Termites are fascinating creatures, although you may not agree if you come across an infestation in your home. While there are many different types of termites across Australia, only a few of them are likely to make your life a misery. But as they can do a very good job of hiding themselves, you may not automatically know that you have a problem. What are some of the key attributes of domestic termites, and what can you do to avoid them?
Categorising the Problem
In general, termites can be classified into three categories — dry wood, damp wood and subterranean. The first two spend all of their time within a piece of wood and will gradually eat the entire structure from the inside out. As the name implies, the damp wood version requires a lot of moisture, and this is the type of termite you're more likely to see if you have a water infiltration problem at home. If that water is coming up from the soil beneath, the termites are likely to follow, and they will make their way into one of the supporting beams and create a large, hollowed-out 'living' area.
Damp and Dry
Damp wood and dry wood termites are stealthy, and if they infiltrate your home, they may live there undiscovered for years while they steadily eat away at the infrastructure. Yet when the colony gets to a certain size, the natural instinct is to seek additional solutions. This is when the colony will spawn an army of winged termites, which will break out of the wooden enclosure and swarm elsewhere in the search for more opportunities.
Winged
These winged termites (known as 'alates') do not live long and, in fact, may not make it very far from their base. It's not unusual for homeowners to come across a multitude of them on the floor within an interior room. This is, of course, a very clear indication that there is an established colony nearby.
Subterranean
Subterranean termites are slightly different in that they will normally live outside and underground. They build special tubes to enable them to move back and forth and find food, but they can also infiltrate a home.
Stout Defence
The best way to defend your home against termites is to avoid any unwanted sources of water. Make sure that you have a damp proofing course in place and investigate any moisture issues as soon as they arise. Bring in a pest inspection service, and they may install termite traps around the perimeter, which are baited with poison. When the termites discover a source of tainted wood within each trap, they'll take it back to their nest and kill off the colony.
Under Control
If you want to learn more about termites and find out how you can avoid them in the future, talk with your local pest control service.
Share10 March 2022
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