Subterranean termites
are commonly known as white ants. However, they are
distinctly different from ants in their lifestyle
and appearance.
In nature, termites have an important
role in recycling rotten timber in the forest and
returning nutrients to the soil. When they get into
our homes, they are then declared pests and the damage
they can cause to a home is substantial.
Termites are social insects and have a caste structure
which differentiates workers from soldiers and reproductives.
The reproductives when sexually mature, are winged.
In warmer, more humid months, they swarm and can often
be seen in early evening, flying out of bushland to
colonise new areas, sometimes your home. The Queen
lays eggs and once the nest is established, does nothing
else. The Queen of a large, mature colony can lay
up to 2000 eggs per day. These eggs develop into workers,
soldiers and reproductives.
The workers are the ones who do all
the damage. They are wingless, blind and sterile and
are responsible for foraging for food, constructing
tunnels, building the nest and feeding other members
of the colony. They feed on wood and other cellulose
materials, but have a preference for timbers over
others. As they feed they may hollow out timbers and
often move from one area to another by constructing
small tunnels made from a mud-like combination of
faeces and saliva over non-susceptible materials.
They make these tunnels to protect
themselves from predators and from the heat, light
and lack of humidity in the outside environment. The
soldiers are responsible for the protection of the
nest and in some species have a pair of mandibles
on their head to attack predators.
Termites can travel long distances
to find food. The nest may be fifty metres away from
where the workers are foraging. They can work their
way into a house from under the floor, up the wall
cavity, alongside plumbing penetrations or through
construction joints in the concrete.
The first stage
of any pest management in inspection. This should
be carried out by an experienced technician. The inspection
will determine the extent of the infestation, if present,
identification of the termite species, where the termites
are entering the building and also what steps need
to be carried out to eradicate an termites present
and protect the building from further attack.
Eradication of any existing termite infestation
is important to stop the damage spreading.
The traditional method of combating
termites involves applying a chemical barrier around
a structure to exclude termites from entry. Goode
Pest Control now recommends The Sentricon Termite
Colony Elimination System. The Sentricon System is
installed in the prime termite foraging areas around
the home. The Sentricon stations, which look like
in-ground sprinklers, contain special monitoring devices.
These are regularly checked by authorised and specially
trained technicians for sign of termite activity.
Once termite activity has been detected, the termites
are transferred to a Baitube device which contains
Recruit II termite bait. The termites feed on this
his bait, tunnel out and get other termites in the
he colony to feed on the he bait. This bait prevents
the termites from moulting (shedding their skin) and
this results in the eventual elimination of the colony.
For more information please go to our Sentricon
page.
- Termites - Fleas
- Cockroaches - Silverfish
-
- Spiders - Mosquitos
- Rodents -
