Jun 24, 2025 | Termite Control
Green circles or disk-like plastic stations in your yard can raise questions, especially for homeowners new to pest protection and construction. Are they waste? Signs of a plant disease? Or could they be serving a more important purpose? Many residents, especially those in new constructions, notice these green zones and are unsure if they’re harmless or a sign of concern. This guide will explain exactly what those green circles are, why they’ve appeared in your yard, and what actions (if any) you should take. If you’re interested in protecting your home and understanding modern termite protection options for new builds, read on for clear answers.
New Construction: Termite Protection Options
Decoding the Green Circles in Your Yard
You may spot small, green, plastic objects scattered in the mulch or lawn, often flush with the ground. While it’s natural to wonder if they’re part of garden irrigation or remnants from building projects, these are most likely termite bait stations, specifically from systems such as Sentricon.
What Are Sentricon Stations?
Sentricon stations are round, green, low-profile devices installed flush with the soil around the perimeter of homes. These units form part of a targeted system designed to protect homes from subterranean termites, a threat that causes billions of dollars in damage in the US annually.
How Do Sentricon Stations Work For Termite Protection?
Bait not Barrier: Unlike chemical barrier treatments, Sentricon uses a strategic approach. Each green station contains termite bait that attracts termites searching for food.
Silent solution: Foraging termites take the bait back to the colony and share it, ultimately wiping out the population and its queen.
Continuous termite protection: The stations are always active, working round the clock to intercept termites before they can harm your home.
Why Are These Stations in My Yard?
You’ll most often see these stations in two scenarios:
1. Recent Termite Prevention Service
If you’ve recently purchased, built, or moved into a home, especially in areas susceptible to termite issues, it’s likely that a pest control company has installed these as part of a comprehensive prevention plan.
2. New Construction Focus
Many new homes come pre-equipped with termite protection due to stronger building codes and widespread awareness of risk from termites. If you’re moving into a new development or have undertaken a remodel, you might find these green circles have been placed for your protection.
3. Ongoing Protection
A proactive homeowner, or one with a history of termite concerns, may have had these stations installed as a year-round protection plan. Unlike one-time treatments, bait stations provide consistent monitoring without the need for repeated chemical reapplications.
Are These Green Circles Okay?
EPA Approved and Eco-Friendly
One of the reasons Sentricon and similar systems have become so widely adopted is their reputation for well-being and minimal environmental impact.
- Non-toxic to Children and Pets: The stations are sealed and contain bait only harmful to termites. They won’t poison your pets, children, or pollinators like bees.
- Environmentally Responsible: Unlike widespread chemical sprays, these stations target only termites, reducing unnecessary pesticide use and protecting beneficial insects.
- Public Health Approved: Sentricon is EPA registered, confirming its commitment to health standards and reduced risk.
What Should You Do If You See a Green Station?
Simple Steps for Homeowners
- Leave it Alone: These stations are working 24/7 to protect your home. Avoid tampering, moving, or opening them.
- Check Visibility: Keep stations clear of mulch, soil, debris, or thick grass. This ensures termites can easily find the bait, and your pest technician can inspect and replenish bait when necessary.
- Inspect for Damage: If you notice a station is missing, broken, or has been run over by lawn equipment, contact your pest control provider for a replacement.
- Do Not Cover: Placing heavy objects or landscape fabric over stations can block termites’ access or prevent timely servicing.
How Often Should the Stations Be Checked?
For maximum effectiveness, a pest control professional should inspect the stations regularly (typically every quarter or as defined in your agreement). During checks, technicians will:
- Examine stations for termite activity
- Replace used bait
- Identify and address any damage
The Science and Strategy Behind Sentricon
Why Choose Bait Over Liquid Barriers?
Traditional termite treatments use liquid chemicals to create a barrier. Sentricon takes a different approach, prioritizing environmentally sound practices and long-term colony control.
- Targeted Impact: Bait is shared throughout the termite colony, eliminating both workers and the queen, not just those that encounter a sprayed area.
- Reduced Pesticide Load: No widespread soil saturation, so there’s decreased risk of environmental contamination.
- Discreet and Effective: Green stations blend into your landscape, don’t produce odor, and pose no risk during heavy rains or flooding.
What If You Don’t Have Green Stations?
If you’re not seeing green circles in your yard and haven’t recently discussed termite prevention with a pest control professional, now is the time to consider proactive termite protection. Subterranean termites can invade any home with wood, regardless of age or construction quality. Early detection and prevention are much less costly than repairing damage when an infestation is discovered.
- Contact a professional: Schedule a termite inspection to assess risks and discuss preventative installation.
- Ask about alternatives: Professionals can recommend a range of solutions based on your needs and local termite activity.
Year-Round Termite Protection for Peace of Mind
Unexplained green circles in your yard are not a sign of trouble, but of prevention. Termite bait stations, especially Sentricon, represent current best practices for termite protection, featuring protecting, scientific backing, and eco-friendly design.
By understanding what these devices are, why they appear, and how to maintain them, you’re taking a key step in protecting your investment and maintaining your home’s value.
Take Action to Protect Your Home and Landscape With Termite Protection
If you spot green stations in your yard, know they are working to keep your home protected and healthy. Keep them visible, in good condition, and notify your service provider of any issues. If you’d like to ensure your new construction is protected, or if you’re unsure if your current home has proper termite defense, contact a licensed pest control professional for advice or an on-site evaluation.
A small green circle today can mean the preservation of your home for decades to come.
