Termites are a destructive insect pest that you really don't want on your property. They're a problem right across Australia, and one that's getting worse in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne. By carrying out regular, monthly inspections in and around your home, you can spot the early signs of termite activity and call out your local pest control company, like Frontline Termite & Pest Control, to deal with the pests before an infestation takes hold.
Here's what to look for.
Swarmers
An early warning sign to look out for in the springtime are 'swarmers'. Swarmers are flying termites. You could see them fluttering around outside your home or find small piles of their discarded wings. Swarmers are on the lookout for mates in order to set up a new colony. If you find any swarmers inside your house, vacuum them up immediately and burn the vacuum bag.
Signs of termite presence around your home
Look out for signs of blistering or sagging in your flooring, laminate or skirting boards. Check the floor; if the wood feels more springy or spongy than usual, this could be due to termite damage.
Termites eat the cellulose found in wood. This can cause cracking inside the internal walls and ceilings of your home. A popular entry point for termites is through the foundations. As termites burrow into the wood, they create 'galleries' and networks of tunnels within your walls. If you tap on the wall or surface or ceiling, and it sounds hollow, this could be indicative of termite activity beneath.
Another sign to look out for are windows or doors that stick when you try to open or shut them. The tunnelling and eating that termites do within the wood can cause doors and windows to become misshapen and therefore not fit properly within their frames.
Another indicator of termite presence is their droppings, or 'frass'. Frass appears as piles of tiny, brown pellets usually found up against a wall.
Outside your property, check for signs of mud tubes on the walls near the foundations or in your basement. These tubes are used by subterranean termites to enable them to move around in search of food and entry points into your home and are a dead giveaway that you have a termite problem.
In conclusion
Termites are extremely adept at hiding themselves within the walls, floors and ceilings of your home which can make them very hard to detect. It's strongly advised that you have your property inspected annually by a firm of expert pest controllers. In the meantime, make it a part of your monthly maintenance routine to check for signs of termite activity so that you can have any potential problem dealt with before it becomes a serious infestation.
Share21 August 2015
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