Termite baiting system (Exterra®)

Does the word Exterra have a meaning?

Exterra is derived from a combination of three words, exterminate, termite and terra (terra is Latin for earth), the meaning of Exterra being literally that which exterminates termites in the earth.

How are termites baited with Exterra?
Termite baiting with Exterra is a straightforward and simple multi-step process. The first step is the installation of stations in the ground at regular intervals around the structure. The stations are inspected at periodic intervals for the presence of termite activity in the station.

If termites are found in a station, the station is baited. Baited stations are inspected on a regular basis and rebaited as needed. When termite feeding in a station ceases for a length of time, any remaining bait is removed at which point the process begins again. This is necessary in case the colony was not completely eliminated or other nearby termite colonies invade the area vacated by the previous colony.

What are the component parts of Exterra and how are they used?
The Quarterra bait station, wooden interceptors and Labyrinth* Termite Bait.

What are interceptors and how are they used?
Interceptors are specially cut pieces of a type of wood that is highly preferred by termites. Before a station is used, six wooden interceptors are placed in the station in such a way that they line the interior of the station while resting against the outer walls of the station. Because the walls of the station have numerous openings in them to the exterior, the interceptors come in direct contact with the earth when the station is installed in the ground. Once the station is installed, randomly foraging termites discover the interceptors and begin feeding on them. This feeding establishes termite activity in the station and is referred to as interception. Once termites are intercepted, Labyrinth Termite Bait is installed in the station.

Can termites be attracted to a station?
After many years of research, the answer is YES! Our non-toxic, easy to use FOCUS granules are scientifically proven to attract termites. FOCUS works by emitting CO2 much like rotting wood or existing termite nests. FOCUS can be added to any bait station to decrease termite discovery time.

How can you be sure that termites will feed in a station?
Termites are scavengers always in search of a new source dead cellulose. Termite baiting systems rely on the nature of termites to randomly and continually forage in the area around their nest in a never ending search for new sources of food. However, interception is not a foolproof process. One reason that termites may not be intercepted in a station is that there are no termite colonies present in the ground in the area close to the station. Also, as randomly as termites feed, they may simply fail to find the station. This is why, if after a period of time termites are not intercepted in a station, it is sometimes advisable that an unvisited station be moved to another nearby spot to see if termites can be intercepted there.

How are station installation locations chosen?
The Labyrinth Termite Bait label directs that in ground stations be installed at a structure based on three criteria - close to areas of the structure known to be infested with termites (if any), in areas of expected termite feeding in the ground (such as areas of moderate moisture and cellulose in contact with the ground) and a catchall requirement of a maximum distance between stations. A maximum distance apart requirement is necessary to make sure that termites never have to forage too far to find a station. Above ground stations are placed in contact with parts of the structure known to be infested with termites.

You've got termites and you want them gone. Here's how Isopthor does it.

Isopthor gets to work in-ground...
To the right is a house under attack by subterranean termites. Termites have been attacking this house from some time. This is a job for Isopthor.

The first step of using Isopthor is to install In-ground Stations around the building at points near where termites are likely to be foraging in the ground for food. The Stations contain non-toxic food preferred by termites. This food is called Interceptors.

The Stations are inspected at regular intervals for evidence that termites have found some of the Stations and are feeding on the Interceptors.

...and above-ground quickly.
Here we see an installed Above-ground Station under termite attack. Above-ground Stations are not always installed however in certain circumstances they can be very useful. Above-ground Stations can speed up the process of colony elimination.

Above-ground Stations are used only when a point of termite attack in the building can be located. Bait is placed in the Station when it is installed. After the termite colony is eliminated. Above-ground stations are removed.

Termites have been intercepted...
Foraging termites have found one of the In-ground Stations and are feeding on the interceptors. Notice how the termites have built tunnels in the earth that now reach the Station. This is their pathway back to the colony.

The Isopthor Station is designed to both speed the process of termites finding the Station and to increase the percentage of installed Stations at which termites are intercepted.

This is made possible because of the arrangement of the Interceptors in the Station and the high preference termites have for the wood used to form the Interceptors.

...so it's time to put Isopthor to work.

To the right we see the Station after it has been filled with Isopthor Termite Bait. The Interceptors have been omitted in this view but are actually still in place.

The termites were feeding on the Interceptors but have now switched to feeding on the Isopthor Termite Bait.

The termites made this switch because they prefer to eat Isopthor Termite Bait even more than they prefer to consume the Intereceptors. This is because Isopthor Termite Bait is designed ti be highly preferred by termites.

Termites can't resist Isopthor which leads to the colony's quick demise.
Here we see both Stations have been located by termites. The Stations have been replenished with Isopthor Termite Bait several times.

Isopthor has severely affected the termite colony. The best evidence of this is the small number of termites left feeding. These few remaining termites have been severely affected and are in no shape to cause much more damage to the building.

Soon these few termites will be gone as Isopthor succeeds in completely eliminating the colony and stopping further damage to the building.

Above-ground stations are then removed...but In-ground stations stay at work.
In the left and right views above, the termites have been eliminated from the building and the earth beneath it. The Above-ground Station has been removed and will not be replaced. The In-ground Stations in which termites were previously feeding will now be prepared to intercept any new colonies that may occupy the area that was once occupied by the now eliminated termite colony.