I know that termites are sentient creatures and I know that they have been made by the gods for a specific reason. But this year I have been under savage attack by armies of termites and I have lost antique books (an 1847 royal edition of Shakespeare’s plays among others), and lots of saris, shawls and clothes to them burrowing into my cupboards from the back. I have to throw out my beautiful wooden cupboards and get ugly steel ones. I live in an old British government house as a Member of Parliament and the house has no termite proof foundations - in fact it has no foundations at all and the damp rises steadily making me freeze throughout the year. Termites live between the walls and every day has become a struggle between them and us.

 

Today I read in the papers about mango tree protection. Many of the mango orchards in Uttar Pradesh grow turmeric in between the trees. I thought this was a very intelligent way to earn more money from the land. But now I realise that the planting of turmeric serves yet another purpose: Scientists of the Indian agricultural; Research Institute have found that turmeric keeps termites at bay. And that it should be used as an intercrop for all fruit orchards.

 

Another village remedy that my constituency members told me that they use is to pile up fresh cow dung in a corner near a house or a field. The termites make a beeline to eat it and then they burn the cow dung. I have never seen it in action so I cannot vouch for it - in any case , I don’t subscribe to killing as a long term solution to anything (though the loss of my books has really brought me close to the edge !!)

 

Fumigation by chemicals is one answer but that pollutes the whole world and anything that kills termites will leave its death mark on you as well. Here are some organic remedies that I have been told keep them away: Prevention is of course the most cost effective means of control. Stack firewood off the ground, away from your home. Repair any cracks in the home’s foundation or splits in wooden chaukhats. Routinely check the foundation around your home. Termites are usually easier to detect when the soil is moist. Apply an all weather wood sealer to any wood exposed to moisture. Another option is to dissolve boric acid in water and paint it onto wood surfaces.

 

There are various ways to treat termites naturally both outdoors and indoors.

 

1. Drill holes into infested areas and apply orange oil, or d-limonene. Orange oil has very low toxicity but will kill termites in the immediate area. Orange oil is an eco-friendly alternative termite control method made from orange rinds. The oil kills termites instantly but is harmless to people and pets.

 

2.Have a professional heat treat your house. The temperature of the house and contents is brought to 120 degrees F and kept there for 33 minutes. This is most effective in smaller homes and apartments because it is difficult to heat some materials like concrete.

 

3.Prevent future infestations by creating a barrier the insects can’t burrow through. Dig a trench around the slab of the house and fill it with uniform sized pebbles.

 

4. BORIC ACID dissolved in water and painted on affected area will keep termites at bay for years. This is a wood treatment, often used in the preventative stages, but many believe it also helps curb current population growth.

 

5. When only small areas have been infested by termites, a freezing process can be used. Liquid nitrogen is pushed into afflicted structures, freezing walls and termites in their tracks.

 

Plant parts and plant extracts can be used effectively. These become natural insecticides by grinding up the relevant parts, placing in boiling water, stirring and leaving to soak. The mixture is then sprayed  on the pest infected area. Plant parts such as toxic fruit juices, pulps or shavings can be applied directly.

 

Some plants with a very pungent smell keep away wood eating creatures. One such plant is the castor plant - which produces castor oil. Its leaves and green twigs are important as insecticide. Use gloves to cut its   leaves and green branches from the soft upper parts of an adult castor plant . Mix with water. Mash it and boil the contents on a low fire. Stir the mixture occasionally but don’t let it evaporate. Keep your face and hands protected. After forty minutes of heating , remove the container and cool. Filter into a clean can. The thick residue removed after filtration can be manure to plants.

 

The use of neem wood can prevent termite attacks. Particle barriers such as granite, sand or glass splinters can be used as a base material.  The grain used should be big enough for the termites to move, and the spaces between them should be too small for termites to panel through.  A 20 cm thick layer of these particle barriers can be placed outside the building or in crawl spaces. Neem mulches act as a deterrent to termites.  Neem oil and castor oil in a concentration of 3 percent can be sprayed over the termite nests.  Latex from calatropis can also be used for termite control.  Black pepper which is toxic for many insects, is also helpful.

 

Termites have many predators, including spiders, beetles, flies, wasps, ants, frogs, reptiles, birds bats and monkeys. Encouraging this kind of wildlife will help to reduce the number of termites. Bushes and trees are a home for many of these useful creatures. These areas of natural habitat can be left around the house.