Termite help DIY - How to control and prevent Termites by yourself

DOES MY INSURANCE COVER TERMITE DAMAGE?

Home insurance is designed to cover risks and damage that is accidental and sudden. So no, insurance will NOT cover you against termite damage. Australians spend BILLIONS of dollars on termite repairs every year, and none of it is covered by home insurance. Be aware! Termites are your responsibility. This is one termite myth which causes Australian homeowners some of the most significant financial losses. Don’t turn to Insurance companies for termite help!

DO TERMITES EAT HARDWOOD?

Yes, and many baiting systems use hardwood baits to lure in foraging termites. If you don’t believe us, then we’ll send you hundreds of pictures of peoples’ hardwood framed homes who thought the same! “Hardwood framed homes are safe from termite attack!” is one of those termite myths which is commonly spruced by real estate sales agents… Don’t get caught.

WILL DIESEL OR PETROL KILL TERMITES?

No, pouring diesel or petrol onto termites will only succeed in killing the contacted termites, whilst the remainder of the colony retreats from the area, making treatment almost impossible until the colony can be located in another location. Another one of those termite myths which has gained traction from many farmers on the land, however with the research the CSIRO has been able to do over a period of many years, we know that killing small amounts of termites with solvent or petroleum based products makes no impact on the health of an attacking termite colony.

DO TERMITES EAT TREATED TIMBER?

Termites will consume treated timber under certain circumstances. Some timbers may not be fully treated right through its thickness, leaving the centre susceptible to termite infestation. Moisture is a significant problem in some treated timbers.

IF WE HAVE A TERMITE BARRIER DO WE NEED TERMITE INSPECTIONS?

Whether you live in a new house with a physical barrier, or an existing house with a chemical barrier, your quarterly, bi-annual or annual termite inspection are a must to maintain any warranty. If you fail to have your recommended inspections, your warranty is likely to be invalid, and any termite damage will be your responsibility.

DO BLACK ANTS EAT TERMITES?

Some black ants will eat termites, however, termites build mud tubes to conceal their presence from predators and sunlight. Termites can co-exist without their presence being noticed by their enemies.

ARE TERMITES ATTRACTED TO MOISTURE?

Termites are attracted to moisture which creates a higher risk of termite infestation in damp areas.

ARE TERMITES UNABLE TO SUSTAIN EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT?

Yes, this is true in most castes of termites. Termites will generally travel in ‘mud tubes’ to protect themselves from sunlight and predators. The term ‘White Ant’ has been used to describe termites as they lack the protective pigment which limits their ability to cope with exposure to sunlight.

DO TERMITES ONLY LIVE IN TREES?

Some species of termites live predominantly in trees and are known as ‘arboreal’ termites. These nests are visible as a dark ‘lump’ or ‘growth’ on the branch of a tree and can be found in parkland as well as suburbia. Many other species of termites build their nests in tree stumps or under patios and can travel over a hundred metres in search of a suitable food source to feed the colony. These are known as ‘subterranean’ termites and are generally the most harmful to man made structures. They are difficult to detect and are not often located until extensive damage has been done.

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Termites

Many species of termites build their nests in tree stumps or under patios and can travel over a hundred metres in search of a suitable food source to feed the colony. These are known as ‘subterranean’ termites, and are generally the most harmful to man made structures. They are difficult to detect, and are not often located until extensive damage has been done.

If you have found a small amount of termites in your yard, it is likely a colony of millions are within 100 meters of your home. Eradication of the colony will require treatment with an approved termiticide.

The idea of the Termicure Baiting System is to provide foraging termites with an attractive food source to lure termites in for treatment, before they can infest your property.

The following information will give you great insight about Termites and how they thrive and live, but if you still have questions about termites, their behaviour, or just need termite help, then please feel free to contact us

The Termite Nest and it’s role

Termites are an extremely advanced and secretive insect, which can destroy timber and other substances without any visual indications to the untrained eye, which is why it is so important to have your home inspected at least annually. The trained Termite Technician gives you termite help and will use experience and specialised equipment to locate signs of their presence. Each Nest will contain different termite types called ‘castes’. These castes will be of the same species, and will generally have the same parents, but will be hatched with a different role to play in relation to the colony.

The 'Queen' Caste

The primary objective of the Queen is to reproduce, but in the early stages of colony development, the Queen, along with the King is responsible for nursery duties until there are enough workers to take over the nursery duties. The Queen of certain species can live for over 20 years, and produce millions of termites. Some Queens will become larger than the other castes, and the abdomen will become distended with eggs.

The ‘King’ Caste

The life of the King is a relatively easy one. The King is responsible for fertilizing the Queen, and ensuring the early stages of a colony, tending the young. The King of a colony is long lived, and can survive to service the queen for over 20 years.

The ‘Alate’ Caste

Winged alates are the reproductive family members, and are the most important caste for the reproduction of the species. During times of moderate temperatures and high humidity, the alates will part take in what is known as a ‘colonizing flight’. The colonizing flight will usually occur within close proximity to the nest from slits in a tree, post or stump, commonly known as ‘flight cuts’. Of the many alates which will emerge from for a colonizing flight, it is only the alates which land with another alate in a suitable environment with abundant food source and reproductive environment, that will survive to establish another colony. The alates will drop their wings, and mate, becoming the king and queen of an emerging colony.

The ‘Soldier’ Caste

The Soldier Caste is the larger caste in a colony, and is responsible for the protection of the workers and other castes within the colony. The soldiers are larger than the workers, and are the primary caste used for identification of a species of termite. Some Species of termites have two classes of soldier. Major and Minor soldiers. This can be used as an identification factor of certain species of established colonies.

The ‘Worker’ Caste

The ‘Worker’ Caste is responsible for locating suitable food sources, and feeding the colony. The workers will continue to forage individually until they locate a food source, which will then be tagged with a pheromone and sensed by other workers, informing them of a suitable meal. Once other workers are aware of the new food source, a portion of the colony’s workers will make their way to their new meal, to feed. They will build termite tubes and construct tunnels for safe and undetected transit to and from the nest. The workers are responsible for feeding the entire colony, and will make continual trips from a food source, back to the nest to provide a constant supply of food for the rest of the colony. These workers also constantly groom each other, removing any faeces or food which may become lodged during excavations and these two points are a major contributor to the transfer effect.