A Quick Guide To Termite Control
By Pro Pest Control Gold Coast|April 29, 2022
Termites are among the most destructive pests in Australia. Homeowners and businesses spend millions of dollars each year, controlling and preventing termite infestations. They cause problems in many parts of Australia, especially in the warm and wet coastal areas. Here we'll explore some of the reasons why termite control is so important.
What are Termites?
It is not surprising that many people can’t differentiate between termites and ants. These two insects have many similarities. Termites are soft-bodied social insects. They live in colonies, consisting of several thousands or millions of individual termites. Each colony has a king and a queen. The function of the queen is to lay thousands of eggs every year to ensure the colony’s continuity. They mostly build their nests underground, near a pile of wood, tree stump, or any other food source.
In every colony, there are soldier termites whose role is to protect the colony from invaders such as ants and other insects. The soldier termites have large mandibles, and they will bite when provoked. The colony also comprises of whitish workers who help in maintaining the nest and looking for food. The whitish workers are the ones you will commonly find emerging from woodpiles and tree stumps in your home.
What Species of Termites Cause Destruction in Australia?
Australia is the home to about 300 species of termites, but only a few cause problems. The most destructive termite species include:
How Do You If Your Home is Infested with Termites?
Most of the time, termites’ infestation remains undetected for years. That’s why it is essential to schedule a periodic inspection of your home by a pest control specialist to determine whether you have termites in your home. Many homeowners discover the presence of termites in their homes by accident. However, some signs can tell you that you have a termite infestation in your home. They include:
1. Mud Tubes
Termites rarely roam on the soil surface or the open. Instead, they build mud tubes that they use to move from their nest to the food source. You can find these mud tubes on floor joists, foundation walls, and other parts of the house. When you see a mud tube in your home, you can break it open to see if the termites are still active. Even when the mud tube is empty, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the termites are gone. Sometimes, they can abandon some mud tubes and build new ones.
2. Swarming
Termite colonies take about 3-5 years to mature, after which they produce winged adults. Winged adults usually come out of the nest on a warm day following rain. The presence of swarming termites outside your home doesn’t necessarily mean you have a termite infestation. It serves as a reminder that these creatures are still in your property. Sometimes, termites can find their way into the interior wallboards and ceiling of your house. When they start swarming indoors, it is an indication that you might have a termite colony somewhere in your home.
Termite Control
What would you do if you noticed that your home is infested with termites? While termites don’t pose any threat to human health, they can bite or sting when provoked. Termites don’t carry diseases harmful to people, and their bites are not toxic. So, you don’t need to panic when you see them.
Once you notice termite activity, don’t rush to apply chemicals to your home. Also, do not disturb the affected area as termites tend to relocate if sufficiently disturbed. Instead, contact a pest management professional to have your property inspected. During the inspection, the pest management professional will locate the nests, identify termite species, and determine the best removal methods. Identifying termite species can be difficult and may require expert skill and judgment.
Importance of Termite Control
Termites not only damage wood, but they will also feed on anything that contains cellulose, including paper products, wood paneling, art canvases, cardboard boxes, and other materials. While looking for food, termites may tunnel through different materials such as foam board and plastic, causing damage. Termite control can help locate termite colonies and eradicate them before they cause any damage to your property.
1. Preventing Allergies
One of the major problems of having termites in your home is that they can cause allergic or even asthma attacks to family members. Sometimes, the termites can find their way into the ceiling and other places where they build their nest. The irritating particles from the termite nest can then spread into your house, especially when you turn on your air conditioning unit, causing allergic reactions or even asthma attacks to your family members. Some people are allergic to termite droppings and saliva. Termite control is, therefore, an essential step in protecting the health of your family.
2. Saves on Renovation and Repair Costs
Termites attack when you least expect. Some termite species come from the soil and feed on your home from inside, and they can do this for years undetected. Other species will feed on your house from outside and make their way into the house without detection. After burrowing through wood for years, termites can bring the house down or cause immense damage to other structures. Many homeowners in Australia spend thousands of dollars to repair damage caused by termites in their homes.
3. Improving Resale Value of Your Property
If you think renovating your home is the only thing that will keep the value of your property up, you are wrong. Proper pest control can improve the resale value of your home. If there are termites in your home during the inspection, buyers will either walk away or offer to buy the property at the lowest price possible.
4. Gives You Peace of Mind
Nothing feels better than knowing your property is safe from pest infestation. Residential homes and business properties are huge investments, and therefore they should be protected at all costs. Termite control keeps your property safe from destruction by these tiny creatures.
