Customer Reviews

Spectracide 95852 Terminate Termite Detection Killing Stakes, 15 Count

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

1-2 months after installation most of pins have popped out because of moisture damage. It is hasn't been raining here for weeks, but moisture accumulated in the soil a few inches below surface is enough to damage the stakes.

First, buy the 20 stake kit, much less expensive. I think $3 a stake is too much. Second, for protection they should be put every 10 ft around the building you want to protect. Third, They only last a year or two, and when a colony hits, you will need a few more replacements.

Six years ago we had some termites in a church building killed, and put out another brand of bait stations to protect the area. These were "bait and switch stations", which were baited with soft wood. They had to be continually opened, and inspected for activity The bait was then replaced by the killing stakes when termites were in an eating frenzy. I replaced the actively eaten wood bait with Terminate and we were termite clear over two years. Spectracide combined the attractant and eliminator in one station, but they still had to be inspected periodically for activity since one stake will only kill a small colony of termites. To kill a large colony would sometimes take two or three stakes, replaced while the station is active. Otherwise the colony would divide and multiply. [They really are experts with math].

The Spectracide Terminate termite stations, with pop-up indicators, are a great improvement over our former stations. The new stakes have a pop-up orange flag which indicates the bait is mostly eaten. This saves a LOT of effort checking the stations monthly for activity. One concern I had with Terminate stations, was whether they were effective at attracting feeding activity. I discovered the black wood chips, covering the garden area, were attracting termites. I lifted a paving stone and found thousands. The next day they were gone. They don't like to be disturbed, and move on. I placed a new bait station on each side of the paver, and within three weeks they were over half eaten and the alarm flag popped up. One station is now on the third stake, so it looks like the job is about done for now.

Depending on conditions the stakes only last a year or two before they crumble and need to be replaced. The indicator now says when. Best thing since sliced bread!

Less than 2 months after install, 4 of the 10 stakes used has popped up. There is no sign of any kind of bug or where any kind of bug had eaten on them. Very disappointed in this product and have no faith in the product working as it should. Would not purchase again.

This product should not be the only action you take to learn where termites are and to kill as many nests as possible. But these stakes will let you know the areas in which they are active so if you have to call a professional you will know where he should focus. After my really good exterminator retired, I've been able to keep the critters from eating me out of house and home with these stakes, and I know exactly where they are active and what areas have no trace of termites.