Spectracide Terminate Termite Stakes Review
Here are the condensed instructions for the termite stakes:
Determine the number of Spectracide Terminate Termite stakes you will need.
1) You will need 10 stakes for one-story home up to 1200 sq. ft. or two-story homes up to 1,500 sq. ft.
2) 20 stakes for a one-story home 1,500-2,500 sq. ft. or more, or two-story homes 1,500-3,000 sq. ft. or more.
3) Prepare a drawing of the outside of house, look for high moisture areas that are likely to support termite activity (downspouts, spigots, air conditioner lines, low areas with poor drainage) and direct wood-to-ground contact.
4) Install the stakes with the digging tool in the ground 2-3 feet away from foundation, no more than 10 feet apart. Place stakes closer together in "termite critical" areas.
5) Inspect the Spectracide Terminate Termite stakes about every 3 months to determine level of termite activity. In high risk areas, monitor once a month. If evidence of termite activity is found: Replace active stake with a new stake if more than 50% of the bait has been eaten; otherwise place the original stake back in the hole. Place additional stakes (3 or more) within one foot of the infested stake.
In my opinion, this Spectracide Terminate Termite stakes is somewhat difficult to use for the average person. The biggest obstacle I had was trying to get the stakes in the ground. The stakes are very wide and long. This means that you need to be able to dig 20 holes a perfect width and length. When I was reading the instructions at Home Depot it sounded easy. When I actually tried to do it, I had a very hard time. One option they give you is just to use the digging tool by itself to dig the holes. This would be impossible unless you are super human with incredible strength, I cannot even imagine being able to do this. The other option they gave would be to attach the digging tool to a drill. I had to run to the store to buy an extension cord to enable me to use a drill outside. I attached the digging tool to my drill and proceeded to attempt to dig these perfect holes. My ground must be extremely dense because even with the drill it was difficult. Halfway into the first hole my drill started smoking and burnt itself up. I was so frustrated at that point I went inside for a break. The unused Spectracide Terminate Termite stakes are now stored away in a closet. I ended up going back to the store and purchasing a cheap spray for termites. I sprayed around all the bottom foundation of my house and haven't seen any sign of termites returning. I personally would never buy this product again. But if you are strong and have great power tools, Spectracide Terminate Termite stakes may be a good option for you.
Published by Rebecca Said
Rebecca Said enjoys writing about a wide variety of subjects. Strong interests include animal welfare, dogs and cats, internet marketing and politics. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentI would also add spraying the foundation may be a short term deterrent but it won't solve your problem, termites live in the ground in colonies and don't die because your spray bug spray on your house, which washes away too btw. the reason the pros use these stakes is because the termites can't sense the poison at all and eat and take it back to the colony under ground and kill all their other nasty little relatives once they ingest and get the chemical on them. Ants / termites are very social, they move around in tight spaces and that chemicals gets on all the others and they all die. probably need to do several treatments to make sure you get them all though, colonies can be big and the queen must die too or they reproduce.
I understand what men can typically do sometimes, being physically stronger can be more difficult for some women. Having said that I have used this kit myself with the mini auger that comes with it. It is so simple a child can do this, the original review is a joke. You would have to be trying to twist the auger into concrete for it to be that hard to use, it's not hard at all. You twist it into the soil like a corkscrew and pull it out a few times and you have a perfect hole the size of the termite stake. You slide the stake into the hole, push it down flat and move to the next one. I did 20 stakes in about 30 mins and have already after 3 months seen two of the traps pop the orange pin, so yes they actually work .
Just buy it and don't listen to weak people who are too clueless to tie their own shoes.
where con i get replacement stakes?
are replacement stakes available? I
have been using your product for
several years now but have to purchase a whole new kit to get just the bait. It makes it quite expensive!
I had 2 of 20 stakes were eaten and i found many insects in one stake, they are small, white color and each one has may legs on each side of their body (not just 3 as pictures). Are they termite? Where I can send this sample to have a comment? Can Spectracide help me?
Unless you are doing it as a cheap gym workout, you should soak the ground with water, the day before you plan to dig around in it. It makes a big difference!
And if you decide to give it another try, be sure you replace your burned-out drill with a "drill/driver" that has a low-speed, high-torque setting.
BTW: We paid Terminex $1,300 for basically the same system. And PETA would love Terminex, because no termites were hurt or killed during the production of that ripoff. Not one termite, not even a little bit. After I educated myself a bit, it became clear that we had drywood, not subterranean, termites.
I had no problem with the hand drill in my moist clay dirt. Within two months the the red sticks pooped on a few indicating I have termites. I added a few more as per the instructions. I am running out tomorrow to get more for the garden and to replace the eaten ones. I read an article that claimed the Terminate may not get rid of them!! Checking out some other companies.
Obviously the problem was that you're ground was extremely hard (maybe a good thing because no moisture in your soil - bad for plants). I've had no problem whatsoever using a drill
You burnt up the drill because you were using it wrong or you had a drill that was very cheap. This really isn't a reflection on the product.
I have very dense clay soil and the hole attachment worked just fine in my drill. I drilled the holes when the ground was slightly moist. You need to drill in until the bit starts fighting you, then pull it out and clean off the blades then repeat.
I put the stakes in, about 4 months ago, 17 of the 20 were eaten. I guess they worked becuase I haven't seen a termite in the wood pile since
This is a review?