This weekend I found termite droppings on the floor underneath my mid/hi speaker box. I thought I got rid of the termites when I disposed of my old TL sub woofer but apparently they migrated to the mid/hi enclosures.
The enclosures are constructed of Okoume plywood. This plywood is not water resistant. I can wet it, but not for too long a time. These enclosures are simple small bass reflex boxes of about 30x30x15 cm. Easy to replicate with water resistant plywood. But not as nice to see.
The new TLs I sprayed with "Ortho Home Defense Termite & Destructive Bug Killer" before assembly. I have no signs of termites yet, but that doesn't guarantee they are not infested.
I am really worried about the termites migrating to my new TL subs which are much larger and harder to rebuild. So preferable I treat both the small enclosures and the TLs equally. The first first to expunge, the second to prevent.
Any ideas of how to treat for termites? Since the speakers are in a dry room, part of the time air conditioned, no moisture, I assume these are dry termites. I never see a sign of the insects or wings. Only excrements. There are no environmental or import restrictions on any chemicals. As long as I can purchase from Amazon.
The enclosures are constructed of Okoume plywood. This plywood is not water resistant. I can wet it, but not for too long a time. These enclosures are simple small bass reflex boxes of about 30x30x15 cm. Easy to replicate with water resistant plywood. But not as nice to see.
The new TLs I sprayed with "Ortho Home Defense Termite & Destructive Bug Killer" before assembly. I have no signs of termites yet, but that doesn't guarantee they are not infested.
I am really worried about the termites migrating to my new TL subs which are much larger and harder to rebuild. So preferable I treat both the small enclosures and the TLs equally. The first first to expunge, the second to prevent.
Any ideas of how to treat for termites? Since the speakers are in a dry room, part of the time air conditioned, no moisture, I assume these are dry termites. I never see a sign of the insects or wings. Only excrements. There are no environmental or import restrictions on any chemicals. As long as I can purchase from Amazon.
I thought heat works. I searched a bit and if you can get the wood to 120F I think it said, will kill. Maybe a space heater in some small enclosure that doesn't burn.
One can use approved pesticide. Some pesticide when applied to wood is aborbed by moving termites. When they return to colony; entire colony is affected in few days. I have seen it work at friend's place.
Nicotine is also effective. Some use tobacco powder.
All are hazardous to health more or less. A precaution is necessary.
Nicotine is also effective. Some use tobacco powder.
All are hazardous to health more or less. A precaution is necessary.
Ouch. Never seen a termite (outide of the Calgary Zoo [i suspect]), but carpenter ants invaded n outbuilding across the driveway Mostly vacuum cleanered away and than a lot of tuff toed and rebuilt,
My first inclimation was burn them — the entire cabinet.
dave
My first inclimation was burn them — the entire cabinet.
dave
These do sound like dry wood termites unfortunately. The good news is they typically have colonies of thousands instead of millions. The bad news is that are likely coming from a reservoir of the beasts somewhere. The Ortho home defense is good stuff but like Termidor and other similar insecticides you need to actively drill holes with close spacing with a small diameter but long drill and inject the poison directly into the infested wood to flood all of the tunnels. Heat often does not work (they live in my attic which gets really hot) unless you really go at it purposefully for a long while and can enclose the area. The perhaps worst news is many insecticides easily delaminate plywood, OSB, and particle board so you need to be very careful. I would consult a professional since if you have them in your cabinets they almost assuredly somewhere else unwanted. Best of luck!
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I'd be Way more worried about the house than the speakers...
Good point UserAbuser.
I would assume has crossed his mind as well.
Interesting with heat, had a termite problem in a roof of a old warehouse I rented.
Then when summer came not seen anymore.
Dont they sell liquid nicotine of some sort, lots of bugs hate tea tree oil too.
Lets assume whatever delightful chemical Dow chemical makes works as well.
I would assume has crossed his mind as well.
Interesting with heat, had a termite problem in a roof of a old warehouse I rented.
Then when summer came not seen anymore.
Dont they sell liquid nicotine of some sort, lots of bugs hate tea tree oil too.
Lets assume whatever delightful chemical Dow chemical makes works as well.
Are we talking about termites or woodworms? (Not many termites around in the Netherlands 🇳🇱)
A few years back, I thought maybe I had bed bugs, so I heated up my bedroom with a couple hair driers. I had an indoor/outdoor thermometer. I only made it to about 118F but for plenty long enough to do the job, ie a couple hours. At 120F/50C it only takes a minute or two.
long as it worked. Most the issue with bed bugs is the eggs, and people not liking the expense of the mattress going = bye bye
Heat will kill the bugs in about 30 minutes. The eggs need to be removed completely.
Rarely completely possible but done as well as possible. Then it takes up to 2 hrs to kill the eggs not removed with high heat.
Far as bedroom space or living space. Deeply weaved eggs into the couches, carpet or mattress.
