Termites

Order Isoptera

Pest Info

Written by Michelle Gleeson. Bugs.Ed www.bugsed.com

Appearance

Termites are tiny, pale, soft-bodied insects that live together in enormous colonies, sometimes containing over a million individuals. There are three different kinds of termites or castes that live in a colony:

Reproductives include the King and Queen termites who are responsible for controlling the colony and keeping it stocked by producing thousands of eggs. At certain times of the year other winged individuals called alates are produced. It is their job to leave the parent colony and start a new one. All other termites in the colony are sterile.
Soldiers are large, strong, heavily armoured termites whose sole purpose is to guard the nest and protect it from intruders. They are often equipped with large jaws (or mandibles) for biting and fighting. Some soldiers even have specialized nozzles on their heads that can spray intruders with sticky or toxic chemicals!
Workers are the smallest in size, but largest in numbers. They are soft-bodied, usually blind and do almost all of the work in the nest, including foraging for food, feeding the soldiers and reproductives, building and repairing the nest and caring for the young.

Breeding

Termites usually start new colonies in the summer, when high rainfall softens soil and timber, making it easier to dig a nest. Thousands of winged alates will emerge from the mound, mate and search for a suitable nesting site. The newly fertilized Queen will dig a tiny chamber, lay a batch of eggs and care for the young. Once the first generation of workers has matured they will begin construction on an elaborate nest, leaving the Queen to concentrate on egg laying – up to several thousand a day!

Social insects such as bees, wasps and ants produce grub-like larvae that form a cocoon before emerging as an adult. However termites are much more primitive and instead have an incomplete lifecycle. This means they emerge from their eggs resembling their parents and gradually grow by moulting their skins several times.

Habitat

Termites are found world-wide, preferring warm, moist locations. They construct elaborate nests or mounds in tree canopies, deep within the soil, or in dead logs, tree stumps and timber structures. There are generally 3 types of termites, based on the way in which they construct their nests. Subterranean termites have a network of underground tunnels leading from the termite mound to sources of available food and moisture. This group contains the most serious urban pest species in Australia. Dampwood termites live in trees, stumps and any other timber that has direct contact with moisture such as damp soil. Drywood termites are found in warm, tropical areas and can live in dry wood without a source of water, instead drawing their moisture from the surrounding humid air.

Diet

Termites feed on a variety of plant material, such as dead and rotten wood, grass, bark and living shrubs and woody plants. The problem is they can’t really distinguish between the wood in a tree and the timber that makes up the walls of our house!

Pest Dangers

Despite their tiny size, termites can cause enormous damage to our homes. It has been estimated that around 130 000 homes are attacked each year in Australia, resulting in a total damage bill that exceeds $900 million dollars. Termites will also:

Cause damage to factories, commercial buildings, bridges and fences
Evidence of termite damage can impact on the re-sale value of your house
They can damage plastic coverings in underground wiring, causing black-outs, bringing down communications and can even trigger fires.
The weaken the structural integrity of your house
Some species of termites attack fruit orchards, destroying living trees and impacting on fruit production

Worst of all, termites are very secretive with their feeding, so we usually notice them only once major damage has been done.

Pest Prevention

The key to preventing termites is to target their source of food and moisture and restrict access to our homes by:

Removing any dead trees and stumps from your property
Eliminate any dead logs or rotten timber in your soil and garden beds
Improve drainage around your home and garden to reduce patches of wet soil that can attract termites
Avoid planting garden beds against the walls of your house
Keep trees and shrubs well pruned to avoid contact with your house
Regularly inspect sheds and outdoor furniture for termite damage
Always use treated timber where possible
Invest in termite barriers to cut off access to your home. These may be impenetrable physical barriers such as metal, mesh or rock, or chemical barriers applied to soil and foundations
Be vigilant! Keep your eye out for crumbling wood, newly formed gaps and tubes and tunnels.
Most importantly, get a yearly inspection by a qualified termite controller

Pest Response

1300 Pest Control treatments are environmentally friendly, child and animal safe. Control measures are specifically tailored to suit your budget, house design, location and climate. Control methods may include barrier treatments, where long-lasting deterrents are applied to your soil & foundations to prevent termite invasions. Baiting stations pair highly attractive food with active ingredients that are lethal to termites, luring them in to remove the contents and transporting it back to their colony. Contact chemicals can also be directly applied to infested areas, which lands on workers who inadvertently bring it back to the colony, where it will spread and eliminate the entire population.

It is highly recommended to have a Termite Inspection (Pest Inspection) conducted at least once a year to check for termite activity. A good Pest Controller will be able to advise also on other preventative measures that you can take to decrease the chance of a termite invasion into your home.

Interesting Facts

Did you know?

Despite being referred to as “white ants”, termites are more closely related to cockroaches than they are to ants.

Termites vs Ants

Pale yellow or cream in colour vs Usually brown or black in colour

Thick, fat body vs Narrow waist

Antennae resemble a string of beads vs Antennae shaped like an elbow

Workers usually blind & soft-bodied vs Workers with large eyes & strong armour

For more information or for a Quote on Termite or White Ant Inspection, Prevention and Treatment Options call on 1300 PestControl today.

1300 Pest Control is the Number you Know and Trust

Our technicians can be trusted to carry out a professional job. They have a full Timber Pest Licence, Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance.
All Termite Inspections are carried out to Australian Standards or greater.
Termite Inspections are very thorough, at least 1 hour for an average house. The Inspector will need access to all rooms including the ceiling cavity.
The Termite Inspection is performed with an array of tools and thorough Visual Inspection of the premises. These tools can include but are not limited to;
- Moisture Meter – an electronic device that detects moisture migration. Termites are almost 100% moisture and so this is a required tool in inspections.
- Video Inspection/ Boroscope – allows inspectors to see inside of wall cavities, trees and other structures (only with the approval of the property owner).
- Termatrac – Radar device. Termatrac is a valuable tool that is used to determine the likelihood of termite activity in a particular location.
- Thermal Imaging – infrared technology that detects hot spots in wall cavities. Can assist in Termite Detection in conjunction with other methods of detection.
- Inspection Probes (Sounding Donger)/ Listening devices – important for hearing termite activity within the buildings walls.
- Pest Inspection Report – will be provided within 24 hours documenting termite activity and the risk of Termite Infestation.

Termite Control has advanced significantly in recent years. All 1300 PestControl branches support Industry best practices and keep up to date with the continuing improvements in Termite Inspection, Termite Treatment and Termite Prevention.

We service both the domestic and commercial sectors. All enquiries welcome!

Get a fast quote via email

To speak with one of our friendly Termite Inspection experts call us on 1300 PEST CONTROL (1300 737 826)

1300 Pest Control offers clients:

Exceptional Customer Service

Safety - our products are environmentally friendly and safe to use around children and animals

Peace of Mind – our Pest Controllers are Fully Licenced & Fully Insured for every product they use

Competitive Pricing

Warranties

The latest in Pest Control Practices, Products & Technology that comply with Australian Standards

Advice on Integrated Pest Management for Residential and Commercial clients

1300 Pest Control is a member of the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association

General Pest Control Services include treatments for the following;

Termite Control Services include:

To speak with one of our friendly Local Pest experts call us on 1300 PEST CONTROL (1300 737 826)

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Termites, White Ants: Info Prevention Control