Why Are Your Termite Bait Stations Empty?
You and your pest controller may have decided to use poison bait stations to get rid of your termites. If you get these stations placed right, then termites come into them and take the bait. This helps eradicate nests in a couple of ways.
The termites that are exposed to bait eat it and get traces on their bodies. The bait they eat often poisons them slowly. This gives them time to go back to the main nest.
At this point, the traces of bait they carry may transfer to other termites that never leave the nest. These poison-carrying termites are also usually workers who bring food to the colony. This food may pass poison on in itself. Plus, as the workers die, the nest loses its food suppliers. Eventually, all of the nest dies either from poisoning or starvation.
So, the principle behind bait stations here makes sense. However, when you look at the stations your pest controller has put down, you see that they aren't baited. Why?
Termites Are Wary
Termites know their territory pretty well. They may have been living there for a while, and they can see when things change. Generally, they don't like some changes. If you put down bait stations that contain a food that termites haven't seen before, they may actually avoid going near the stations. They'll change their habits to keep away from those areas.
Empty bait stations or ones that are partly made from wood may seem like less of a threat to termites. They may carry on as usual around some or all of the stations. At this point, you can add bait to the mix because the termites are used to the stations being there.
Stations Help You Target Termite Activity
Knowing that you have termites on your property doesn't mean that you know exactly where they all are. Bait stations can help you work this out. Your termite control specialist may put unbaited stations in various places where they think termites may be hanging around. They then check these stations regularly to look for termite activity.
The aim of poison baiting is to bait as many termites as possible. Nests are eradicated more quickly if multiple termites take the bait into the nest at around the same time.
So, when your pest controller works out which stations are going to be used by the termites, they'll bait those locations. To find out how long this is likely to take, talk to your pest controller.