Termite Info & Tips
Info:
Tips:
- Leave them alone
- What can I do
- Termite heaven
- Just a drip
- Apple with apples
- No guarantee
- Avoid last minute surprises
- Be a winner
- Regular inspections are essential
Termite species in Australia can be divided into three categories - dampwood termites, drywood termites and subterranean termites.
IMPORTANT
It is essential for the termite control professional to properly identify the termites in a property.
Many termites found in trees, for example, will not attack buildings or other dry timber structures. And do not require any treatment.
Species
Dampwood termites generally live in damp, rotting logs, or rot pockets in dead or living trees.
Drywood termites obtain water from the wood in which they live and have no contact with the soil, or with any other source of moisture.
Subterranean termites are generally ground dwelling or require contact with the ground or some constant source of moisture.
Subterranean termites are the cause of most of the damage to building in Australia – estimated by NRA as in excess of a $100 million every year.
Subterranean termites build a central nest from which they tunnel - often in excess of 50 meters, to attack timber used in buildings, or other timber items.
Subterranean termites need to maintain a high level of humidity and temperature (25 to 35c) in their central nest and the mud-shelter tubes through which they can travel for up to 100 metres from the central nest. Termites will eat through the centre of timbers leaving nothing but the outside coat of paint or a thin veneer of timber. They will pack mud in cracks in timber to prevent loss of humidity.
Termites are often very difficult to detect. They are extremely secretive and it takes a well-experienced and trained eye to spot evidence of their early activity in buildings. Frequently it is necessary to use a Boroscope, or a Thermal Imaging Camera to locate activity in inaccessible cavity areas – such as wall and inter-floor cavities.
IMPORTANT
The Australian Standard Timber Pest Inspections AS 4349.3 – 1998 advises as follows:
"Regular, competent inspections are strongly recommended at least on an annual basis. Where justified more frequent inspections may be recommended, eg. in situations considered more conducive to timber pest infestation".Economic Importance
Some common Termite species found in NE NSW and SE Queensland:
| Termite species | Identifiers | Economic importance |
|---|---|---|
| Coptotermes acinaciformis | Soldiers about 5.7mm. Solders exude a milk-like liquid from front of head. |
Serious pest of structural timbers and capable of causing extensive damage. |
| Schedorhinotermes intermedius | Have major and minor soldiers – about 5.6mm and 3.6mm. | Serious pest of structural timbers and capable of causing extensive damage. |
| Heterotermes spp. | Soldiers about 4.6mm. Sides of head are paralleled and with dark mandibles. |
Occasionally attack buildings but not usually regarded as a serious pest of sound timber. |
| Nasutitermes walkeri | Soldiers about 6mm. Soldiers heads are dark and with a long snout |
Occasionally attack buildings but not usually regarded as a serious pest of sound timber. |
Identification Photos
 Coptotermes Acinaciformis |
 Heterotermes spp. |
 Nasutitermes Walkeri |
 Schedorhinotermes Intermedius |
 Termite Identification (click Here to Enlarge) |
 Termite Lifecycle (Click Here to Enlarge) |
Leave them alone!
If you discover Termites...
Don't probe to see what is happening, don't break open the timber to see how much damage has been caused and don't get out your favourite can of fly spray and blast them!
You see, despite their fearsome reputation, termites are shy creatures. As soon as they suspect someone has discovered them they are likely to disappear and continue their attack somewhere else in your building – possibly somewhere more difficult to find.
And if there is no live termites present when your Termite Management Inspector comes he cannot identify the termite species – something he must do to treat the attack successfully. Also he will be unable to start colony control measures – always the first part of any Termite Management program.
So if you are unfortunate enough to find termites in your home don't panic and don't disturb them, just cover or put some masking tape over where they have been found, and call your Termite Management Company immediately.
What can I do!
What can I do to prevent termites attacking, causing expensive damage and ruining the resale of my home?
Here are few simple measures you can take to lessen the risk of a termite attack:
- Fix all leaks in household plumbing – especially in bathroom and sub-floor areas.
- Do not store timber or timber items on the ground under or near your home.
- Do not create garden beds against exterior walls of your home!
- Keep sub-floor areas dry and well ventilated.
- Have your home regularly inspected by a qualified Termite Management Inspector.
On the Tweed/Gold Coast homes should be inspected at least once a year – six or three monthly if your property has a history of termites, or your property is especially conducive to termite attack.
Termite heaven!
If you were a termite what would be termite heaven for you?
