Spectracide 95852 Terminate Termite Detection Killing Stakes, 15 Count

by Spectracide

Product Features

• Detects and kills subterranean termites
• Includes 15 stakes with pop-up termite indicators with easy to find locator shields
• Install in just minutes; Digger auger included
• Includes consumer education materials on Termite behavior and identifying Termite damage

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.5 x 10.8 x 8.8 inches ; 2.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B003RCODEM
• Item model number: HG-95852
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,989 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)

Product Description

The spectracide termite detecting killing stakes are an affordable way to detect and kill termites before they create problems. This do-it-yourself system uses chemically treated stakes to kill foraging termites. A pop-up indicator warns you that termites are in the area. This kit includes 15 stakes and a digging auger to help you install them in just minutes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Subterranean Termite Killer...Helps to Kill/Control Termites & Ants, August 19, 2011

By 

Richard La Barca (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spectracide 95852 Terminate Termite Detection Killing Stakes, 15 Count (Lawn & Patio)

I've been using this product for years. Yes, it does help in killing and controlling termite infestations. This is only a tool to kill and control the termites outside within the grounds around your home. You will also need to kill the nests within any wood structures as necessary...I recommend Ortho Home Defense Termite & Destructive Bug Killer - 32 oz. 0194260 to treat and kill colonies in walls, floors and window frames. Look for toothpick sized holes dispersing wood particles. You may have to drill the hole larger and saturate with termite killer. I use a garden pump-sprayer with termite killer mixture and spray directly in the termite holes. Holes should be filled with caulking or re-plastered & re-painted to seal in termite killer. The killer should remain effective for years.

I have a small apartment complex that had a serious termite infestation. I initially hired a professional which eliminated some termites but the infestation arose again the next year. When I called back for warranty re-treating, the professional did re-treat the areas originally treated but stated any other areas are new colonies and not covered by the warranty. Rather than spend hundreds more for a new treatment, I chose to educate myself on the life of the (btw blind) termite.

Termites can live 25 years and must start a nest with two asexual termites. One becomes the male and one becomes the female queen. They reproduce drones with one purpose, to feed their queen. She remains stationary within the nest and can become 25 times larger in size...a real fat mama! If her male partner should die, one of the drones gets the privilege to be her new sexual boy-toy.

Anyway, I learned subterranean termites need moisture to live and reproduce. These termites feed on plant/tree roots and then swarm (usually in seasonal hot weather) outside the ground and travel to nearby wood structures to form nests. These are the termites that destroy your home. These are the colonies that, most importantly, need to be controlled and killed.

If you get the picture, the termite stakes are used to control and kill the subterranean termites outside your home and the spray mixture is used to control and kill the nests within wood.

When I first used these stakes about 10 years ago, there was no "pop-up" indicator. I just know these were working since the swarms dissipated. These stakes last about a year killing termites unless there is an excessive amount of water washing away the chemical. Still, within the ground, the chemical helps kill termites. It did take me two (15) stake treatments in the course of 18 months to get the subterranean termites under control and several spray treatments in the various apartments and wood structures around the complex to get control of the termites. Now, I just watch for any new nests and treat accordingly.

In closing, this product works to help kill and control termites.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy to install and something is eating them but, do they kill termites?, February 19, 2011

By 

Albert B. Duckett (Ocean Springs, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spectracide 95852 Terminate Termite Detection Killing Stakes, 15 Count (Lawn & Patio)

I have some rental homes. Two have dead trees in the yards with termites eating the tree stumps. Since a "professional" termite treatment will cost several hundred dollars per house, I tried these "termite stakes". They are easy to install and something has been eating on them (I installed them months ago) and the indicators do pop up. I've replaced all the ones that "popped". The only question is, are they killing the termites and preventing the termites from eating the house? Answer, I don't know but, my wallet has lost weight.
By the way, after you do your initial installation, replacement stakes are cheaper per stake if you buy a new "kit" (of 15 stakes) which includes another auger rather than buy the replacement packs of 5 stakes. If you have any termites in your yard, you'll go through more than five replacement stakes in a matter of a few months. I don't know why they are priced this way. It seems kinda stupid to me.
I'm hoping that someday the stakes will stop popping up, indicating that there are no more termites in the yard. Do they work? I don't know but, at least I feel better that I've done "something" and it didn't require a trip to the bank. One last thing, I found that using the auger with a cordless drill made the installation really easy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good and bad. There is a moisture issue, June 25, 2011

By 

Brian (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spectracide 95852 Terminate Termite Detection Killing Stakes, 15 Count (Lawn & Patio)

Like the other reviewer from McKinney Tx, I've had the same problem with some stakes popping in Plano, TX (a few miles away from McKinney). Our clay soil here in this area tends to hold moisture. Three stakes have popped, on the NE, SW, and SE side of my house (after 2-3 months of use). I'm giving the product 3 stars since it looks like something *may* have been eating one of the stakes. I can't tell. The other two, definitely not. If the company can make the alarm mechanism inside the stakes a little more moisture resistant I'd give the product at least 4 stars (softer spring or stronger medium). Otherwise, the moisture problem gave me false alarms and false worries.

It's the only consumer product like this that I've seen, so the question is, do I continue to purchase stakes to replace the ones that popped? I'm thinking not, but I'll still consider replacing them next termite season (early Spring here in Tx) since it seems to be better than doing nothing.