Makes it expensive since removal is a guarantee.
Far as the topic of termites quick google check will tell you the temp for eggs and live ones.
Since I will assume the chemical is for live ones, unless some magic potion that guarantee egg destruction.
Unless there is a actual queen in the enclosure, killing live ones is pretty quick.
As with any termite or ant colony. The problem will continue till the Queen is dead.
For ants, slightly flood outdoor colony , actually usually colonies with water.
The workers will carry out the queen, then raid spray her ugly ness to death.
Far as the speakers they are likely only near the source of the actual colony.
Chemicals or heat should be easy.
Heat will kill the bugs in about 30 minutes. The eggs need to be removed completely.
Rarely completely possible but done as well as possible. Then it takes up to 2 hrs to kill the eggs not removed with high heat.
Far as bedroom space or living space. Deeply weaved eggs into the couches, carpet or mattress.
Makes it expensive since removal is a guarantee.
Far as the topic of termites quick google check will tell you the temp for eggs and live ones.
Since I will assume the chemical is for live ones, unless some magic potion that guarantee egg destruction.
Unless there is a actual queen in the enclosure, killing live ones is pretty quick.
As with any termite or ant colony. The problem will continue till the Queen is dead.
For ants, slightly flood outdoor colony , actually usually colonies with water.
The workers will carry out the queen, then raid spray her ugly ness to death.
Far as the speakers they are likely only near the source of the actual colony.
Chemicals or heat should be easy.
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This sounds like a good suggestion. I just measured my kitchen oven and the enclosures fit! So I will empty the enclosures and give them a bake until they are well done. 🙂
It is going to be a bit more difficult for the large enclosures. But that wood I treated before assembly. 🤞
You are right. But no matter how much I like woodworking, rebuilding is a last resort. You have no idea how many items are on my todo list yet.
I know. Most likely I imported them with wood and materials I got from my parent's house when they passed away.
That is exactly the problem. More and more I switch to using the type of plywood used for concrete forms (Formply). It has voids but so does Okoume. At least it does not delaminate so I can generously spray the wood with termite repellent. When sanded with a belt sander it does not even look so bad on the outside.
I get the woodworking thing. I used to it daily and build anything from furniture to fencing. A speaker project can take quite a bit of time, especially when talking about the final finishing/sanding.
The house concrete. I and have not encountered any termites in the roof construction so far. It seems that termites do not migrate over distances more than a few meters.
I live in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean most of the time. This forum does not provide the flag for Bonaire. I mention it in my profile, but I don't know whether that is publicly visible.
So yes, those are definitely termites. Although Dutch people think it is nice to live here (altijd zomer, altijd lekker weer, always summer, always nice weather) the truth is the climate is terrible. The environment is loaded with all sorts of insects, hundreds of species of ants and other bugs, termites, incredible amount of mosquitoes and so on. It is too hot and humid to be comfortable. The hot, dusty, salty and humid air causes everything to rust, break, crumble and fall apart in a few years. Except mahogany wood, wolmanized pine wood and non-reinforced concrete.
Fipironil is the right choice.
Bayer also sells a gel called Goliath.
It causes reduction to 10% of cockrooaches, termites and ants, among othere pests, within a week, the animals die in nest, the others feed on the dead body, theyb also die.
Quite safe to use, unlike chlorpyriphos.
Another one I have used is Biflex, which attacks the insects through their feet, can spray on the wall, no bugs.
Also safer than Chlorpyriphos, which works on the fumigation principle.
Fipironil, if properly done in soil, lasts 8-10 years, Chlorpyriphos lasts about 6 months.
Check the local trade names at farm supply stores.
Some countries allow these to be sold only to profeesionals.
I am not responsible for any mishaps.
You can later get tobacco stem powder, and put it in muslin / fine woven bags inside the cabinet, smell is repulsive to rats also.
Change the tobacco every two years or so, I use napthalene balls to keep rats out of electrical and electronic cabinets.
Bayer also sells a gel called Goliath.
It causes reduction to 10% of cockrooaches, termites and ants, among othere pests, within a week, the animals die in nest, the others feed on the dead body, theyb also die.
Quite safe to use, unlike chlorpyriphos.
Another one I have used is Biflex, which attacks the insects through their feet, can spray on the wall, no bugs.
Also safer than Chlorpyriphos, which works on the fumigation principle.
Fipironil, if properly done in soil, lasts 8-10 years, Chlorpyriphos lasts about 6 months.
Check the local trade names at farm supply stores.
Some countries allow these to be sold only to profeesionals.
I am not responsible for any mishaps.
You can later get tobacco stem powder, and put it in muslin / fine woven bags inside the cabinet, smell is repulsive to rats also.
Change the tobacco every two years or so, I use napthalene balls to keep rats out of electrical and electronic cabinets.