Termites are sometimes referred to as ‘white ants’ because of their appearance. Discourage termites from around your home with our helpful tips, along with information that will assist you in detecting and treating these pests.
Termite or 'white ant' infestations
Do you have termites in or around your home?
It can be tricky identifying the appearence of a termite as many people confuse them with ants. The reason being it that termites are sometimes referred to as ‘white ants’ because of their pale appearance. For this reason it is important to contact a termite specilists, as they know what to look for or view the different types of termite species to gain a better understanding of their appearence.
Discourage termites from your home by remembering these facts:
- Termites are attracted to wood, so remove potential termite food away from buildings - their food can include timber stacks, old stumps, building refuse, garden decoration such as sleepers and logs
- Waste timber from construction activities is often left in place or stored under the house – remove all timber formwork
- Timber can be treated to prevent termite attack, and some timbers are naturally resistant - use treated or naturally resistant timber when it is in contact with, or close to, soil
- Termites are attracted to water, so fix leaking water pipes, drains, showers, sinks etc, plus capture water from air conditioning units
- Termites prefer humid conditions, so keep air under the house dry by improving sub-floor ventilation, drainage and access
- Termites cannot chew through properly laid concrete, so ensure concrete slab is properly designed, compacted, and cured
- Termite colonies can sometimes be located - it is possible to eliminate colonies by killing the reproductives (the queen and the king). Regular inspections are the most important part of controlling termites before they do any damage. Therefore:
- Arrange regular inspections – at least once a year in cooler areas and twice a year in warmer areas
- Inspect during periods of high termite activity - early spring to late summer is generally the best
- Keep the edges of the house (slabs, foundation, piers and stumps) clear of clutter, including garden beds and vegetation
- Professional pest controllers are trained in inspecting houses for termite activity - use their services
- Home owners can inspect houses themselves more frequently than a professional, if they can identify termite activity.
We use leading termite treatment products such as; Termidor, Sentricon and TermX specially designed for the tough Australian climate.
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