibble at that bag of ground coffee beans you've been saving.