Termite Treatment With Orange Oil Or Fumigation? Pros And Cons

These days, more and more homeowners are looking to find natural and ecologically friendly options that are safe for humans and pets when they are in need of termite extermination or pest control. Orange oil is a proven, eco-friendly and non-toxic alternative compared to termite tenting and fumigation which is traditionally used against California termites. After a termite inspector has localized the infected areas throughout the wooden structure of a building, the natural pesticide is injected into tunnels made by the termites themselves or through small newly drilled holes in order to reach the infested wood and kill the drywood termite colonies.

The orange oil that is used to locally treat termite infestations is made from the active ingredient d-limonene, which can be found in the fruit’s rinds. Limonene is the natural result of steam of distilling oranges during the process of extracting orange juice.

When the substance is applied to the colonies, it breaks down the skin, central nervous system and vital organs of termites and other insects on contact, resulting in fast death. It also destroys their eggs.

Although termite control with orange oil does offer many benefits compared to traditional methods that use toxic chemicals or gas, there are also some important facts that should be considered when you decide which method is best to control drywood termites at your home:

• The procedure can only be used to treat localized areas of a home as it only works on contact
• If the termites are located in an area that is difficult or impossible to reach, it may not be feasible to apply
• Treating a large or several infested areas can be more costly than fumigation
• In order to inject the oil, holes must be drilled into the walls
• Unlike fumigation, unseen termite colonies in other infected parts of the structure are not exterminated
• Orange oil is effective for treating drywood termites, but not for subterranean termites

Whether or not this natural pesticide is the right option to control termites in your home should be determined by a professional termite inspector.

In general, if your home is only partially infested by drywood termites and the areas can be easily reached, termite control with orange oil is a safe and ecological alternative, and a lot more cost-effective than tenting and fumigating the whole structure. Compared to fumigation, it also has the advantage that you don’t have to move out of your home or need to go through the inconvenience of packing your food and belongings in airtight plastic containers or remove your plants while your house is treated.