A termite bait system doesn’t put chemical in the ground around your whole house — it monitors first, then treats only where termites are actually active. Call (404) 647-6677 for a free evaluation.
How termite baiting works
Baiting stations go into the soil around the structure and are checked on a schedule. When termites are found feeding in a station, the monitoring device is replaced with a bait containing a small amount of insecticide. Termites feed on it and carry it back to the colony. The EPA’s own description of this approach, describing the Sentricon system that pioneered it, is direct: “Corteva’s Sentricon System eliminates termite colonies with highly specific bait applied only where termites are active; it replaces widespread applications of pesticide in the soil around houses and other structures. The U.S. EPA has registered Sentricon as a reduced-risk pesticide.”
That’s the core difference from a liquid barrier treatment (see Termite Treatment): a bait system targets the colony directly through stations, rather than treating the soil around the entire foundation up front.
What Georgia law requires for a baiting system
Georgia doesn’t just regulate liquid treatment — bait systems have their own rules under the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission. Per the Rules of the Commission: “All termite baits and baiting systems shall be monitored, consistent with the products label and labeling directions, for a minimum period of one year at no additional cost to the property owner.” The Commission also requires a specific consumer disclosure on any bait contract: “The removal of the bait or baiting system may result in a lack of termite protection.” And per Commission Notice 24-04 on monitoring products: “Termite baiting systems are required to be registered by U.S. EPA.”
In practice, that means your bait contract should specify station locations (a diagram is required), how often stations are checked, and what’s recorded at each visit — the date, the result for each station, and any stations added or unable to be monitored.
Bait vs. liquid — how the contracts differ
Because baiting works through feeding rather than an immediate chemical barrier, it’s slower to confirm than a liquid treatment. UGA Extension’s guide for Georgia property owners is candid about this: “Because of the slow-acting nature of termite baits, coverage of repairs may not become effective until certain conditions are met… some bait contracts state that the effective date begins anywhere from 6 to 12 months after bait station installation.” If termites are already active and causing visible damage, a bait contract may also allow for “immediate treatment with a liquid termiticide, commonly called a spot treatment, to localized areas where active infestations of termites exist” — addressing the immediate problem while the bait system takes over long-term monitoring.
Our bait system installation process
- Inspection. We check for current termite activity and map the conditions — soil grade, moisture, foundation type — that affect station placement.
- Station placement plan. We diagram where stations will go around the structure, consistent with Georgia’s contract-diagram requirement.
- Installation. Monitoring stations are placed in the soil at the planned locations.
- Ongoing monitoring. Stations are checked on a set schedule — at minimum, Georgia requires monitoring for a full year at no extra cost — and swapped for active bait when termites are found feeding.
- Record-keeping. Every inspection or monitoring visit is logged: date, per-station results, and any changes to the station layout.
Common questions
How long before a bait system controls an infestation?
It depends on the contract and how quickly termites find the stations. UGA Extension notes that repair coverage on many bait contracts doesn’t begin until 6 to 12 months after installation — baiting is a monitoring-and-elimination process, not an instant barrier.
Do I have to keep paying for monitoring?
Georgia requires baiting systems to be monitored for a minimum of one year at no additional cost to the property owner. Beyond that, monitoring frequency and any renewal cost are set by your specific contract.
Can a bait system be combined with a liquid treatment?
Yes. If termites are already active in a specific area, a localized liquid spot treatment can address that immediately while the bait stations handle long-term monitoring and colony control.
What happens if a bait station gets damaged or removed — by landscaping, for example?
Georgia requires every bait contract to carry a specific warning about this: removing a station can mean a lack of protection. Let us know if a station is disturbed so it can be reinstalled or replaced.
Is one bait brand better than another?
Several EPA-registered baiting systems are on the market. Sentricon was the first to receive EPA reduced-risk registration and remains the most established example of how the technology works, but any system used has to meet the same Georgia monitoring and disclosure requirements described above.
Already seeing termite damage?
Baiting controls an active colony over time — it isn’t a repair service. If termites have already damaged wood in your home, see Termite Damage Repair. Not sure what stage you’re at? Start with a Termite Inspection.
Schedule a bait system evaluation
Call (404) 647-6677.
Sources: U.S. EPA, Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge 2000 Award — Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System; Rules of the Georgia Structural Pest Control Commission, Chapter 620-6; GA SPCC Notice 24-04, Termite Monitoring Only Products and Devices; UGA Extension B1241, Termite Control Services: Information for the Georgia Property Owner.
