Termites – Inspection, Control and Treatment

What exactly are termites? This overview will give you an understanding of the basics and why regular inspections are crucial for termite control.

Termites are subterranean social insects that live in colonies or groups that can number in the millions. Termites, sometimes referred to as “white ants,” are known for consuming wood as their main food source. They can be extremely variable in terms of how they look, with different sizes, shapes and colours; however, there are some similarities.

All types of termites are in the Isopteran order. While sometimes called “white ants,” they are actually not in the ant family. In fact, they are more closely related to cockroaches, although highly modified.

The most common species encountered in Victoria are from the subterranean Coptotermes order. There are several distinct sub species commonly found in Victoria. Coptotermes acinaciformis , Coptotermes frenchi and Coptotermes lacteus all of which can enter structures and cause serious damage to Timber components. Correct identification is an important step in effective treatment.

“Magnetic termites” live in mounds above ground, while others like the Nasutitermes species lives in elevated nests in tall wooden structures such as telephone poles. The Coptotermes species resides in structures in contact with the ground such as trees, stumps, fences, woodpiles, sheds, and even the timber portions of your home.

Termite colonies are divided into castes as follows:

Worker – Takes care of tunnelling and food supply.
Soldier – Defends against intruders.
Reproductive (alates) – Contributes to future generations of the colony.

Worker and soldier termites are sterile and do not reproduce. However, all termites consume the cellulose that is found in wood, paper and cardboard as well as grass and other elements of nature.

Termites tend to be stealthy, staying out of sight while consuming a wooden structure from the inside out. Termite inspections are the best way to determine if you have termites so that you can take action early.

Noah’s Ark Pest Control can assist you with termite control and treatment. We can also assist with removal of other wood-boring insects like furniture beetles, Queensland pine beetles, powderpost beetles, ambrosia beetles and greenwood longicorns.

The signs of termite infestation include the following:

“Termite mud” – Termite waste creates a mud-like substance termites use to form tunnels. However, this substance is often hard to spot as it is most often behind structures or walls. Our Termite experts will detect Termite entry points, which can look like mud ‘tunnels or mud tubes’ allowing them to enter a building without being exposed. It is best to consult a Termite professional as these tell-tale signs are often not recognised by Homeowners and those not familiar with Termite behaviour.

Hollow-sounding wood – Wood that has a hollow, echoing sound when tapped or knocked is likely infested with termites. There are subtle visual clues our Termite experts look for when inspecting for Termites. Termite damage to timber components and flooring may not be obvious to Homeowners, but will be quickly spotted by our Termite experts.

Changes to door and window closure – The mud-like excrement left by termites can trap moisture and heat into wood, causing it to swell. This can make doors and windows more difficult to open and close.

Cracking at cornices and door jams – While cracking can have a number of causes, sometimes structural damage caused by termites can lead to cracks.

Collapsing timber – Wood that has suffered extreme termite damage can actually cave in when bumped or pushed. Often Homeowners uncover Termite damage to hardwood areas, skirting Boards, doorframes, Architraves when vacuuming or cleaning and the Timber breaks open. It is important for future Treatment options and to protect other areas of your home that You Do Not Disturb affected areas. If Termite damaged areas are disturbed Termites will retreat and move to a new ‘feeding’ site causing damage to other Timber. If you uncover timber damage please consult Our Operators as they will happily advise you on how best to proceed. You are also welcome to provide images of affected areas and our Operators will Identify whether Termite damage or other Timber Pest damage.

Typically, evidence of termites indicates significant damage is already being done, as these insects work quietly and insidiously to avoid being detected.

There are some areas are a higher risk of Termite attack than others, for example often proximity to train lines, parklands and rivers can create high environmental risk. There is also a classification, although somewhat outdated, known as ‘Declared Zones’. These are specific Council areas that are designated as higher risk.

Our Operators are happy to advise on your options to ensure you are fully informed on your risk and options for protecting your Home.

Annual Termite Inspections conducted by Noah’s Ark Pest Control Termite experts are an important service designed to inform Homeowners about the status of Termites, any emerging risk factors and how to minimise your risk of Termite attack. That’s what makes an annual termite inspection from Noah’s Ark Pest Control so important. Our Termatrac T3i system can literally see through walls, floors and ceilings to detect termite movement so that action can be taken at the earliest phases of infestation. Our highly trained technicians follow Australian Standards and are fully licensed and insured. Call us to schedule your inspection today to know your termite treatment cost. Our Termite Inspectors are Termite experts, who will thoroughly insect all areas of your home. All our inspections include a detailed report.