Jun 16, 2023 | Florida Termite Control
Living in South Florida can come with many perks, including lots of sunshine and beautiful ocean views. Unfortunately, it can also come with termites! These silent destroyers can cause significant damage to your home from the inside out. There are several treatment options out there to help keep termites under control, including the Sentricon Always Active® system. Here is more information on subterranean termites, along with ways to prevent and eliminate them.
What are Subterranean Termites?
Let’s talk about these stealthy troublemakers! Subterranean termites are the most common type of termite found in residential areas. They thrive in moist soil and create underground colonies, where they build intricate tunnel systems to access sources of food. Their damage can go unseen for years, hence the nickname, Silent Destroyers.
How to Prevent Subterranean Termites:
- Remove Moisture from Home: Subterranean termites love moisture, so keep an eye on areas prone to dampness, such as crawlspaces and basements. Ensure proper ventilation and address any leaks or water issues promptly. By eliminating excess moisture, you’re making your home less attractive to termites.
- Protect your Home’s Foundation: Keep some space between your home and the landscaping.
- Conduct Regular Inspections: In between your yearly termite inspection, you should be conducting one of your own. Here are the most prominent signs of subterranean termites in your home:
- Mud tubes or tunnels on walls
- Swarming termites and their discarded wings
- Wood damage, like hollow sounding wood, sagging or buckling floors, or warped paint
- Frass or termite droppings near wooden structures
When it comes to termite control for subterranean termites, Sentricon Always Active® baiting system stands out as a highly effective and eco-friendly solution. The stations are strategically placed around your property, forming a protective barrier.
Once termites find the bait, they take it back to their colony for complete elimination. Having Sentricon Always Active® installed for your home ensures continuous protection against subterranean termites, year-round. Our team of experts regularly monitor the bait systems, keeping the efficacy as accurate as possible.
By implementing simple prevention measures you can lessen the chances of these termites taking over. If you’re ready for the experts to get involved, give your local pest control company a call today for a FREE inspection!
Nov 9, 2022 | Termite Control
With termites being active 365 days a year, termite prevention is a year-round venture. Termite activity is typically more predictable in the winter months, so setting up termite treatments, especially bait stations, is ideal.
Termites in the south are more likely to discover strategically placed bait stations, like Sentricon® Always Active, year-round, but can also discover the bait stations in the winter. This is because in warmer months, termites are more likely to travel further away from their nests to find food. Termites tend to stay closer to home in the cooler months, making it more likely for them to find termite bait instead of food.
How Does Sentricon® Work?
The first step to getting your bait stations in place is to have a property inspection. A technician will do an assessment of your property to determine the best placement locations for your bait stations. They will be able to evaluate the size of your property, age of the structure, and if any termites are currently active. The stations are then implanted into the ground with the top placed flush with the soil’s surface. The stations don’t need to be messed with and your technicians know when to check on them, making it something you don’t need to worry about.
If you are interested in getting year-round termite protection, be sure to reach out to your local pest control company to get started today!
Jan 25, 2022 | Termite Control
It’s a known fact that termites can cause costly and significant damage to your home, but did you know they are active year-round? Winter does bring some daily changes to termite colonies, including moving deeper into the ground for warmth or seeking shelter in your home’s foundation. Both cases are something to be wary of, especially when it comes to the health of your home.
Subterranean termites might seem like they can’t cause damage in the winter when they burrow deep underground, but don’t let that fool you. When termites burrow underground, they tunnel deep beneath your home’s foundation and can cause structural damage, such as causing your home to shift and become uneven, which is costly to repair.
The plus side to termites in the wintertime is that swarms are nearly impossible. Termite swarms may sound like a scene out of a science fiction movie, but they are necessary for the survival of termites. Fortunately, they are not common in the winter, as they tend to move further away from their colonies in the warmer months, making it more difficult to find them. Consider putting preventative measures in place around your home during the winter season before these pests become active again in the spring months, which mark the beginning of swarming season.
There are several ways to prevent termites, even in the wintertime. There are many great services offered to homeowners that can be beneficial year-round. The most effective option in termite prevention is the Sentricon Always Active® system. It is an environmentally responsible choice for home termite protection and is scientifically designed to eliminate the entire colony – including the queen. It’s crucial to prevent termites, whether they’re active or not.
Termites can be extremely difficult to identify, avoid, and eliminate once they are established. If you spot signs of termites in your home or just want to get ahead in the prevention game, contact a professional pest control company who can set you up with annual termite inspections and even a termite control plan.
May 11, 2021 | Commercial, Termite Control
Termites can cause significant and expensive structural damage to your business. What is even worse is that these pests can go undetected for a prolonged period, and it can be a long, tiring process to get rid of them. With the Sentricon System with Always Active technology, your business is protected not just against individual termites but from the entire termite colony.
The Sentricon System is installed in the soil of your business’ property. The system is eco-friendly, with bait containing an active ingredient that is safe for the groundwater and plants around it. After the installation, termites will find the system and then tell the other termites in the colony, where they all begin to feed on the active ingredient. Unlike regular liquid termite treatments, the Sentricon System works to eliminate the entire termite colony instead of the individual termites.
The Sentricon System is a perfect eco-friendly solution to eliminate termites and prevent infestation. The system works throughout the year, to give you peace of mind that your business is safe and that you can keep providing services to the ones that matter most, your customers.
Call our Commercial Services Team today at (866) 731-3856 for more information on the Sentricon System and set up a free inspection.