You see termites are not like us humans. They work 24 hours a day (yes, day and night!) their favourite diet is wood and wood products (that includes homes, furniture and paper items), they simply love an environment we would find most uncomfortable.
Termite heaven would be:
- A home with leaking plumbing, especially in bathroom or sub-floor areas, and owners who are in no hurry to fix the leaks.
- A home with lots of timber or timber items stored underneath or nearby – or with a yard full of untreated timber landscaping or retaining walls.
- A home with garden beds against its exterior walls and with lots of nice shady plants.
- A home with damp, musty sub-floor areas and with little if any ventilation.
- A home that has not been inspected by a qualified Termite Management Inspector for years.
Important – the higher the termite risk the more frequently your property should be inspected!
Just a drip!
Having a plumbing leak in your home is like having a termite time bomb!
Termites just love moisture. In fact they must have moisture or they will die. Their soft bodies have no natural protection against desiccation – and they must avoid daylight and alway work under cover, rather than out in the open.
This is why regular termite inspections by a qualified Termite Management Inspector are so important.
The inspector will scan all your walls with a Moisture Meter or a Thermal Imaging Camera to locate leaking plumbing, faulty drainage and leaking shower tiles etc. A high moisture reading may indicate plumbing in need of repair or it may indicate a termite attack – either way the suspect area should be further investigated.
It is best that you, not termites, find that drip first!
Apples with apples!
You have just had two termite treatment quotes, and maybe there is a $500.00 to $1000.00 difference in price! How can this be?
Here are some things to consider:
Be sure you are comparing apples with apples. Carefully compare each quote and make sure each firm is quoting for the same job.
- Check to see how long each firm has been in business in your area. So often a fly-by-night operation can give an excellent price knowing they will not be around when you need them.
- Question local tradesmen and friends about the reputations of the competing firms.
- Ask each firm if they have Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance.
And don't be afraid to go back to each firm and negotiate – you may be pleasantly surprised.
No guarantee?
All complete termite barrier treatments by Tedmans are protected by a Free Service Period – a period where we will return and retreat free of charge any reinfestation that has occurred. However a complete termite barrier treatment is no guarantee against reinfestation!
The Australian Standard AS 3660-Protection of Buildings from Subterranean Termites provides details for minimising the risks to buildings from termite attack, and methods for treatment to control termite infestations. The standard advises that a complete termite barrier will impede and discourage termite entry into buildings. It cannot prevent termite attack. Termites can still bridge or breach barriers, but they can be detected more readily during routine inspections.
Modern termite control agents are designed to be biologically degraded. Their effectiveness is limited by various environmental factors and focused termite pressure. Consequently termites may break through treated soil barriers and cause further damage.
Regular inspections are essential.
Avoid last minute surprises!
These days the purchaser of a home usually requires a Pre-Purchase Pest Report.
Imagine you have finally found a buyer after trying to sell your home for a year or more and the dread word TERMITES is voiced. The Termite Management inspector has found evidence of a termite infestation and is recommending that a builder further investigate the structure, and that a termite treatment is carried out.
This eleventh hour news does not please the purchaser, the vendor, the real estate agent or solicitor, and worst of all, the sale may be in doubt!
A wise precaution is to have regular inspections of your home (at least once a year) as recommended by Australian Standard Timber Pest Inspections AS 4349.3-1998.
That way it is unlikely there will be any last minute surprises!
Be a winner!
Be a winner. Don't use non-CCA treated timber as landscaping!
Don't build retaining walls out of old railway sleepers! Don't use sections of logs as stepping-stones! Don't use leftover building material in the yard area.
It may save money now and it may look "rustic", but don't be tempted.
You see termites are random feeders – a single colony of termites may be feeding in many different locations at the same time. While making a meal of your not so valuable timber landscaping they may also be starting on your most valuable asset
The idea is to keep termites as far away as possible – don't encourage them by providing food close to your home.
Regularly inspections are essential
How often should your home be inspected for termites?
The new Australian Standard Timber Pest Inspections AS 4349.3 – 1998 advises as follows:
"Regular, competent inspections are strongly recommended at least on an annual basis. Where justified more frequent inspections may be recommended, eg. in situations considered more conducive to timber pest infestation".
Your Termite Management Inspector will make a recommendation of how frequently your property should be inspected. It may be annually or six monthly, or even quarterly in extreme situations. The recommendation will be based on whether the building has had termites in the past and if there are conditions attractive to termite attack – eg. dampness, soil level or ventilation problems.
The higher the termite risk the more frequently your property should be inspected!