What are Termites?
It is not surprising that many people can’t differentiate between termites and ants. These two insects have many similarities. Termites are soft-bodied social insects. They live in colonies, consisting of several thousands or millions of individual termites. Each colony has a king and a queen. The function of the queen is to lay thousands of eggs every year to ensure the colony’s continuity. They mostly build their nests underground, near a pile of wood, tree stump, or any other food source.
In every colony, there are soldier termites whose role is to protect the colony from invaders such as ants and other insects. The soldier termites have large mandibles, and they will bite when provoked. The colony also comprises of whitish workers who help in maintaining the nest and looking for food. The whitish workers are the ones you will commonly find emerging from woodpiles and tree stumps in your home.
What Species of Termites Cause Destruction in Australia?
Australia is the home to about 300 species of termites, but only a few cause problems. The most destructive termite species include:
- Coptotermes acinaciformis
- Coptotermes lacteus
- Coptotermes michaelseni
- Coptotermes raffrayi
- Heterotermes ferox
How Do You If Your Home is Infested with Termites?
Most of the time, termites’ infestation remains undetected for years. That’s why it is essential to schedule a periodic inspection of your home by a pest control specialist to determine whether you have termites in your home. Many homeowners discover the presence of termites in their homes by accident. However, some signs can tell you that you have a termite infestation in your home. They include:
1. Mud Tubes
Termites rarely roam on the soil surface or the open. Instead, they build mud tubes that they use to move from their nest to the food source. You can find these mud tubes on floor joists, foundation walls, and other parts of the house. When you see a mud tube in your home, you can break it open to see if the termites are still active. Even when the mud tube is empty, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the termites are gone. Sometimes, they can abandon some mud tubes and build new ones.
2. Swarming
Termite colonies take about 3-5 years to mature, after which they produce winged adults. Winged adults usually come out of the nest on a warm day following rain. The presence of swarming termites outside your home doesn’t necessarily mean you have a termite infestation. It serves as a reminder that these creatures are still in your property. Sometimes, termites can find their way into the interior wallboards and ceiling of your house. When they start swarming indoors, it is an indication that you might have a termite colony somewhere in your home.
Termite Control
What would you do if you noticed that your home is infested with termites? While termites don’t pose any threat to human health, they can bite or sting when provoked. Termites don’t carry diseases harmful to people, and their bites are not toxic. So, you don’t need to panic when you see them.
Once you notice termite activity, don’t rush to apply chemicals to your home. Also, do not disturb the affected area as termites tend to relocate if sufficiently disturbed. Instead, contact a pest management professional to have your property inspected. During the inspection, the pest management professional will locate the nests, identify termite species, and determine the best removal methods. Identifying termite species can be difficult and may require expert skill and judgment.
Importance of Termite Control
Termites not only damage wood, but they will also feed on anything that contains cellulose, including paper products, wood paneling, art canvases, cardboard boxes, and other materials. While looking for food, termites may tunnel through different materials such as foam board and plastic, causing damage. Termite control can help locate termite colonies and eradicate them before they cause any damage to your property.
1. Preventing Allergies
One of the major problems of having termites in your home is that they can cause allergic or even asthma attacks to family members. Sometimes, the termites can find their way into the ceiling and other places where they build their nest. The irritating particles from the termite nest can then spread into your house, especially when you turn on your air conditioning unit, causing allergic reactions or even asthma attacks to your family members. Some people are allergic to termite droppings and saliva. Termite control is, therefore, an essential step in protecting the health of your family.
2. Saves on Renovation and Repair Costs
Termites attack when you least expect. Some termite species come from the soil and feed on your home from inside, and they can do this for years undetected. Other species will feed on your house from outside and make their way into the house without detection. After burrowing through wood for years, termites can bring the house down or cause immense damage to other structures. Many homeowners in Australia spend thousands of dollars to repair damage caused by termites in their homes.
3. Improving Resale Value of Your Property
If you think renovating your home is the only thing that will keep the value of your property up, you are wrong. Proper pest control can improve the resale value of your home. If there are termites in your home during the inspection, buyers will either walk away or offer to buy the property at the lowest price possible.
4. Gives You Peace of Mind
Nothing feels better than knowing your property is safe from pest infestation. Residential homes and business properties are huge investments, and therefore they should be protected at all costs. Termite control keeps your property safe from destruction by these tiny creatures.
