Termites.

CALL GREENFORCE PEST CONTROL TODAY FOR TERMITE CONTROL AND ERADICATION

In Australia, most of our termite damage is caused by the subterranean termites. Left to their own devices, these critters would happily recycle your timber frame house in a matter of months. Working their way up from the moist wood on the ground and subsequently moving up to your timber roof trusses. As insurance rarely covers this damage, therefore the onus falls on the homeowner to ensure termite control and eradication is done.

What are Termites ?

There are over 2200 species of termites that have been recycling wood on this planet for over 250 million years!

Termites work in a large colonies, breaking down wood back by feeding on cellulose (a plants cell walls). Some termites are essential, recycling decomposing wood and plant matter, but a select few cause destruction to homes and businesses.

Other hungry termites in the family are the dry wood termites and the damp-wood termites. Dry-wood termites enter at the roof-line, while damp-wood termites find moisture resulting in damage to bathrooms, laundry rooms and basements.

Termites form large nests or colonies, where millions of individual members work diligently to ensure it survives and grows.

Termites

Queen, King and Alates:

Each Spring, as weather conditions begin to become more favourable, swarms of winged alates are released from adult colonies and are attracted by light sources. The few that survive, mate as King and Queen and create a new colony thus perpetuating the species. In some cases, the Queen can produce 2000 eggs a day and live for up to 20 years.

Workers:

They make up the bulk of the colony and do the heavy lifting. They’re responsible for building and maintaining the nest, foraging for food and distribution to the rest of the colony.

Soldiers:

These termites have the distinctive attacking mouth parts and are responsible for protecting the rest of the colony from predators.

What attract What attracts termites to your home?

• Leaf ground covering
• Moisture

Like humans, termites can survive far longer without food than they can without water. They are in continuous search for moisture and they do this in very large numbers, as a colony. Termites will be attracted to a house where the soil is constantly moist (eg. garden irrigation, leaking taps or air conditioning drainage areas).

Areas where moisture is concealed offers an even more favorable environment for termites such as:

• Cavity walls
• Under baths or
• Bathroom cabinets,
• Damp walls from leaking shower recesses
• Food Sources

Termites rely solely on cellulose found in trees, logs and plants and still present in the timber used in construction. This makes wooden wall and roof frames vulnerable to termite attack and as a result these areas in your home become food for the colony including:

• Timber decking, floor boards and even carpets
• Kitchen and Bathroom cupboards
• Electrical cabling
• Wooden fences, gate posts and trellises in direct contact with soil
• Skirting boards
• Fixed timber furniture
• Cardboard boxes, newspapers, magazines and photo albums in storage areas of your home
• Wood pile

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE TERMITES IN YOUR HOME?

A termite infestation that’s been left for long enough will cause a major damage to the entire structure of your home such as:

• Mud Leads or mud packing are a sure sign you have a termite infestation. Termites do this to protect the colony from predators and this could present on walls along seams in the house
• You’ll start to notice be visible discolouration and loss of structural integrity in floors, ceilings and walls.
• Doors and windows may stop working properly.
• Soft floor boards – timber may start top sound hollow or feel and look papery
• You may hear the soldier termites moving through your home making a faint tapping or chewing noise as they work behind the plaster walls
• Evidence of alates (flying female termites). During the springtime they will emerge from their colony to mate and form new nests elsewhere.
• Damp areas or moisture stains on walls
• Blistering on door or windows, or skirting boards
• Power failures and build-up of earthy materials around power points

If you have any of these signs of activity in your home its is time to focus on termite control and eradication.

When to Seek a professional pest inspection and termite treatment?

The list above is a fail-safe way to tell if a homeowner has a termite issue however they can often go unnoticed with no obvious signs that an infestation exists. While on the surface everything looks good, you may have termite activity present in areas of your home that are not visible or accessible and damage may be going on without you knowing.

It is extremely important to have your property inspected by a licenced, experienced termite inspector once a year. You will receive a detailed inspection report and if your house is high risk – a detailed plan will be put together for thorough termite control and eradication.