While our society continues to wage war on the insects using all manner of termite control technology, there are other societies in the world that also continue to do the same, only with somewhat more primitive (though not necessarily less efficient) means. Their low-technology, high-biological-value approaches may prove to be of interest to those of us who are looking for ways to protect homes and gardens from the destructive pests. While some methods are more or less similar to ones we already employ—such as the use of boron dusts, comparable to our use of sodium borate—some of the techniques may well be fresh and unusual to us. Below are just some of the most interesting control methods being practised in other countries, without the use of synthetic (factory-manufactured) chemicals and pesticides.
- In Tanzania, people dig out the termite nests and permit chickens to run over them, as the birds take to eating the insects. Interestingly enough, some farmers in the US also do the same after discovering boards of old wood infested with termites: they turn the chickens loose and let them feast on the pests. The termites cannot really hurt their much larger predators, anyway, so this is generally safe for the poultry
- In some parts of India, castor oil plants are grown in land that suffers from severe infestations of the insects, and it has been noted that the practice has led to decreased termite activity and populations over time. While this has yet to be explained for certain, some scientists are suggesting that the effect may be due to the roots of the plant. The roots of the castor oil plant have been proven to be capable of yielding extracts with analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine properties that may be discouraging to termites as well. Still, research needs to be performed before any definite conclusions may be made.
- Aloe vera is apparently used as a discouragement to termites in many parts of the world, India included. Some people even plant cuttings of the herb next to trees they want to protect, because termites—for some reason—cannot stand it.
- The crown plant is used to prepare a supposedly anti-termite solution created from soaked and filtered parts of the plant. The resultant liquid is poured into termite-infested plots of land, where it is expected to keep the insects away for over a week. This has shades of the barrier method currently being used for mainstream termite control, where termite-repellent solutions are introduced to the soil to create a barrier around a structure.
- Similar to the crown plant, the knobwood plant is also used to create an anti-termite solution by means of a soaking and filtering process. The solution is again employed for soil termite control.
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