Termites can nest in a wide variety of places; these can include old building materials, tree stumps, soil fill, underneath structures, in cavity walls and in just about any wooden component of your home. They can even build colonies under concrete slabs and in the trees in your yard. Peppercorns, eucalypts, elms and imported oak are some of their favourites. Even if a termite nest is some distance from a building, they can tunnel up to 100m from the nest to feed on the wood they find there. A thorough inspection and control service for termites will ensure your property is safe and protected.

The queen and king termites reside in their own chamber at the colony’s centre, producing eggs and coordinating the daily activities of soldier and worker termites. There is usually one queen per termite nest measuring up to 4 cm in length. Queen termites are extremely active and can lay as many as 40,000 eggs per day. The queen also is able to live an astounding 40 years in some cases. Typical Termite populations in a colony is around 70,000 – 100,000.

Usually Termite colonies take around 5 x years to fully mature and get to a stage where they will release alates. Termite alates refer to the sexually mature termites (‘reproductives’) and include both females and males. While the worker and soldier termite castes are sterile and cannot reproduce, alate termites ensure the continuation of the colony.

The alate (reproductive) termites can fly and tend to do so in the warmer summer months when humidity is higher at night. An alate swarm is quite a sight, as they will often release hundreds if not thousands of winged Termites. Termite alates are not good flyers and will often fly only a short distance. They are also highly attracted to light, so a swarm around external lights and a pile of discarded wings may be a clue there is a mature Termite colony nearby. This is also their mating season, and afterward, they can tunnel in the ground to begin a new colony. While in flight, however, flying termites are vulnerable and many of them perish due to predators or exposure.

Alate termite flight often occurs when homeowners are away. It can be extremely alarming to return to a home that is suddenly teeming with winged insects. Alates are often found near carpeting or moving toward windows as they are attracted to light. However, they cannot live long when exposed in this way and will often die off in large groups in the home.

Noah’s Ark Pest Control are experts in diagnosing what type of termites you have so that the best course of action can be taken. This is crucial to both addressing the current termite problem and taking steps so that there aren’t any future issues.

Determining if you have a problem with termites can be somewhat challenging, since these destructive pests aren’t typically seen in the open. Termites are colony insects & the main species we manage in Victoria are subterranean, making it hard for the untrained eye to see them. They will generally prefer a dark, enclosed, and humid environment. As a result, they often aren’t detected in a structure until major damage is already done.

Termite protection, usually a soil treatment is considered best practice for protecting a structure against Termite attack. The chemicals used are safe for Residents and will last for around 10 years. Costs for this will range depending upon design of house and access. Our Operators will be happy to discuss options with you. Alternately implementing a program of annual termite inspections, conducted by a fully accredited Termite expert will at least ensure your Home is thoroughly assessed for any signs of Termite attack or emerging risk factors. An expert termite inspection from Noah’s Ark Pest Control allows Melbourne residents to take action at the earliest signs of termite activity. Termite treatment and installing termite protection is essential in helping to preserve the integrity of a property.

The main signs of the presence of termites involve damage to the structure of a home or building. This makes an annual comprehensive termite inspection crucial to monitoring for early signs of termite damage. It is worth noting that we see an even spread of termite attacks across timber and brick homes, new and old, on stumps and on a concrete slab. Where termites are present environmentally their endless search for timber (termite food) will take them into houses regardless of structure, house type, or age. Typically, vulnerable areas are the Sub Floor in Elevated Structures and around Plumbing Penetrations or ‘wet areas’ in Concrete Slab Houses. The good news is there are some basic things you can do to minimise termite attack.

Our Operators are always happy to discuss your concerns and even review images of Timber damage, should you suspect Termites.

As a warning to homeowners who may uncover signs of termite damage we would always advise to call an accredited termite operator for advice. Importantly, we always caution homeowners to avoid disturbing the area, as when uncovered, termite will retreat and move to a ‘New’ feeding site, potentially attacking other timbers in your home. The temptation to interfere with an affected area or spray with fly spray is the worst thing you could do. Good operators will be able to give you solid advice over the phone as to potential treatment costs.

We offer our customers a free ID service, where photos of the affected area, damaged timber or insects can be provided and we will have one of our termite experts review and provide advice. Upload your photo on the right.

Some of the warning signs of termites include: