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Signs of Termite Infestation
Unfortunately by the time you notice a Termite Infestation damage has already occurred! Most Termite infestations result from subterranean entry and therefore go unnoticed for significant periods of time. Common signs of Termite infestation include:
- Timber exhibits surface changes. Termites excavate wood so that only a very thin layer of wood is left on the surface , the affected structure will appear hollow and without strength, if the cavity is disturbed the termites will cover the holes with mud like material. This mud pack protects the termites from light and disturbances. Examine your window sills and skirting boards for wood softness and signs of mud packing.
- Termite or 'mud trails'. These trails are generally highly visible mud tracks that connect the nest to the food source. Tubes can be broken open, active tubes will contain termites while inactive tubes will be dry and crumble easily.
- Damaged wood. Termite damaged wood resonates with a dull 'thud' or hollow sound when tapped with a hammer. If this occurs call a licenced Pest controller who can inspect the suspect area and in some occasions can pry open the tunnel and treat the activity directly. If the homeowner accesses the tunnel the nest is often disturbed and the termites will move to another location within the building, making direct treatment difficult.
If you believe you may have termite activity or have noticed some of the signs above give Scientific Pest Management a call and we will organise a qualified, experienced Termite Technician to inspect your property.
Termite Treatment Options
There are now more choices than ever for Termite Control. The right treatment option for your infestation will depend on the level of infestation, housing construction type and budget available. Treatment options are broadly split into two different categories: Soil Barriers and Baiting Systems.
- Soil Barriers provide an impenetrable chemical barrier around and under buildings that termites find impassable. Treatment method may take the form of injecting drill holes or trenching dependent on construction type. The trench or drill hole is injected with a Termiticed chemical which can either be a repellent chemical (which turns termites away) or an eradication chemical such as Termidor which is distributed through the colony by the affected termites.
- Baiting Systems. Termite bait stations are placed in the soil around the perimeter of the structure to be protected. The stations are filled with wood and are monitored to identify activity. Where activity is evident the wood is replaced with a cellulose matrix impregnated with a Termiticde chemical. The termites consume the chemical and carry back to the nest where the chemical is distributed to the rest of the colony through feeding, grooming and interaction. The advantages of termite baiting is it is environmentally friendly as it avoids chemicals leaching into the soil or water table, however colony eradication can take a very long time and the baiting system provides no guarantee of future infestation once it has been removed.
If you would like to discuss termite treatment options give Scientific Pest Management a call and we will organise a qualified, experienced Termite Technician to discuss your options with you.
Termites Facts & Management Options
- There are over 300 species of termites in Australia, most are happy in their native bush environments. However a number of these 300 species will attack timber in service.
- Termites cause more damage costs to buildings than fire, floods, and all other natural disasters in Australia where one in five houses will suffer attack from termites in its life time.
- Houses built above ground and on concrete slabs are all susceptible to termite attack as termite barriers can be bridged by termites or breached by landscaping, additional building alterations, pavers or concrete paths etc.
- Regular inspections by a licensed timber pest inspector are the most important part of termite management as the inspector may find termites on your property before any damage is done. Regular inspections are recommended at least every 12 months or 6 monthly in high risk areas.
- The majority of new homes have physical or chemical termite barriers installed during construction and most professional installers will provide a warranty with the installation provided the home owner keeps up with regular termite inspections by the installer.
- Existing homes suffering from a termite attack have many treatment options from chemical barriers, environmentally friendly baiting and monitoring systems to the latest termite dusting techniques.
- Scientific Pest Management are the market leaders in termite detection and treatment.
